McKinsey recruitment: process, interviews and online test
At McKinsey (generalist), recruitment runs over 2 interview rounds for an internship and 3 for a full-time role. A test comes on top of the interviews: "Solve". McKinsey hires for a second gap-year internship and a full-time graduate role, but not for a first gap-year internship.
How does recruitment work at McKinsey?
Recruitment at McKinsey runs over 2 interview rounds for an internship and 3 for a full-time role.
Internship and apprenticeship
- 1
Round 1
McKinsey-style interview with a Senior Consultant - 2
Round 2
2 McKinsey-style interviews with a Manager and a Partner
Full-time role
- 1
Round 1
McKinsey-style interview with a Senior Consultant (PEI + case study) - 2
Round 2
2 McKinsey-style interviews with Managers - 3
Round 3
Interview with a Partner (McKinsey values + case study)
Good to know: Recruitment windows: CVs are collected over one period, interviews take place over another.
Is there an online test at McKinsey?
Yes, the McKinsey process includes a test, which our directory describes as "Solve".
Who can apply to McKinsey?
McKinsey hires for a second gap-year internship and a full-time graduate role, but not for a first gap-year internship.
| Application | Open |
|---|---|
| First gap-year internship | No |
| Second gap-year internship | Yes |
| Full-time graduate role | Yes |
When should you apply to McKinsey?
McKinsey hires on a rolling basis for the programmes below: no deadline is published, so applying early is the safer choice.
Which cases should you practise for McKinsey?
These cases from the FrameLab catalogue are attached to McKinsey: their brief and their outline are free to read.
- Paris Marathon Water Sizing
- Ski Resort Rail Strategy
- Furniture Chain Growth Plan
- Education Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Education Reform Challenge
- Oceanic Bank's Digital Challenge
- EV Battery Producer NPV
- Vaccine Manufacturer Cyberattack
- Paint Manufacturer Profitability
- Retailer Revenue Drop
- Growth Strategy for FoodFast
- Restaurant Cost Optimization
- Profitability of a printer
- Market Sizing Fabric Softeners
- Atelier Lumières Attendance
- Historic Castle Value Enhancement
- Extension FitnessPro
- SaaS Software Pricing Strategy
- PharmaCorp E-commerce Strategy
- Paris 2024 Olympics: TV Rights Acquisition
- Call Center Optimization
- Profitability of a Gigafactory
- Market Sizing: London Buses
- TravelWise revenue decline
- QuickBite Revenue Optimization
- Optimization of medical time at Novaria
- Launch of a used bicycle store
- Loss of Market Share HealthBridge Clinics
- US Market Entry
- A retailer's margins
- HomeServ Growth
- Electric Scooter Market
- MachinaVision Growth
- Clinical Patient Time
- Retail Margin Drill-Down
- DataSecure Growth
- NPV of a Gigafactory
- Ski Market Size
How do you prepare for McKinsey interviews?
You do not pass a McKinsey interview by reciting a framework learnt by heart: the interviewer expects a structure built for the question just asked, accurate maths without a calculator and a recommendation you stand behind.
Start with the questions that come up most, train your estimates and your mental maths, and treat the classic frameworks as a starting point you adapt, never as a ready-made answer.
To prepare your interviews
Frequently asked questions about McKinsey recruitment
How many interview rounds are there at McKinsey?
Recruitment at McKinsey runs over 2 interview rounds for an internship and 3 for a full-time role.
Does McKinsey use an online test?
Yes, the McKinsey process includes a test, which our directory describes as "Solve".
Can you apply to McKinsey for a gap-year internship?
Yes, for the second gap-year internship. The first gap-year internship is not open at McKinsey.
What does the final round at McKinsey look like?
For an internship: 2 McKinsey-style interviews with a Manager and a Partner. For a full-time role: interview with a Partner (McKinsey values + case study).
Is the full-time process different from the internship process at McKinsey?
Yes: the internship process has 2 interview rounds, the full-time process has 3.
How is McKinsey positioned?
Our firm directory describes McKinsey as: generalist.