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McKinsey & Company Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Updated 3 Mar 2025

Top McKinsey & Company Interview Questions and Answers

  • Q1. The CEO of a chain of private hospitals wants to reduce attrition among senior doctors. This is a serious issue because when senior doctors leave they take along patients ...read more
    asked in Consultant interview
  • Q2. 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, ...read more
    asked in Business Analyst interview
  • Q3. You own an e-commerce website which sells jewellery, fashion products and apparel majorly for women. You have spent a good amount on marketing the site but still are in l ...read more
    asked in Intern interview
View all 120 questions

McKinsey & Company Interview Experiences

Popular Designations

237 interviews found

Interview Questionnaire 

7 Questions

  • Q1. Why ISB? Why MBA? Why consulting?
  • Ans. 

    ISB provides a diverse cohort, world-class faculty, and a strong alumni network. MBA will equip me with business acumen. Consulting will challenge me to solve complex problems.

    • ISB offers a diverse cohort with varied backgrounds and experiences

    • World-class faculty with industry experience

    • Strong alumni network with global reach

    • MBA will equip me with business acumen and leadership skills

    • Consulting will challenge me to solv...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Case Questions: A publishing firm has been seeing a fall in profits off late. Help them diagnose and fix the problem
  • Q3. A lot of questions about my work experience and about my company
  • Q4. What I thought was the best way to encourage innovation in a technology company
  • Ans. 

    Encouraging innovation in a technology company requires fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation.

    • Provide employees with resources and time to explore new ideas

    • Encourage collaboration and cross-functional teams

    • Reward risk-taking and learning from failures

    • Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies

    • Create a safe space for brainstorming and idea-sharing

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Case Questions: Tata motors was producing Indica (which costs around 3 Lakhs), and wanted to produce a 1 lakh car. How can they go about doing this?
  • Ans. 

    Tata Motors wants to produce a 1 lakh car from their existing Indica model.

    • Tata Motors can reduce the number of features in the car to bring down the cost.

    • They can also use cheaper materials for the car's body and interior.

    • Tata Motors can explore partnerships with other companies to share costs and resources.

    • They can also optimize their supply chain to reduce production costs.

    • Tata Motors can consider producing the car ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. PI questions: Tell me about yourself?
  • Ans. 

    I am a highly motivated and experienced Engagement Manager with a proven track record of delivering successful projects.

    • I have over 8 years of experience in project management and client engagement

    • I am skilled in stakeholder management, risk assessment, and project planning

    • I have a strong focus on delivering high-quality results within budget and on time

    • I am a great communicator and team player, able to work effectivel...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q7. Case Questions: The Maharashtra government wants to build a plan for the Mumbai metro project and wants it to be a completely self financed project. How could this be achieved

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The case started on a very generic note and on the outset seemed like a standard profitability case. I started with some clarifying questions such as
: What does the company do? The company is into magazine publishing (2nd highest selling weekly magazine, in addition to
few other magazines.
: Who are the competitors? There are a few other competitors. 2 other large competitors, 1 larger and another smaller than our
company and the segment is dominated by these 3. There are a few other smaller players too.
: How long have they been facing the problem? Facing it for the past few years.
: How are the competitors doing? Doing fine. Have been more or less constant.
I started with structuring the problem in a standard profitability problem (profit = revenue – cost). He told me that the revenues have been fine and they have actually seen an increase in revenue over the past few years (he threw some numbers here such as % increase in revenue etc). Then I told him that I would focus on the costs. In order to handle the costs part, I created a value chain of the complete process from the time of collection of news and articles (reporting) editing printing distribution. Here he asked me to think if there could be something else also in the value chain. I realized that after distribution there should be something related to ‘returns’ also. He was expecting the same answer. Then I went through the various parts of the value chain to understand
the costs involved in each part and if something had changed or could be improved there, but there were no major issues. Since he had asked me specifically for the returns part, I asked him a little more about the returns policy and what happens if the vendor/retailer has overstocked the magazines. He told me that the company takes them back and the value is practically zero for those magazines. (Throughout the discussion he was giving me numbers on how much it costs per magazine at each part of the value chain).). At this point, I asked him if there had been an increase in the number of returns (overstocking at the retailer’s end and he gave me some data which indicated that was the case). I told him that at this point, we can evaluate the implications of
both under-stocking and overstocking at the vendor’s end and find if the company is supplying the optimal quantity. This was basically an application of the ‘newsvendor problem’ we studied in the basic operations course. Post this it was simple, I completed the calculations and he looked satisfied.

It’s very important to listen carefully during a case interview. Most interviewers will give away hints and will try to help you solve a case. Catching those hints and solving the case together with the interviewer is the key. Another thing that I think went right was the conversations before and after the case interview. I was done with the interview in 12-15 minutes. For the remaining time, I chatted with him about his experience interviewing at ISB and how he found it different from interviewing at the IIMs. And then we went on to talk about the different models that the schools operate on and how the education sector in India has evolved
etc etc. All of this helped me strike a note with the interviewer. Finally the fact that I could remember what the newsvendor problem was


Tips: Listening skills are very important. Go through the core term concepts. The ability to apply concepts studied in the various subjects to your case interviews give that ‘wow’ factor.


Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: A majority of this interview was PI. He asked me a lot of questions about my work experience and about my company (Trilogy). He then asked me about what I thought was the best way to encourage innovation in a technology company. Although this was a PI, I tried to put a structure to my answer. I basically divided the reforms into a few buckets, like organizational changes (incentive structures), employee focus, customer focus etc. And then elaborated under each of the sub- headings. There were also other questions related to the biggest challenges at work etc.

This was a very small and simple case. He was primarily looking for ways to not just reduce cost but how to approach a radically different problem. I went through the standard set of cost reduction measures throughout the value chain but told him that this would only achieve only so much cost reduction. In order to create a one lakh car, they need to look at something from the scratch. It needs to be a fresh design (not just of the engine, but also design of how the various processes work today, including where the assembly happens, how distribution works etc).

Most of this interview was about my work experience (Software product development and technology consulting), and my views on the technology sector. It helped to have researched the various trends in the sector and having an opinion on the various things.

Nothing much, though it may have helped to go through the casebooks from earlier years in detail, because this case was very similar to something that was asked in one of the previous years, but I heard it for the first time in the interview.


Tips: : Be very thorough with your work experience related topics
: Do research on the trends etc in the relevant sector.
: Try and structure your responses even in a PI.


Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: This was again a small case, where interviewer did most of the talking. I started with telling him that there would be two key aspects to this project, the first being the financing (sources, procedures) and the second being the revenue generation, and both of these together need to contribute to a self financed metro project. I started with the revenue part first. I approached this through an asset monetization approach (basically analyze the various assets that the project would own and look at ways to monetize each of them). Here I talked about the train, the tracks, the land near the tracks and the stations etc and suggested ways to monetize these. The most important thing that came out was the land that is allocated to the metro project, and which is not used directly for
the project and can be developed as a commercial property to monetize the project. Once we reached this stage, interviewer talked at length about how this worked at the Mumbai metro project where he was involved and how they were able to collect many times more revenue than the amount needed for the project. Then I talked about the financing part. Here I basically started with the
pecking order and suggested ways to finance. I told him that given that government guarantees could be explored and this could lead to ways of reducing the cost of financing. This turned more into a conversation, where interviewer talked about the various kinds of securities that could be used and how the government often provides sops in the form of tax breaks etc.

Again, listening helped. He kept giving me hints and helped me progress through the case. Also, during the case prep sessions, we had touched upon the asset monetization strategy, which helped here.

Nothing really went wrong. It would have been nice to know about the various securities that interviewer mentioned could be used for financing such a project


Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Engagement Manager Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. He laid out the problem. There’s an airport somewhere in London, which has 4 terminals and 2 runways. The airport authorities are planning to build a 5th terminal. Would it make sense?
View answer (1)
Interview experience
2
Poor
Difficulty level
Hard
Process Duration
6-8 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I was interviewed in Aug 2024.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Excel test
Logical Reasoning test
Quantitative aptitude test

Round 2 - Case Study 

An extensive case study for the corporate tax team that includes knowledge of US GAAP and transfer pricing.

Round 3 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. What are the fundamental accounting concepts, accounting entries, and the applicable tax rates for various services?
  • Ans. 

    Fundamental accounting concepts, entries, and tax rates for various services.

    • Fundamental accounting concepts include accrual basis, matching principle, and consistency.

    • Accounting entries for services typically involve recognizing revenue and recording expenses.

    • Applicable tax rates vary depending on the type of service and the jurisdiction.

    • For example, consulting services may be subject to a different tax rate than soft

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What is your understanding of transfer pricing and its applicability?
  • Ans. 

    Transfer pricing is the setting of prices for goods and services sold between related entities within a company.

    • Transfer pricing is used to determine the cost of goods and services transferred between different divisions or subsidiaries of a company.

    • It is important for multinational companies to establish transfer pricing to ensure fair pricing and compliance with tax regulations.

    • Transfer pricing can impact a company's...

  • Answered by AI
Round 4 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. What is the amount of data you have managed in your previous roles?
  • Ans. 

    I have managed large volumes of data in my previous roles, ranging from terabytes to petabytes.

    • Managed terabytes of data in previous roles

    • Handled petabytes of data in data analysis projects

    • Experience with data storage and retrieval systems

    • Utilized data management tools and techniques

    • Implemented data governance policies and procedures

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Which ERP software have you worked with?
  • Ans. 

    I have worked with SAP ERP software extensively in my previous roles.

    • Extensive experience with SAP ERP software

    • Proficient in modules such as Finance, Supply Chain, and HR

    • Implemented custom solutions and integrations with SAP ERP

    • Trained team members on using SAP ERP effectively

  • Answered by AI
Round 5 - HR 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. What are your salary expectations and how do you approach negotiations?
  • Ans. 

    I approach negotiations by researching industry standards and emphasizing my value to the company.

    • Research industry standards for the position to determine a reasonable salary range.

    • Highlight your skills, experience, and achievements that make you a valuable asset to the company.

    • Be prepared to discuss and negotiate benefits and other perks in addition to salary.

    • Stay professional and respectful during negotiations to ma...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What is your preferred joining date and the notice period required by your current organization?
  • Ans. 

    My preferred joining date is in one month and my notice period is two weeks.

    • Preferred joining date: one month from now

    • Notice period required by current organization: two weeks

    • Flexible with joining date if needed

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Focus on job satisfaction and skill development rather than merely on the brand name and salary.

Senior Analyst Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. Explain 3 statement financial model Calculating discount rate Could you walk me through the DCF model? Other valuation methods. What PE is ideal? What is the other matrix to value the company? Difference between IRR and CAGR. What is Bond Y... read more
View answer (1)
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

Top McKinsey & Company Business Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. 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 than for bikes
View answer (1)

Business Analyst Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. You have 10 boxes of balls (each ball weighing exactly10 gm) with one box with defective balls (each one of the defective balls weigh 9 gm). You are given an electronic weighing machine and only one chance at it. How will you find out which... read more
View answer (9)

Associate Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 3 Mar 2025

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
Selected Selected
Round 1 - One-on-one 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Fit interview with PEI
Round 2 - Case Study 

Optimise social media marketing channels

Round 3 - Case Study 

Grow market share for a milk company

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Improve train ticket buying experience and riding experience

Associate Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. What is mean of TTR & why required for powder coating process ?
View answer (17)

McKinsey & Company interview questions for popular designations

 Consultant

 (66)

 Business Analyst

 (22)

 Business Presentation Specialist

 (19)

 Summer Intern

 (13)

 Intern

 (11)

 Junior Associate

 (9)

 Associate

 (8)

 Analyst

 (6)

Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 7 Oct 2024

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Campus Placement and was interviewed in Sep 2024. There were 3 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Game made by Mckinsey (youtube) 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Food chain and case investigation
Round 2 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Basic qns about resume(focusing on skills like python ,sql,projects)
Round 3 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Case study or Guestimate

Get interview-ready with Top McKinsey & Company Interview Questions

Analyst Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 22 Sep 2024

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Company Website and was interviewed in Aug 2024. There were 4 interview rounds.

Round 1 - HR 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Basic information about past experiences
Round 2 - One-on-one 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. This was round with the associate consultant
Round 3 - Case Study 

It was a case study round with the manager and about the CV

Round 4 - One-on-one 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. This round was with the associate partner. There was one small case study.

Analyst Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. N-th Fibonacci Number Problem Statement Given an integer ‘N’, your task is to find and return the N’th Fibonacci number using matrix exponentiation. Since the answer can be very large, return the answer modulo 10^9 + 7. Formula: F(n) = F(n-... read more
View answer (1)

Jobs at McKinsey & Company

View all

Analyst Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 26 Jun 2024

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Valuation and situation based question
  • Q2. What will create most value- growth or margin. Based on GS matrix
  • Ans. 

    According to the GE McKinsey Matrix, focusing on growth or margin depends on the specific business unit's position in the matrix.

    • In the GE McKinsey Matrix, businesses are categorized into four quadrants based on market attractiveness and competitive strength.

    • For businesses in the high market attractiveness, low competitive strength quadrant, focusing on growth may create more value by increasing market share and compet...

  • Answered by AI

Analyst Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. N-th Fibonacci Number Problem Statement Given an integer ‘N’, your task is to find and return the N’th Fibonacci number using matrix exponentiation. Since the answer can be very large, return the answer modulo 10^9 + 7. Formula: F(n) = F(n-... read more
View answer (1)
Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
Selected Selected
Round 1 - HR 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. What are doing in transport
  • Ans. 

    I am responsible for managing the transportation operations, ensuring timely delivery of goods and maintaining vehicles.

    • Coordinating with drivers and scheduling routes

    • Ensuring vehicles are properly maintained and serviced

    • Tracking shipments and updating customers on delivery status

    • Managing transportation budget and expenses

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What abut your self
Round 2 - Group Discussion 

I am wording and smart working

Transport Incharge Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. When Vehicle place delay what will you do
View answer (2)
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

Top McKinsey & Company Business Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. 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 than for bikes
View answer (1)

Business Analyst Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. You have 10 boxes of balls (each ball weighing exactly10 gm) with one box with defective balls (each one of the defective balls weigh 9 gm). You are given an electronic weighing machine and only one chance at it. How will you find out which... read more
View answer (9)

US Recruiter Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 8 Aug 2024

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Tell me about yourself
  • Ans. 

    Experienced HR professional with a passion for connecting top talent with great opportunities.

    • Over 5 years of experience in recruiting and talent acquisition

    • Strong communication and interpersonal skills

    • Proven track record of successfully filling positions in various industries

    • Passionate about helping individuals find their dream jobs

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Tell me about your role
  • Ans. 

    I am responsible for managing a team of sales representatives and developing strategies to increase sales revenue.

    • Lead and motivate sales team

    • Develop sales strategies

    • Analyze sales data and trends

    • Collaborate with marketing team

    • Meet sales targets and goals

  • Answered by AI

US Recruiter Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. Are you aware about the different time zones ? Name some .
View answer (5)
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
-
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Campus Placement

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Multiple choice questions

Round 2 - One-on-one 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Personal interview questions
Round 3 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Was asked basics for the role
Round 4 - HR 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Compensation discussion

Business Presentation Specialist Interview Questions asked at other Companies

Q1. Find maximum PowerPoint sheet discrepancies and document them.
View answer (3)

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McKinsey & Company Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in McKinsey & Company 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 HR.
How to prepare for McKinsey & Company interview?
Go through your CV in detail and study all the technologies mentioned in your CV. Prepare at least two technologies or languages in depth if you are appearing for a technical interview at McKinsey & Company. The most common topics and skills that interviewers at McKinsey & Company expect are Analytical Chemistry, MS Office, Consulting, Communication Skills and Customer Service.
What are the top questions asked in McKinsey & Company interview?

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

  1. There is a chairman of a conglomerate. He has been on the post for 10 years, an...read more
  2. Growth of cars vs growth of motorbikes - which would grow faster in % terms? A:...read more
  3. You own an e-commerce website which sells jewellery, fashion products and appa...read more
How long is the McKinsey & Company interview process?

The duration of McKinsey & Company interview process can vary, but typically it takes about less than 2 weeks to complete.

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McKinsey & Company Interview Process

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