How do i best prepare for McKinseys Personal Experience questions?

Question

I totally get that you have to prepare two situations, that align with McKinsey‘s values.
But how do i practice the ,followup‘ questions?
Has anyone any tips?

Much appreciated!
:)

Answer 1

Hey!
To prepare for McKinsey's Personal Experience Interview (PEI) and follow-up questions, I advise my mentees to focus on these strategies:

Prepare Detailed Stories: Craft two stories for each of McKinsey’s core values: e.g., Inclusive Leadership, Personal Impact, Entrepreneurial Drive. Ensure they are specific, structured (using STAR helps a lot: Situation, Task, Action, Result), and showcase your direct contribution.
Anticipate Follow-up Questions:
- McKinsey interviewers dig deep, so expect questions about your thought process, decision-making, and challenges faced. Practice explaining why you took specific actions and how you influenced others.
- Example follow-ups:
  - "What was the hardest part about xy?"
  - "Why did you choose this approach?"
  - "How did others react, and how did you manage that?"
  - "What would you do differently?"
Practice with a Partner: Have someone role-play as the interviewer, asking not just about the initial story but also probing deeply into your reasoning, actions, and outcomes.
Self-Reflection: Think through your stories thoroughly. Ask yourself "why" after every key point to be prepared for follow-ups on motivation, challenges, and impact.
Be Honest and Consistent: McKinsey values authenticity, so ensure your responses are genuine and aligned with the values you highlight.

Practicing this way will help you feel more confident and prepared for the depth of McKinsey’s follow-up questions. Let me know if you have further questions! Happy to help out :)

Alessa

Answer 2

Hi there,

Please have a look at the following article on the PEI to create your stories: McKinsey PEI (Personal Experience Interview)

For the follow-up questions, deeply consider the reasons for your actions and a few other things:

Why did you do that/act in a certain way/say that?
What did you/they feel at that moment?
How did you/they react?

Have a friend, peer, coach ask you these questions to test your stories.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 3

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