McKinsey assessment game

Hi there,

1) I was wondering if every applicant gets to go through the Mck assessment game for screening, or only selected one? 

It depends. Most of the time they first screen the CV. However I know the test was sent to all INSEAD candidates earlier this year before CV screening

2) Also, is there anything to prepare for? I've read on different threads that there isn't much to prepare for but I was wondering..

Yes, you can find some prep material here:

Guide only: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/mckinsey-imbellus-game-secrets-48

Guide + Videos: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/imbellus-combo-guide-videos-68

(Full disclosure: I am the author ;) )

3) Additionally, can you actually “fail" the game test and not make it to the first round of interviews?

Yes definitely, that’s why many people prefer to prepare in advance.

For other questions please PM me.

Best,

Francesco

• If everyone gets the game or not? McK has increased the coverage to almost all its new incoming applicants of late. Whether you will get it or not will ultimately depend on what HR tells you.
• Anything to prepare? Get a feel of how to play tower defense and ecosystem games. For tower defense you can try Kingdom Rush and Plants vs Zombies - they are not exact, but can help you in developing the aptitude. For ecosystem, try Equilinox on Steam - it is slightly more dynamic and less testing than Imbellus but will give you a good feel and help you develop the aptitude.
• Fail? Yes you can fail and not make it to the interview. Do not consider that as a rarity.

Hey there,

To answer all your questions:

1. No, not all. There is already a pre-selection made based on resume screening

2. Yes, there are a couple of things you can do and a lot of different products on the market. I can offer my product here in combination with my coaching package

3. Depends on the office. Some offices combine the game with the first interview round and it's about the combined performance. Others have it as a separate step in the application process, which means once you fail the game you are out.

Cheers,

Florian

I was wondering if every applicant gets to go through the Mck assessment game for screening, or only selected one? 

Not at all! It entirely depends on where you're applying, when, for what role, and through what channel.

Also, is there anything to prepare for? I've read on different threads that there isn't much to prepare for but I was wondering..
Not at all! There are a lot more supporting resources out there than there were a year ago when it first came out (lucky for you). Francesco's guide is great. Feel free to also shoot me a message and I'll be happy to send you my resources!

Additionally, can you actually “fail" the game test and not make it to the first round of interviews? 

Yes. In some cases it's used as a screening, in others it's used in conjuction with your 1st round interview. You will be told going into it.

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I'm happy to give you my perspective on that:

• From the experience of coachees of mine and of my personal network, I can say that all applicants (both entry-level position and senior roles) had to take the McKinsey Imbellus. There might still be exceptions for singular offices or roles, but generally speaking it is a fixed component of the McKinsey recruiting process.
• When it comes to preparation, even if the numbers slightly change every single time so that there is no “one-size-fits-all solution”, I would advise you to properly familiarize yourself with the McKinsey Imbellus. There exist a couple of (partially outdated) guides provided by other coaches on PrepLounge yet I would be more than happy to give you up-to-date, first-hand insights on how to best prepare for the upcoming McKinsey Imbellus. And yes, you can also fail in it - thus, I would advise you to familiarize with the test properly.

In case you want a detailed discussion on how to best approach the McKinsey Imbellus with all its 4/5 possible games (no need to pay for sometimes outdated guides), please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Hello,

It varies by office/position - some offices send it to every candidate as part of the initial screening whereas others only send it to candidates who have passed the resume screen, there's really no way of telling. You can fail the test and not make it to the first round, so I would definitely recommend reading up and preparing for it.

Hi!

Imbellus is generally sent to candidates that go through the screening stage but it's not always the case.

There are some strategies to crack the test. I have built a specific session for it, so let me know if it might be interesting for you.

Best,

Anto