How to Prepare for a McKinsey Case Interview

04 October 2022

If you want to know what stress is, show up for a McKinsey Case interview unprepared. Anyone who has gone through the process will tell you that McKinsey interviews are in a league of their own. You need to have command of the facts, applicable skills, and nerves of steel. At Prepmatter we teach candidates how to prepare for a McKinsey Case interview so they can optimize their chances of success.

Prepmatter Gives You the Edge

Did you know that McKinsey receives around 200,000 applications every year? Moreover, by the time those applicants get to the interview process, 90% have been eliminated. The good news is that if you made it to the interview stage, you’re on the right path.

But don’t stop now, as you are well on your way to success. With Prepmatter, you can ensure that you are prepared by taking part in our interviewer-led format. Why? Because McKinsey uses the very same format 80% of the time, thereby giving you the edge you need to enter your interview with confidence and preparedness.

If you’re concerned about the potential for your McKinsey interview being candidate-led, don’t worry. Your Prepmatter coach will steer the format in other directions to ensure comprehensive coverage and learning.

Give Them What They Want

When prepping for the McKinsey case interview, it is essential that you understand what the company is looking for and then deliver on those key points, which are:

Problem-Solving Ability: McKinsey wants to hear from its candidates in regard to overcoming a hypothetical scenario with a client. Here, you will need to discuss structuring challenges, identifying important issues, and how you effectively deal with all of the data and facts. Be sure to articulate your thoughts well and provide recommendations as you form a conclusion.
Personal Impact: We’ve all worked with someone who has opposing opinions. McKinsey wants you to share and elaborate on a time when you encountered a challenging solution and how you handled it.
Entrepreneurial Drive: Here, you will be asked to discuss when you worked on something that was outside of your comfort zone and how you achieved your goal.
Inclusive Leadership: McKinsey wants to hear an example of a time when you worked with people from different backgrounds. Talk about how you effectively made it work and your professional response.

Prior business experience is likely to be a big plus with McKinsey. But unless you sharpen your knowledge on the points detailed above, your experience probably won’t get you very far. You may also need specific technical skills and knowledge if you are hired for a senior role and aligned to a specific practice.

Trust the Team at Prepmatter

At Prepmatter, we have had more than 400 aspiring management consultants land offers from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms. Our 80% success rate is a testament to the effectiveness of our process and the dedication we show to each and every one of our clients.

Among other things, we provide McKinsey case interview examples and practice case interviews for McKinsey candidates, ensuring a comprehensive approach in our quest to help you succeed. If you are ready to nail your case interview, be sure to check out our Get the Offer course today.