How to get a job at McKinsey

For MBA, McKinsey & Co. is one of the most in-demand consulting firms, with starting base salaries around $175,000. Adriana Crespo, Recruiting Operations Manager at McKinsey, recently spoke with Condition and offered insight into what the MBA recruiting process is like and what firms look for in hires.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP RECRUITMENT STARTS IN SEPTEMBER

The recruitment process for summer internships at McKinsey usually begins in late September or early October.

“That’s when we get into presentations, panels, coffee chats, all the wonderful things that help students get to know us—the day in the life, what it’s really like to be a consultant, all that stuff,” Crespo says.

McKinsey will then begin to walk students through the interview process.

“They can meet the recruiters. They meet people from the offices. Then we start moving into the evaluation phase, where we start talking about how the interviews work and how the shell works,” says Crespo. “Schools usually have counseling clubs that help them prepare and tell them what it’s like to interview. You have to prepare for our interviews because there is a business case that is presented during the interviews.”

If students are offered an internship position, McKinsey will invite them to the office to learn more about life at the firm.

“We’ll tell them about professional development,” Crespo says. “We’re going to have lunches for them and dinners and have a little fun — and show them more of what our culture is really like live and in person.”

INTERVIEWS: PROBLEM SOLVING AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Crespo says the McKinsey interview focuses on candidates’ problem-solving abilities and personal experience. Both aspects, she says, are equally important to the role.

“If you don’t hit both, it’s just not going to happen,” she says. “We definitely want to give you a little more ‘at-bats,’ in a sense.” Not only do you have to have analytical skills, but you also have to have people skills.”

Crespo is candid about how difficult McKinsey’s interview process is and how much prep work it takes—comparing the process to preparing for the GMAT or other standardized tests.

“Take the time to prepare,” she says. “You have to put in the work – you really do. This is true for anyone in any school, regardless of resources. Start the cases and use your friends first. When you feel confident that you’re practicing with those people, move on to practicing with maybe someone from McKinsey, maybe a friend, maybe someone you’ve connected with. Do a case study with them and then listen to their feedback. I’m not saying do 80 practices. I’ve heard of people doing this. Do it where you are comfortable.

Sources: Fortune, Management Consulted

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