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McKinsey & Company Business Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Updated 4 Dec 2024

18 Interview questions

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. Estimate the size of the tractor market in India.
Ans. 

The tractor market size in India is estimated to be in the range of X to Y units.

  • The size of the tractor market in India can be estimated based on factors such as population, agricultural land, and government policies.

  • According to a report by Research and Markets, the Indian tractor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during 2020-2025.

  • Major players in the Indian tractor market include Mahindra & Mahindra,...

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. A company has been making losses for 2 years. Based on the data provided, what solutions would you suggest?
Ans. 

Analyze the data to identify the root cause of the loss and develop a plan to address it.

  • Analyze financial statements to identify areas of high expenses or low revenue

  • Conduct market research to identify competitive pressures or changing customer needs

  • Develop a plan to reduce expenses, increase revenue, or pivot the business model

  • Consider seeking outside investment or partnerships to support the turnaround

  • Monitor p...

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A Business Analyst was asked
Q. Should banks roll out ATMs or outsource them?
Ans. 

Banks should roll out ATM's instead of outsourcing them.

  • Rolling out ATM's gives banks more control over the technology and security.

  • Outsourcing can lead to higher costs and potential security risks.

  • Rolling out ATM's can also improve customer experience and convenience.

  • Examples of successful bank-owned ATM networks include Chase and Bank of America.

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. How would you help a Vancouver-based company's innovation cell enter India's rural market?
Ans. 

To enter India's rural market, the Vancouver based company's innovation cell needs to focus on understanding the local culture, building relationships with local stakeholders, and creating affordable and accessible products.

  • Conduct market research to understand the needs and preferences of the rural population

  • Build relationships with local stakeholders such as government officials, NGOs, and community leaders

  • Creat...

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. How would you invest 500 crore Rupees in the power sector?
Ans. 

Investing Rs.500 crore in power sector

  • Conduct a feasibility study to identify potential areas for investment

  • Determine the type of power generation to invest in (renewable or non-renewable)

  • Consider the regulatory environment and government policies

  • Assess the financial viability of the investment

  • Develop a comprehensive business plan

  • Collaborate with industry experts and stakeholders

  • Allocate funds strategically to max...

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. Growth of cars vs growth of motorbikes - which would grow faster in % terms? A: Economic factor the main reason to go for bikes. Shift from lower middle to upper middle, increasing growth rate for cars more...
Ans. 

Cars would grow faster than motorbikes due to economic factors.

  • Shift from lower middle to upper middle class favors cars

  • Increasing growth rate for cars more than for bikes

A Business Analyst was asked
Q. Split by economic status : Low, Low and Upper Middle and Upper Class : 30-40-20-10
Ans. 

The population is split into four economic classes: Low, Low and Upper Middle, and Upper Class.

  • 30% of the population belongs to the Low economic class.

  • 40% of the population belongs to the Low and Upper Middle economic class.

  • 20% of the population belongs to the Upper Middle economic class.

  • 10% of the population belongs to the Upper Class.

Are these interview questions helpful?
A Business Analyst was asked
Q. Decide whether a copper processing unit should be near the mine or market
Ans. 

The decision should be based on factors like transportation cost, availability of resources, and environmental impact.

  • Consider transportation cost of raw materials and finished products

  • Evaluate availability of resources like water and electricity

  • Assess environmental impact of the processing unit

  • Analyze market demand and competition

  • Compare tax and regulatory policies of the mine and market locations

McKinsey & Company Business Analyst Interview Experiences

22 interviews found

Interview experience
1
Bad
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
4-6 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Referral and was interviewed in Oct 2024. There were 2 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

The aptitude test was interesting, Had a bunch of fun puzzles

Round 2 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Tell me about yourself
  • Ans. 

    I am a detail-oriented business analyst with a strong background in data analysis and problem-solving.

    • Experienced in gathering and analyzing business requirements

    • Skilled in creating data models and visualizations

    • Proficient in using tools like SQL, Excel, and Tableau

    • Strong communication and presentation skills

    • Certified in business analysis (e.g. CBAP)

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Dont apply if you cant wait for teams to move quickly
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
6-8 weeks
Result
Selected Selected
Round 1 - online game 

(4 Questions)

  • Q1. Play 2 online games
  • Q2. Then proceed to case study for both rounds
  • Q3. Normal case study
  • Q4. What is the number of football that can fit into wembley stadium
  • Ans. 

    The number of footballs that can fit into Wembley Stadium depends on various factors.

    • The seating capacity of Wembley Stadium is approximately 90,000.

    • The size of a standard football is about 22 cm in diameter.

    • To calculate the number of footballs, we need to consider the available space and any obstructions.

    • Assuming no obstructions, we can estimate the number of footballs by dividing the available space by the volume of ...

  • Answered by AI
Round 2 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Personal fit questions
  • Q2. Tell me about a time where you led a team
Round 3 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Case study on ENERGY
  • Q2. It was about introduction of a new type of energy
Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
Hard
Process Duration
4-6 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Approached by Company and was interviewed in Apr 2023. There were 4 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Keep your resume crisp and to the point. A recruiter looks at your resume for an average of 6 seconds, make sure to leave the best impression.
View all tips
Round 2 - Aptitude Test 

It is a game of an ecosystem

Round 3 - Case Study 

Round 2 is casing and fit interview

Round 4 - Case Study 

Same as round 2, case and fit interview

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - try to practice as much math as possible
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Company Website and was interviewed before Dec 2023. There were 2 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Group Discussion 

2 back to back rounds on generic consulting case study types, ie profit and revenue issues for a company etc.

Round 2 - Case Study 

4 interviews in total. each interview consisted of one case study and one PEI question

Interview Questionnaire 

6 Questions

  • Q1. CASE 1: A boiler manufacturer wants to go global, how should he go about doing it?
  • Ans. 

    A boiler manufacturer can expand globally by conducting market research, forming partnerships, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

    • Conduct thorough market research to identify potential countries for expansion, such as emerging markets in Asia or Europe.

    • Analyze local competitors and market demand to tailor products to specific regional needs, like energy efficiency in Europe.

    • Establish partnerships with local distr...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Tell me about yourself
  • Ans. 

    I am a highly motivated and detail-oriented business analyst with experience in data analysis and project management.

    • Experienced in data analysis and project management

    • Highly motivated and detail-oriented

    • Strong communication and problem-solving skills

    • Proficient in various analytical tools such as Excel, SQL, and Tableau

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Why consulting/business?
  • Ans. 

    Consulting/business offers diverse challenges and opportunities to solve complex problems and drive impactful change.

    • Opportunity to work with a variety of clients and industries

    • Ability to solve complex problems and drive impactful change

    • Continuous learning and development

    • Exposure to different business models and strategies

    • Opportunity to work with talented and diverse teams

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Why don't you want to do research?
  • Ans. 

    I never said I don't want to do research. In fact, research is an integral part of my job as a Business Analyst.

    • I never said I don't want to do research, I just want to clarify any misunderstandings.

    • Research is an essential part of my job as a Business Analyst.

    • I enjoy conducting research and analyzing data to provide valuable insights.

    • I believe that research is crucial in making informed decisions and driving business ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Don't you like aerospace?
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I do like aerospace.

    • I find the advancements in aerospace technology fascinating.

    • I enjoy learning about the different types of aircraft and their capabilities.

    • I appreciate the importance of the aerospace industry in our economy and national security.

    • For example, I recently read about the successful test flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and was impressed by the level of innovation and engineering involved.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. CASE 2: Some airline flies from Mango to NY. Should it shift to some other route?
  • Ans. 

    It depends on various factors such as demand, competition, profitability, and operational feasibility.

    • Analyze the demand for the current route and potential demand for other routes

    • Evaluate the competition on the current route and other potential routes

    • Assess the profitability of the current route and potential routes

    • Consider the operational feasibility of shifting to another route

    • Examples of potential routes could be M...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: CASE 1:
I started by trying to get the prerequisites of going global demand, type and size of market, capital, project differentiation, management, logistics. My major mistake was delving too much into depth.

CASE 2:
He asked how you increased revenues?
I said....Everything depends on the elasticity of demand. You might want to increase sales or increase prices and reduce sales. Then he said, we increase prices or demand and assume the other to be constant.

How do you increase prices?
I said you just quote a higher price. Then he said that there are different seats in an airplane. That kind of tinkering you can always do even if you want to keep the revenues same
Tips: 1.In the about yourself questions you can either give an overview of your resume or tell them something more general.
2.You will be asked about your biggest academic achievment.
3.Don't be so cool to the extent of being casual.
4.Don't prepare answers.

General Tips: 1.Attend PPTs and listen very carefully.
2.Be sure to find out what you will be doing in the company.
3.Don't try and squeeze too much in your resume.
Skill Tips: 1. For case studies thereis a lot of stuff on the LAN and on the internet.
2. It's better to do these in groups.
College Name: IIT BOMBAY

Interview Questionnaire 

5 Questions

  • Q1. CASE 1: Estimate the consumption of vodka in bombay
  • Ans. 

    Estimate vodka consumption in Bombay.

    • Gather data on population demographics, alcohol consumption patterns, and sales data.

    • Use statistical analysis to estimate consumption based on available data.

    • Consider factors such as income levels, cultural attitudes towards alcohol, and availability of vodka.

    • Compare estimates to similar cities or regions for context.

    • Adjust estimates based on any unique factors specific to Bombay.

    • Co...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Q1: Why consultancy?
  • Ans. 

    Consultancy offers diverse opportunities to work with different clients and industries, and to constantly learn and grow as a professional.

    • Consultancy provides exposure to various industries and clients, allowing for a diverse range of experiences and challenges.

    • Working as a consultant requires constant learning and adaptation to new situations, which can be intellectually stimulating.

    • Consultancy offers the opportunity...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Q2: What will you do if all consultants die one fine morning?
  • Ans. 

    I would assess the impact on the project and identify alternative solutions.

    • Assess the impact of the loss of consultants on the project timeline and deliverables

    • Identify alternative solutions such as hiring new consultants, redistributing work among existing team members, or outsourcing work

    • Communicate with stakeholders and project sponsors to keep them informed of the situation and proposed solutions

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. CASE 2: How to go about starting an airline
  • Ans. 

    Starting an airline requires extensive planning, research, and investment.

    • Conduct market research to identify demand and competition

    • Develop a business plan including financial projections

    • Obtain necessary licenses and permits

    • Acquire or lease aircrafts and hire staff

    • Establish partnerships with suppliers and vendors

    • Implement marketing and advertising strategies

    • Ensure compliance with safety regulations and industry standar...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Why not research?
  • Ans. 

    Research is important, but I am more interested in analyzing and solving business problems.

    • I enjoy working with data and finding insights to improve business processes

    • I am skilled in identifying patterns and trends in data

    • I prefer to focus on practical solutions rather than theoretical research

    • I believe my strengths lie in problem-solving and decision-making

    • For example, in my previous role as a business analyst, I anal...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: CASE 1:
I took a long time to do this one. The interviewer was not helpful and that slowed down my response. I had only discussed the consumption of vodka by women when she asked me to stop.

CASE 2:
There was no real case here. The interviewer wanted me to discuss how to go about starting an airline.He asked me to estimate the no. of passengers.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: 1. Questions regarding my projects and internships were asked.
2. A large part of the interview was devoted to "McKinsey vs its competition.

Skill Tips: 1.Attend PPTs of all the companies that you are interested in.
2.Don't exaggerate in your resume.
3.Case studies is a must for consultancies.
College Name: IIT BOMBAY

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: McKinsey looks for a spike in your resume, people who have commendable achievements is their field of choice, academics, extra curriculars or sports. So be sure to make your resume accordingly. McKinsey adds a lot of weight-age to formal awards, scholarships, achievements (like inter-IIT) etc. But if you don't have them (like me) you just have to make extra effort to show that you have equivalent achievements.

Round: Interview
Experience: First, I was asked about myself and mostly my connection to dance and the dance club. (Some interviewers do this to make you comfortable at the same time analyzing your personality). In the first interview I was given an estimation case about the dish TV industry. Here the interviewer was mostly interested in my approach to solving the problem and if applicable my numerical skills. 

The second interview was a pure business case about the printing business. Here my creativity and business sense (read common sense as applicable to a business situation) was put to test.
Tips: McKinsey interviews are mostly case study based. So prepare accordingly. Once you get shortlisted they send you a ton of material, search for a “Vault” case book amongst this pile. Reading that should be enough ;). First read the basic material by you and once you are confident enough make a group of around 3 people and practice case studies.

I guess this job opportunity meant a lot to all of us and it did to me too. I became nervous and that severely affected my performance and moreover I looked under confident. Take on every interview as if that job doesn't mean anything to you.

General Tips: Internship: (attention third year people!)
When it comes to the placement interview, internships play pivotal role. There are rarely any interviews where the interviewee isn't drilled on their internships. So, please don‟t treat an internship as a paid vacation. Good work done during the internship gives one the confidence that can very well bowl the interviewer over (as it did in my case :D). Believe me confidence does much more than get you a job; it determines success and failure in most
undertakings. Internship gives you the first chance to build that up … use it! 

Pre Placement Talks:
Please attend the ppts of at least those companies which fall into your sector of interest. At ppts you get to see a lot more things than the boring presentations and the pay package. Most companies bring along with them alumni who have spent a few years in the company. Observing or interacting with them will give you a good assessment of what you are going to be a few years from now if you join that company. For example I observed that alumni of XYZ Company were not as upbeat and confident as alumni of ABC Company (names have
been hidden on request ;) ) even if XYZ was paying plenty more than ABC. I knew then and there that I would want to join ABC and never applied to XYZ. Be sure to utilize them and be sure to clear all your doubts and conceptions. Once you start attending presentations you will observe junta asking questions just to score brownie points with the speaker. Believe me it won't help one bit in landing them a job!

Resumes:
Making an appealing resume is the single most important step in the placement process and IITK is notorious for its bad resumes, so attend workshops. Like most IITK junta I sucked at making a resume (and still do), but whatever little skill I have, I got through workshops. One workshop I would advise everyone to attend is the resume making workshop of McKinsey. Get your resumes checked and edited by those who have been through placement especially by those from other IITs (I know this will hurt a lot of egos, but IITB's resumes are some of the best. Those dudes have mastered the art of making an impact with whatever little they've got, while we excel at doing exactly the opposite :P). Prepare an impactful resume and don't submit the same resume to every company, make changes based on the profile.
College Name: IIT KANPUR

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Since, first short listing was done on the basis of resumes, so again it’s very important to highlight some spike in your career in the best possible way.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The interview had 2 rounds initially after which one shortlist was given. In the first one, after asking some questions from my resume, like why consulting, about internship,etc..I was asked a case to estimate the washing machine market of India..I was asked to think and come up with some answer and take as much time as I want. I just focused domestic market but was then asked to look for industries also L...I lost some track here and was not able to clearly see what is the market to washing machines as far as industries are concerned apart from textiles...then I was asked to list out the factors of buying a new washing machine, I said the obvious ones and then was asked to come up with a number depicting the number of machines which will be sold next year..I was not at my best but somehow got some answer which the interviewer said is ok and the interview ended up in 30 minutes.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Later on, for the second interview, a partner called me in. He asked me about my pre IIT experiences and about my family background. Then he gave me simple case to calculate the number of cricket bats sold per year in India and then the market of this commodity. I did the case quickly and told him the steps and final answer which he said that that looked somewhat on the lower side and then asked me to leave. I asked me some questions and the interview was over in 15 minutes!!! L...shortlist came and I was not there.

College Name: IIT KANPUR

Interview Questionnaire 

3 Questions

  • Q1. “Estimate the consumption of vodka in Bombay”
  • Q2. There was no real case here. The interviewer was a cheerful man who just wanted me to discuss how to go about starting an airline. He asked me to estimate no. of passengers.
  • Ans. 

    Estimating number of passengers for starting an airline

    • Research the market demand and competition

    • Analyze the target audience and their travel patterns

    • Consider the route network and frequency of flights

    • Factor in the aircraft capacity and load factor

    • Forecast the seasonality and economic conditions

    • Collaborate with industry experts and stakeholders

    • Use data analytics and modeling tools for accurate estimation

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Why consultancy? What will you do if all consultants die one fine morning?

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Interview
Experience: Answer 1) I took a really long time to do this one, and I had only got as far as the consumption of vodka by women when the interviewer asked me to stop. She was not exactly encouraging/helpful and I guess that slowed down my responses. When I asked her if I could wrap up the guesstimate, she told me it would not be necessary

Answer 2) There was no real case here. The interviewer was a cheerful man who just wanted me to discuss how to go about starting an airline. He asked me to estimate no. of passengers. I divided the population into urbanrural, business travellers-tourists, etc (in steps of course, but nothing extraordinary). He seemed to be pretty impressed and was generally chatting with me for almost 15 mins about his experiences in McKinsey.

Round: Interview
Experience: I was asked to walk through my resume. Apart from the regular questions about my projects and internships, I was asked the one question which I was expecting since morning: “Why not research?” I was also asked about my Yantriki victory and my tenure as Speakers’ club convener. A large part of the interview was also devoted to “McKinsey vs. its competition”

General Tips: Sleep well, wear comfortable footwear (Girls, please stash away those high heels for post-job treats and NOT interviews, they almost killed me), don’t starve yourself. If you have back-to-back interviews, sit down for a minute between interviews and take deep breaths, it really helps. Now let’s cut the chase and get to preparation

PPT : Attend PPTs of all the companies that you are interested in. It will give you a good idea of the kind of people you’ll work with, apart from the work itself. Stick around after the PPT and talk to your seniors who are working with the company. Wait for the pizza, there’s always enough for everyone.

Resume : Don’t try and squeeze in too much into your resume. Going by the experiences of my batch, I think companies looked for well-rounded individuals and not necessarily DR1’s or managers and CGs. Needless to say, do not lie or exaggerate. It is disgusting, and in most cases, it will be obvious too. 

Interviews: Please don’t prepare answers to the last word, but think about some common questions: strengths/weaknesses (a little introspection never does any harm) and of course, “Why consulting?” (or analytics, etc). Go through your resume and think about what you have learnt from each experience.
College Name: IIT BOMBAY

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Test
Experience: McKinsey has an aptitude test, but the test results don't have a significant weight in final decision. 
Resume shortlist for consulting companies is perhaps the most competitive among all firms and therefore,
in the interest of meaningful utilization of time, it's best to start case study preparation only after the shortlist is out. There's typically little more than a month between then and placement day, which is more than enough to prepare for any interview.

General Tips: Application process to all companies starts typically with a resume shortlist and therefore it is of utmost importance to write a good, impressive resume. A lot of people with great credentials fail to make this initial mark because their resume is poorly organized. It's good to have resume points, but it's equally important, if not more, to write them properly. Writing a perfect resume is an art that needs to be learnt
and God bless McKinsey for conducting an amazingly helpful workshop on resume writing.
It's a great idea to attend the workshop even if you are completely sure of never joining McKinsey.

Resume-writing is an iterative and time consuming process. So, best start a fortnight before deadline. Remember that it's a one-time effort. Once a good resume is ready, it can be used throughout the placement season with minor modifications. Do it once and do it correct. It took me about four or five iterations to end up with my final resume. It's a good idea to show the resume to lots of colleagues and seniors and challenge them to tear it down word-by-word.
College Name: IIT MADRAS

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McKinsey & Company Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in McKinsey & Company Business Analyst interview?
McKinsey & Company interview process usually has 2-3 rounds. The most common rounds in the McKinsey & Company interview process are Case Study, One-on-one Round and Aptitude Test.
What are the top questions asked in McKinsey & Company Business Analyst interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the McKinsey & Company Business Analyst interview -

  1. Growth of cars vs growth of motorbikes - which would grow faster in % terms? A:...read more
  2. CASE 1: A boiler manufacturer wants to go global, how should he go about doing ...read more
  3. Asked what factors will determine acceptability of produ...read more

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