What not to do in a case interview, Part II

(This follows from below post).

Many candidates have this mindset.

"I need to practice cases and learn frameworks. Then when the interview comes,  I can use the frameworks I've practiced!"

Using preset frameworks show you can memorize information and then regurgitate it when something sounds similar in the interview.

Does this mean you'll be good in front of a client? Does this mean I want you on my team? Does this mean you can help client solve problems?

No! This means you're using information you memorized before to try to solve a new problem. Your framework is a crutch that you're tied to, and if I put you in front of a client, and he asks you something that you don't have a framework for, you're going to sound like a moron.

Using frameworks shows:

1. Interviewee is not clever enough to solve this case, they're solving a past case
2. Interviewee is boring
3. Interviewee sounds like a consultant*

So what should you say? What's a different approach less likely to get you dinged?

Let's look at the case intro:

Our client is a petting zoo that has lost revenue because of repeated animal attacks on children. Our client hired your team to help them turn around this problem. What should they do? 

Here is a much better answer even though it's far less "structured".

I'm going to start by saying what the hell, this is a bizarre case. Does McKinsey really serve petting zoos? Anyway, better start with Why is this happening, and How can we stop it. 

To look at why, what animals are attacking the kids? Did we import new animals? Are these standard animals to have in a petting zoo? How have we not been shut down?

To look at how we can stop it, can we get rid of the attacking animals? What are other petting zoos doing? Are there security fences we can put up that will keep kids away from dangerous animals? 

Top priority is figuring out why this is happening and what animals are attacking the kids, so that's where I want to start. This also sounds dangerous so maybe our client needs to shut down until they get this fixed or hire some attorneys.

Many case interview "coaches" would say that's a bad answer. It's not that structured! You're leaving things out! There's only two issues on the issue tree!

All true.

But this addresses this case. This is how we would talk to a client who really had this problem with the petting zoo. I would have this conversation with a client.

What you want to demonstrate to your interviewer is that you're creative enough to craft an approach that matches the client's problems. Using a preset framework demonstrates the opposite.

*There's more self-loathing in consulting than any industry. Consultants are EXTREMELY self-conscious about sounding like a consultant. Most consultants hate consults. Don't sound like a consultant if you want to get a consulting job.

What not to do in a case interview - Part I

Me: Our client is a petting zoo that has lost revenue because of repeated animal attacks on children. Our client hired your team to help them turn around this problem. What should they do? 

Interviewee: Can I have 60 seconds to collect my thoughts? 

Me: Sure, go ahead. 

*Try to look like I'm emailing important, C-level clients as I furiously play candy crush*

Interviewee: I look at this problem as having FOUR parts, the Company, the Customer, the Competition, and the Market as a whole. Let me talk you through my issue tree. 

DING. Failure. Completely wrong answer. For the rest of the case I will be thinking about whether I should join a new tribe on World of Warcraft or stick with my current group of clowns, even if we can't seem to do anything beyond attack each other. 

*********

At this point, 90 seconds into the interview (assuming we started with the case) I know that this candidate is NOT getting an offer. The rest of the interview is mostly meaningless. 

It's possible this candidate can recover with an incredible personal experience study and a perfect job on the rest of the case but I have never seen a candidate recover from something like this. 

And the kicker is probably 50% of candidates start their interview this way. 

Tomorrow I'll explain WHY this is a disastrous case performance. 

Also note that the majority of prep materials, from Ace the Case to CaseInterview.com often suggest that you should start a case like this.

That should tell you the value of that advice. 

One more point - before taking advice from a case prep service in order to prepare for a mckinsey interview, always ask:

(1) Did the person giving this advice work for McKinsey?

(2) If yes, was the person interview trained? (Only happens ~1 year into being an associate)

(3) If yes, did the person do interviews?

If the answer to any of those questions is no, take the advice with a big grain of salt. 

McKinsey offer rate

First thing to know about applying to McKinsey:

The offer rate is low. Really low. Around 1% globally. That's more competitive than getting your kid into Harvard, even if he started a club that teaches the homeless to plant sustainable organic gardens, and almost as competitive as becoming a prison guard in California (really)

Know this number before you pay a penny for case prep materials thinking those materials will get you a job at McKinsey. 

Does that mean you have a 1% chance of getting an offer at McKinsey?

No. Only a very small subset of people has a 1% chance of getting an offer at McKinsey.

It's binary. 

Top schools: 

If you're an outgoing student at HBS with an impressive background and some interview chops, you've probably got a ~20%* chance of getting an offer. 

Likewise, if you're a Bro who worked at TFA then at Uber and are now at Kellogg, you've got a solid ~20% chance. 

Not top schools: 

If the OVERALL acceptance rate is 1%, but the acceptance rate at the very top business schools is at least 10X that #, then the acceptance rate OUTSIDE of the top schools is very low. Far under 1%. 

So, don't bother applying if you're not at a core school?

Wrong. Still apply. In fact your humble author joined McKinsey from a non-tier school. 

But know your odds going in. Don't put all your eggs in the McKinsey basket. You shouldn't do that for a lot of reasons, but especially because the vast vast vast vast majority of McKinsey applicants will do something other than work at McKinsey. 

*Source: Team Analysis. At Mckinsey, if you're not sure where the data comes from or if you need to make up data, add a "Source: Team Analysis" footnote. If that's too risky make it "Source: Industry Experts".)

Welcome to the blog!

Welcome to the blog.

I'm a former McKinsey engagement manager. Over my three years at McKinsey I interviewed hundreds of applicants at the BA, Associate, and experienced hire levels from multiple backgrounds.

The point of this blog is to address the fact that, while there's an industry of case prep available, much of it is outdated or uninformed. Doing the wrong case prep (e.g., memorizing frameworks from Ace the Case) will make you a less competitive applicant at McKinsey than if you did no prep at all.

I'll talk about my time at McKinsey, the case interview process, and answer questions you have.

This advice is relevant to candidates applying to McKinsey. I imagine it will also be helpful for candidates at other firms but I have no insight into their process other than what I've heard from others.

Email me at McKCaseInterviews@Gmail.com with your questions and I'll post answers a couple times a week.