Interviewing is a Two-Way Process
Interviewing with McKinsey is as much about us getting to know you as it is about you learning what you can do here and what makes our firm a special place. We want you to succeed and feel confident as you step into our process.
We seek smart, driven problem-solvers from a wide range of disciplines— whether you come from law, medicine, engineering, military service, professional sports, or another field entirely. What matters most is your ability to think critically, tackle complex challenges, and create meaningful impact. We’re committed to attracting individuals from all backgrounds, because with diverse perspectives, we can deliver distinctive solutions for our clients and create a welcoming, inclusive culture. And we are particularly excited about people who resonate with our values.
For most client-facing roles, you will participate in personal experience interviews and problem-solving interviews, depending on the role, you may also have expertise interviews. Your recruiter will confirm your interview details in advance. Interviewing helps us learn about you as a person and a potential colleague, and it helps you learn more about McKinsey, our people, and how you can grow here.
If you are applying for one of our internal roles, the number of interviews and colleagues you meet is role dependent. So how should you prepare for your interviews? Relax and be yourself. Bring questions for us, and come ready to share your experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Your recruiter will also guide you on how best to prepare.
If you’re applying for a technical role, your interviews may include conversations and practical exercises focused on your technical knowledge, how you solve problems, and examples from your past experiences that demonstrate the skills that help you thrive at McKinsey. We’d like to learn more about your technical strengths and how you approach complex problems to develop thoughtful and effective solutions. Your recruiter will share more information tailored to the role you’ve applied for, along with our Candidate Preparation Booklet, which includes guidance and examples to help you prepare.
We like to hear about your experiences—both accomplishments and challenges—to assess skills that will help you thrive at McKinsey. Come prepared to discuss some important experiences in a detailed way, focusing on your specific role and be ready to talk about the details of the experience.
Come prepared to discuss these in detail and choose experiences which genuinely mattered to you, talk about your specific role and lead with reasoning, not actions. We want to see your authentic self, so be prepared to have a conversation, not to present a rehearsed story.
We believe that the best way to demonstrate your problem-solving skills is by discussing a typical McKinsey client scenario. During the Problem-Solving Interview—sometimes referred to as a case interview—we’ll present a business case to evaluate your approach to solving complex problems.
To help you prepare, we recommend reviewing the sample cases provided below. These cases contain logic, thought processes, and suggested answers. Practicing them will help you become familiar with the types of questions we ask and boost your confidence when navigating the problem-solving conversation. And remember, there is not one logical solution, so that they should listen carefully and share tailored solutions vs standard frameworks.
We’re proud to be at the forefront of AI—shaping, building, and using cutting-edge tools every day. We work alongside global leaders on high-stakes AI topics and equip our people with training and access to advanced AI solutions—like our proprietary platform Lilli, ChatGPT Enterprise, and other emerging tools so they can strengthen their AI skills, work smarter, and make a bigger impact. We welcome those who share our curiosity about AI and its potential.
We know many candidates use AI to prepare, whether that’s polishing a resume or practicing interview questions—just as people have long sought feedback from mentors, friends, or family. When used responsibly, we see AI as a valuable tool that supports preparation.
Misuse, however, compromises fairness. Using AI to misrepresent yourself or to generate real-time responses during an interview goes against our values, creates an uneven playing field, and prevents us from understanding who you truly are. We want to get to know you, not your AI tool.
| Polishing your resume or practicing interview questions | ✅ Encouraged |
| Exaggerating or creating achievements that aren’t yours | ❌ Not Allowed |
| Generating real‑time answers during an interview | ❌ Not Allowed |
| Asking AI to explain concepts or frameworks as part of your prep | ✅ Encouraged |
| Using AI during assessments (unless specifically permitted) | ❌ Not Allowed |