Consulting · ~1% acceptance rate

McKinsey & Company Interview Preparation

The most prestigious consulting firm in the world — and the hardest interview to crack

~800,000+

Applications

~1%

Offer rate

£55,000-60,000 base

Graduate salary

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McKinsey & Company — HireVue Practice

Your question

30s preparation 2 min recording Camera + mic

Application process

How to get into McKinsey & Company — step by step

Online Application

Opens September-October for summer. Rolling — apply early.

McKinsey asks for a cover letter. Make it specific to McKinsey — reference a recent article or project. Generic letters are rejected immediately.

McKinsey Solve (Game-Based Assessment)

Within 1-2 weeks of application

Solve is a game-based assessment — ecosystem simulation and pattern recognition. Not traditional psychometrics. Cannot be practised directly but understanding the format helps.

First Round Interviews

November-January

One behavioural (PEI — Personal Experience Interview) + one case interview. PEI tests leadership, personal impact, or entrepreneurial drive. Cases are interviewer-led.

Final Round Interviews

2-4 weeks after first round

Two interviews: one PEI + one case, with more senior interviewers (Partners). Cases are harder. They test your ability to think under pressure with ambiguous data.

Offer

Within 1 week of final round

McKinsey moves quickly. Accept/decline deadline is typically 2-3 weeks.

Interview questions

McKinsey & Company interview questions by round

Questions change at every stage. Know what to expect.

1Ecosystem simulation — manage an ecosystem of species
2Identify patterns in data and make strategic decisions
3Time-pressured problem solving with incomplete information
4No traditional numerical or verbal reasoning — it's game-based

What they value

What McKinsey & Company looks for in candidates

Structured problem-solving

McKinsey cases test your ability to break problems into components. Use MECE frameworks. Never jump to conclusions.

Leadership

PEI questions specifically test leadership. Have 2-3 strong stories of leading teams, influencing without authority, or creating change.

Personal impact

They want evidence of making a tangible difference — not just participating. Quantify your impact wherever possible.

Intellectual curiosity

McKinsey consultants work across industries. Show breadth of interest and ability to learn quickly.

Communication clarity

Top-down communication is critical. State your answer first, then support it. Never ramble.

Entrepreneurial drive

They want people who take initiative without being asked. PEI often tests this directly.

Compensation

McKinsey & Company salary & benefits

Graduate

~£55,000-60,000 base (~£70-80K total comp)

Intern

~£50,000 pro-rata

Bonus

~£10-15K performance bonus

Perks & benefits

Global mobility programmeExtensive travel budgetWorld-class training (mini-MBA)Health insuranceSabbatical policy after 2 yearsProfessional development budgetGym membership

Culture & work style

What it's actually like to work at McKinsey & Company

Project-based — work on 2-3 month engagements with different teams

50-60 hours/week typical (less than banking)

Significant travel — client sites 3-4 days/week

Flat hierarchy — junior consultants present to C-suite

Up-or-out promotion model — perform or leave

Exceptional alumni network (Fortune 500 CEOs, PE partners)

Emphasis on personal development and mentorship

Diverse intake — values non-traditional backgrounds

Insider tips

How to stand out at McKinsey & Company

Master case interview frameworks — McKinsey cases are interviewer-led, not candidate-led like BCG/Bain

PEI is 50% of your score. Prepare 3 stories: leadership, personal impact, entrepreneurial drive — with quantified outcomes

Reference McKinsey Quarterly articles or McKinsey Global Institute research in your "Why McKinsey?" answer

Show breadth — mention interests across industries, not just one sector

Demonstrate top-down communication — state your conclusion first, then support it

Compare

McKinsey & Company vs competitors

Firm	Salary	Hours	Culture	Exit opps
McKinsey & Company	~£55,000-60,000 base (~£70-80K total comp)	50-60/week	Project-based — work on 2-3 month engage...	—
BCG	~£55K / ~£75K total	50-60/week	More collaborative, innovative culture	Very strong
Bain	~£55K / ~£75K total	50-60/week	Strongest culture, "Bainie" identity	Very strong
Deloitte (Consulting)	~£35-40K / ~£42K total	45-55/week	Structured, broader scope	Moderate
Goldman Sachs	~£65K / ~£95K total	70-80/week	Higher pay, longer hours, finance focus	Strong (finance)

FAQ

McKinsey & Company FAQs

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