McKinsey & Company Business Analyst Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Round: HR Interview
Experience: They had 4 interviews.
McK1: Have faint recollections. However I remember I did well on the case and had loadsa HR involved specially in my work on internships and research paper.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: McK2: The interviewer was a PhD in Chem Engg from Stanford followed by an MBA from Harvard. I found this before going in and got real nervous. He started off with some Chemical Engg questions and soon realized it was no use! (He did even comment that I had not learnt anything in Chem engg in the 4 years). We then moved on a case of petrochemical industry where a new player wanted to enter an oversaturated market. I concluded that scale is important and the entry has to be below the existing market price. Some HR including my question to him. Had a long discussion on Foreign MBA vs Indian MBA. At the end of the interview, I guess I had done a good enough job (surprisingly after the start I had) and was called in for the next 2 interviews..

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: McK3: This was a disaster! And a big one. I was given an extremely easy case on nuclear reactor vs coal reactor economics. Simple mathematics which I screwed up because of just 1 simple error. I realized the same pretty late and pointed it out. He said it was ok. No HR

Round: Other Interview
Experience: McK4: The whole interview was a discussion on my BTP and seminar. BTP was related to Phosphoric Acid production. The discussion revolved around whether phosphoric acid should be produced in India or whether we should produce it outside from where we import ore. Then we moved on to my seminar which was related to Kyoto Protocol. Finally I asked question on how different is a foreign MBA vis a vis an Indian one. Very peaceful and fun interview!
Tips: The single biggest mistake I committed was going in a haste into the McK 3rd interview. I got involved in some placement work between the interviews and forgot to carry my folder or even a pen. This is probably why I did not do well on the case (which was probably the easiest of all 8). Its very important that you take 5 minutes off before walking in, get your composure and stop worrying about other things and just attend to the interview on hand. Key learnings included the fact that it is relatively difficult to come back if you don't start well. Thus its is better to take something like 5 seconds before you answer the first 2-3 questions to recollect thoughts, organize them and frame them well. Also that you need to be comfortable with everything on your resume. I appeared for 8 interviews and never mentioned/was asked anything related to MI which I thought was the most important point on my resume. Instead I was questioned on my hobbies. Smallest points on the resume could be the ones you are grilled most on. Another very important thing about case interviews is the fact that the interviewer will be guiding you all through to the final solution. Any thing that he speaks should be heard and taken notice of. Most of the times there will be a small hint given at some point and all you need to do is catch on to it! Structuring your answers is extremely important. One more important thing to keep in mind is that all your answers should kind of show to the company that you can FIT into the company, the job and the culture. It is also important you walk in with the feeling that you can get the job. Specifically in cases, if you get stuck, take some time off to think. Structure your solution well, it carries the maximum weight.

General Tips: Firstly suit up only in case you are comfortable in it. It makes no sense to wear it and be uncomfortable throughout. And in my opinion even if you do not wear one, it never goes against you (at least consulting). For companies like FMCG/Tech its better not to suit up because it doesn't go with the company cultures. If its IBanking, it is good if you wear one. It is very important that you have some questions for the interviewer for any given company. And it is more important that the questions are intelligent and genuine. Attending PPT/ reading up website is a must for the same. Most importantly you should not talk to any other candidate on interview experience before your interview. The interview changes for every candidate. If say for example you hear the case beforehand, the company is bound to find out which would ruin your chances for sure. Further talking to people who have already appeared increases the nervousness. Posture is something that you have to take care of. People have a tendency to relax which should not be the case. You should seem eager for both the interview and the job. While answering any question the most important things to keep in mind are • Take 5 seconds off before venturing into any answer. Compose your thoughts real well. Then start. Its better to get the whole thing in a impactful way then to miss out on certain points. It also doubles up as giving the interview a feel that you are thinking before answering.
College Name: IIT BOMBAY

Round: Test
Experience: 3-4 case study with multiple choice answers.
Duration: 60-65 mins minutes

Round: Preparation round
Experience: A meeting was held where each and every selected candidate in test is assigned a buddy(company official).
Tips: You should maintain a good relation with him so that you can call him anytime to solve a case study together

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Each round (5 round) was HR based and case study was given.
Tips: Objective and clear with all resume points.

General Tips: Objective and clear with all resume points. Basically I am good at speaking,so I didn't prepare much for interview.
Skill Tips: Solved 3-4 case study with my PSG buddy. Solved 45-50 case studies before the interview from many materials.
Skills: Adapting to many situations., Leading different organization basically PORs.
College Name: IIT MADRAS

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: After I finished answering my first case she went on to ask if I would like to run a coaching class someday. Then she asked me about the kind of job I would like to take up and why.
She finally asked if I had some questions for them and I asked 2-3 questions. I thought I did really well and came out confident

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: I asked him a couple of quetions on the same before jumping into the case. Didn't let me finish the case, just saw the approach and left it at that.
The next half hour was a discussion on how to make career choices and how he chose between 3 consulting firms he interviewed with through IIMs.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: I said I liked power and he asked me about power industry in India and about what I thought about possible products etc.
Then he asked me about my views on India's potential as a manufacturing superpower vs China. I presented my views and then he corrected me massively with his ideas. He went on to explain the kind of work Mck does and how it can help in my long term career objectives.

Later, he asked me about my perception of consulting firms and the reason behind it.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: No questions. Just a discussion on how I should make career choices and what factors I must consider.
He told me a little about his experiences with the firm etc.
Tips: 1.It is important to dress up bright and early on the interview day.
2.Dress up well. It adds immensely to your confidence.
3.Make sure you appear energetic and excited about the job.

General Tips: RESUME: Start working on this early and keep making improvements by taking inputs from seniors/friends.
PREPARATION HELP:
1.Prepare typical HR questions.
2.Prepare your resume well.
3.Prepare cases. Brush up DI.
4.Do your groundwork on the firms interested in.
College Name: IIT BOMBAY

Round: Resume short listing
Experience: The process was mainly a selection process.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The personal interviews mainly consisted of HR questions.

Skill Tips: ""
College Name: IIT Madras

Round: Test
Experience: Shortlist is made based on resume. Last year, about 20 people were shortlisted from nearly 200 applicants. They look for people who have excelled in various verticals like academics, leadership qualities etc. After the shortlist based on resume, a workshop was held by the company where they explained the selection process. Each selected candidate was allotted a “buddy” in the company with whom they'll be constantly interacting and preparing for the interviews.The test paper consisted of business problems, similar to case interviews but in written format. Questions based on data interpretation were also asked. All questions were objective type questions. The written test is held just to make sure that all the shortlisted candidates clear a basic cut off of knowledge about data analysis and case studies.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Problems related to business will be given and they'll ask you to suggest a solution.
Tips: Some sample case interview questions are available on McKinsey's website.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Questions will be asked based on resume- to evaluate and validate resume points.
Tips: Try to express your personal story in an interesting and innovative way.

General Tips: A good CGPA and good core interns will be useful.In the resume, pitch about credentials and extracurricular activities you taken part in to show how you have contributed. Focus more on the impact of your achievements and try to quantify the impact.Attending the workshop conducted by the company (if done this year) is essential.
Skill Tips: "Leadership skills, like leading a team for Inter-IIT, being a core/ secretary would give you an edge over others."
Skills: Leadership Skills
College Name: IIT Madras

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Resume shortlist (around 20 people)
Tips: Resume shortlist- peaks in the resume: An all-round and dynamic personality, ability to multi-task and handle pressure, proactive nature and initiatives taken in PORs, achievements in the field of sports, literature and arts contribute in resume short listing.They look for people who have used their time in insti wisely and are passionate
about things they do. A crisp and well written resume forms a good first impression. Invest enough time to prepare the resume and get it reviewed by seniors.

Round: Interview
Experience: 3 rounds of interviews. Interviews were focused on case studies. No separate HR round. Inter-personal skills were tested during the case study and conversation with the interviewer.
Tips: Case interview- Break the problem down, approach systematically, think on your feet, take cues from the interviewer and direct the solution accordingly. The problem solving approach and line of thought is tested. There is no single
solution for the cases. The approach is important, not the final answer. Striking a good rapport with the interviewer, projecting confidence, being yourself and enjoying the interview process is very important.

A few questions asked about the Case Study:
1) Identifying the reasons for loss incurred by a motel (relevant data was provided)
2) Evaluating different aspects of setting up a business
3) Guesstimate: Estimate the number of windows in a skyscraper
4) Estimate the scope of 4G in India. Is introducing 4G a good idea?reas
5) A foreign elevator company operating in India is incurring losses.
6)What are the likely issues and how can they be fixed

General Tips: These four/ five years in IIT are the most crucial years to mould the personality of an individual. Seize every opportunity you and make the most of it. Manage time well and prioritize various activities. Try to get industrial exposure through internships. Good communication skills and a confident personality are very important. I started preparation seriously after getting shortlisted . The company allotted
buddies from the firm who helped us with placement preparation. I started reading economic times from the beginning of 7th sem. One month was sufficient to prepare. However, one can start preparing puzzles and reading up Economic Times a little earlier.
Skill Tips: The standard HR questions can be found online. Also be prepared to answer questions like 'why do you want to join our company?', 'why do you prefer a career in investment banking over consulting' or vice versa. Know you resume inside out as some HR questions will be directly based on you resume. Highlight you role, achievement and learning outcome while answering such questions.

Case study videos by Victor Cheng are helpful in building a foundation. Case in point is a good book to start with. Interactive cases available on all consult websites are very helpful and give an interview like
experience. Case study books by Kellogg, Wharton, Harvard can be found on LAN. Solving a few cases in a structured and systematic manner will help in developing the required skills. The Economic Times and business magazines also help in developing a general business acumen which helps solve cases. Solve cases in groups of 3-4.

HR- know yourself and your resume thoroughly.
College Name: IIT Madras