Consulting · HireVue Practice

McKinsey & Company HireVue Questions & Practice

3-5 questions, 30 seconds prep, 2 minutes per question. No retakes — your first answer is final. Practise with AI-scored feedback.

~800,000+

Applications

~1%

Offer rate

~30-50%

HireVue pass rate

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Format

What the McKinsey & Company HireVue looks like

3-5 questions

Questions

30 seconds

Prep time

2 minutes per question

Answer time

None

Retakes

Sent after passing the online application stage.

Mix of behavioural and motivational questions.

Some offices use video interviews as a screening step before live case interviews.

Completed on the HireVue platform via browser or mobile app.

You can pause between questions but cannot return to previous answers.

Free practice

Try a McKinsey & Company HireVue question

McKinsey's video interview is merely a preliminary screen before the real assessment begins — but underestimate it at your peril. With 800,000+ annual applicants, McKinsey uses the video stage to filter for communication quality, structured thinking, and the three PEI (Personal Experience Interview) dimensions that dominate their live rounds: leadership, personal impact, and entrepreneurial drive. If your video answers don't demonstrate at least one of these with a concrete, quantified example, you won't reach the Solve assessment — let alone the case interviews that follow.

HireVue Practice

McKinsey & Company — HireVue Practice

Your question

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Question types

McKinsey & Company HireVue question breakdown

Behavioural / Experience

~50%

Questions about leadership, impact, and problem-solving. "Tell me about a time you solved a problem that had no obvious solution."

Motivational

~25%

"Why McKinsey & Company?" questions. Reference the firm's specific culture, methodology, or recent work.

Business / Analytical

~25%

Questions testing commercial instinct and structured thinking. They may ask about a business challenge or market trend.

Real questions

McKinsey & Company HireVue questions

Motivational

  • 1Why do you want to work at McKinsey?
  • 2What is a business challenge that interests you and how would you approach it?

Behavioural

  • 1Tell me about a time you solved a problem that had no obvious solution.
  • 2Describe a situation where you had to influence others without formal authority.
  • 3Tell me about a time you had to quickly learn something unfamiliar.
  • 4Describe a time you made an impact on an organisation or community.

Scoring

How McKinsey & Company scores your HireVue

McKinsey & Company evaluates HireVue answers using a combination of AI-assisted analysis and human reviewers. The video interview is an initial screen — live interviews carry more weight.

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.

Tips

McKinsey & Company HireVue tips

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

Structure your answers clearly — state your point first, then provide supporting evidence. Top-down communication is valued.

7

Practise with at least 5 recorded attempts before the real thing. The first 2-3 will feel awkward. By attempt 5, you'll have a natural delivery.

FAQ

McKinsey & Company HireVue FAQs

Practise every McKinsey & Company question with AI-scored feedback.

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