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, 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.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They define who we are as a firm and who we strive to be as individuals. These guiding principles shape our actions and help us achieve our dual mission: helping our clients make distinctive, lasting, and meaningful improvements in their performance, and building a great firm that attracts, develops, excites, and retains exceptional people.
Our values are more than words on a page—they come to life through the everyday experiences of our people. During your interview, your assessor may share personal stories about how McKinsey operates as a non-hierarchical, diverse meritocracy. They might share insights into our formal and informal apprenticeship programs, mentorship opportunities, and the importance we place on constructive dissent—ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
We encourage you to explore our values. We want to create a space where you feel comfortable asking questions and discussing how McKinsey’s values align with your own. Use the Q&A portion of your interview to discuss these values further and ask anything that’s on your mind.
Your interview experience will differ depending on the role for which you apply. Several include an online assessment, writing test, or a group exercise. All candidates have at least one individual interview, and the number of colleagues you meet will vary.
But regardless of the path or office location you pursue, the process is consistent, fair, and offers you the opportunity to showcase your skills, learn more about the role, and meet our colleagues so you can get to know McKinsey.
So how should you prepare for your interviews? Relax and be yourself. Bring questions for us. Come prepared to share your experiences, knowledge, skills, and accomplishments.
Our goal is that any virtual interviews closely match the experience of in-person interviews. Therefore, we expect that you participate in any virtual assessments alone—without assistance from others and using only one screen—and that you discard any notes you take during the process. We also prohibit the use of external apps, websites, calculators, or pre-prepared notes during interviews. Recording or capturing any part of the assessment process, including our online game Solve, is forbidden. Engaging in such actions may result in disqualification from consideration, rescinding of an offer, restrictions on future applications, or legal action.
As we embrace a wide range of technologies, including Generative AI, in our everyday work, we understand candidates using these tools to refine their resumes or prepare for interviews—much like in the past, reaching out to family and friends for support. However, using Generative AI to misrepresent yourself—such as inflating achievements on your resume or leveraging AI to craft real-time responses during interviews—violates our values and compromises fairness. If you require any accommodations during the assessment process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you.
