Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 461,000 Peers!

Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!

Are the PEI questions and case study material considered in decision for Mckinsey?

McKinsey McKinsey & Company mckinsey 1st round interview McKinsey 2nd Round - Experienced Hire mckinsey case McKinsey case interview
New answer on Jul 04, 2024
2 Answers
94 Views
Anonymous A asked on Jul 02, 2024

Hello lovely people,

I just had a final round with a partner for McKinsey and the PEI question and case study was very similar to what I received in the 2nd round (I had 3 rounds scheduled). HR has told me they are looking for a time slot to discuss with all my interviewers.

My question is, is the actual content of the PEI and case study discussed in the final decision meeting? i.e. do the interviewers say “I asked this question on PEI and used this case study with the candidate”

Reason I’m asking is because I only had 4 interviews in total and I’m wary that my profile will only show a very narrow aspect of myself including on the case study (all 3 case studies in 2nd and 3rd round were on logistics). For PEI I did use different stories but my methodology to solve the situation was the same/similar.

Or is it the case that interviewers just discuss the strengths, weaknesses holistically without diving into the detail and provide a score + final hiring decision? 

I know in the end it doesn’t matter since I just need to wait and I’m sure I did well in all my interviews but would just like some clarity for my mental health :)

Thanks.

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Florian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jul 03, 2024
1300 5-star reviews across platforms | 500+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

Congrats on making it this far with a strong performance!

  • The cases should not be an issue since the interviewers selected them for you. The context here does not matter compared to how you approached the different elements during each case
  • For the PEI, as long as the context is not always the same, it is also not an issue. For instance, if you discuss 4 PEI stories all from your last year at university, that's too one-dimensional. However, if you selected stories from different situations and backdrops, that is fine. 
  • As regards the similar methodology that's okay. PEI stories are evaluated in a very specific way and you need to discuss very specific things to hit the marks (often leading to similar story arcs and actions on your behalf)

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

Cheers,

Florian

Was this answer helpful?
Hagen
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Jul 04, 2024
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing, and coaching

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with McKinsey thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

  • First of all, they will focus on discussing your performance, not the intricate details of cases or PEIs.
  • Moreover, you don't need to worry about the PEIs as long as you weren't using the same situation for multiple dimensions. Using the same, proven approach is, of course, positive.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

(edited)

Was this answer helpful?
Florian gave the best answer

Florian

Content Creator
1300 5-star reviews across platforms | 500+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
1,160
Meetings
23,107
Q&A Upvotes
136
Awards
5.0
514 Reviews
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
You are a true consultant! Thank you for consulting us on how to make PrepLounge even better!
^