Consulting behavioral interview questions

Why consulting and why this firm

Usually the first fit question. A strong answer names a moment you did this kind of work and liked it, then one thing about this firm you checked yourself, such as a conversation or a practice area.

• Why do you want to go into consulting?
• Why do you want to work at this firm?
• Why should we hire you?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Do you have any questions for me?

Your story

The opening question, about 90 seconds. Pick the three or four choices that explain why you are in the room, and end on why consulting now.

• Give me a quick overview of your background and what brought you to consulting.
• Walk me through your background and why you are here today.
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What is your biggest weakness?

McKinsey PEI-style stories

McKinsey's Personal Experience Interview takes one story in depth from one of four areas: connection, drive, leadership and growth. These four match those areas, three of them McKinsey's own preview questions in our words. Expect follow-ups on your role and your reasoning.

• Tell me about a time you had to work closely with someone who saw a problem very differently from you.
• Tell me about a time you achieved something difficult against real obstacles.
• Tell me about a time you led a group to a result that mattered.
• Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly.

All 48 McKinsey PEI questions

Leadership and influence

Interviewers want one decision you made and how you brought people with you, not a title. Changing a mind without authority counts as leadership too.

• Tell me about a time you took the initiative without being asked.
• Tell me about a time you changed someone's mind.

Teamwork and conflict

Show that you understood the other side well enough to argue it, what you gave up and how the work went afterward. Avoid a story where you were simply right.

• Tell me about a conflict you had with a teammate.
• Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager.

Impact and problem solving

Lead with the result and a number, then the hard part and the call you made. The interviewer will ask what you did yourself, so keep the team in the background.

• Tell me about a difficult problem you solved.
• Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.
• Describe a time the numbers and the stories you were hearing did not match. What did you do?

Failure and feedback

Choose a real miss with a cost, own your part in one sentence and spend most of the answer on what you changed and where you used it since.

• Tell me about a time you failed.
• Tell me about a time you received tough feedback.

Judgment under pressure

Consulting work moves fast with partial data. Say what you knew, what you assumed, how you decided and what you would do differently.

• Tell me about a time you had to make a decision without all the information you wanted.
• Tell me about a time you had to work without clear direction.
• Tell me about a time you had more work than you could finish on time.