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      Associate Consultant Interview

      20 Dec 2010
      Anonymous employee
      Chicago, IL
      Accepted offer
      Positive experience
      Difficult interview

      Application

      I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at McKinsey & Company (Chicago, IL) in Dec 2010

      Interview

      Applied online through the APD (advanced professional degrees - MD, PhD, Masters, etc) channel. Passed the initial resume screen and was invited to the IWIA (Initial Workshop and Initial Assessment). This consisted of a standard assessment test which was a 26 question test based on case studies. Challenging part was the 1 hour time constraint. (Test is similar to the online sample on McK's website). The second part was two group breakout sessions (3 candidates/1 McK consultant) that's meant to give an idea of how case study interviews work. Was repeated told that the outcome of the first round interview was SOLELY based on the assessment test, but opinions differ. The second round was held at my local office. Consisted of three 1-on-1 interviews. Each interview consisted of initial chatting, a personal experience type question (e.g. name a time in your career that you were a leader and had to resolve conflict within your group, etc) and a case interview (standard consulting cases). Prior to the second round, we were asked to give preferences for our final office. Supposedly, there is a standard bar across all of McK, which if passed, you're advanced to the final round (regardless of office preferences). Once you get thru to the final round, your office preferences and the office's needs are matched up. I got my first preference, the Chicago office. Similar to the 2nd round with three 1-on-1 interviews, but the only difference would be these interviews tend to be more senior members/partners in the office. That being said, the case interviews in the 2nd round were more formatted (interviewers have cases in front that they reference). The 3rd round partners tend to be more off the cuff, formulating their own case information as they go and they want to see you think on your feet. Overall, I agree with previous posters that McK makes you feel like part of the team even during the interview process. In between each round, they offer plenty of support/feedback, opportunity to meet other consultants, etc. They sincerely appear to want you to succeed. They pick up the bill for travel/lodging and you get a glimpse of the glitz/glam of working for a company with their reputation. A key part of this process appears to be your ability to interact with interviewers and have a solid approach with case interviews so live practicing with friends, consulting clubs, etc., would be helpful.

      Interview questions [2]

      Question 1

      Personal experience type - name a time in your career....
      Answer question

      Question 2

      Case studies - similar to those found in Cosentino's Case in Point
      Answer question
      6

      Other Associate Consultant interview reviews for McKinsey & Company

      Associate Consultant Interview

      24 Feb 2026
      Anonymous interview candidate
      ‘Ushayrah, Riyadh Province
      No offer
      Positive experience
      Difficult interview

      Application

      I interviewed at McKinsey & Company (‘Ushayrah, Riyadh Province)

      Interview

      Rigorous but fair questions - mostly case based. Two sets of interviews x 2 rounds. You only get invited back for the afternoon if you pass the morning round. They expect a high degree of mental math and creativity. Worth prepping for standard case interview style questions, using frameworks but able to adapt them.

      Interview questions [1]

      Question 1

      Case based - mostly retail related
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      Associate Consultant Interview

      15 Jan 2026
      Anonymous interview candidate
      Washington, DC
      No offer
      Positive experience
      Average interview

      Application

      I interviewed at McKinsey & Company (Washington, DC)

      Interview

      Long process with little to no communication, good folks though. Not too difficult just time consuming. Pulled out after the first round as I lost interest, but appreciated the opportunity to interview.

      Interview questions [1]

      Question 1

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      Associate Consultant Interview

      14 Jan 2026
      Anonymous interview candidate
      No offer
      Positive experience
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      Application

      I interviewed at McKinsey & Company

      Interview

      The interview process is structured and demanding. It includes a resume screen, problem solving tests, and multiple case interviews with personal experience questions. It’s objectively hard, testing structured thinking, communication, and calm under pressure. Not impossible but you must prepare seriously.

      Interview questions [1]

      Question 1

      They asked me to walk through a case and clearly structure the problem first. How I broke it down mattered more than getting the final answer right.
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