McKinsey's 2027 recruitment runs in three stages: the Solve game (a digital assessment), then two rounds of interviews each pairing a case interview with a Personal Experience Interview (PEI). The PEI is McKinsey's signature — a deep dive into one or two stories from your life, probed far harder than a normal competency question. Most candidates prepare for the case and get blindsided by the PEI.
This guide covers the 2027 intake at McKinsey & Company — applications open in 2026 and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applying early gives you the strongest chance. Confirm exact dates on McKinsey & Company's official careers page.
Programs & Timelines
McKinsey hires Business Analysts (undergraduates) and Summer Business Analysts (interns) across its global offices. Applications typically open in early autumn and run on a rolling basis — popular offices fill their interview pipelines quickly. Check McKinsey's official careers page for your target office's exact window.
Round 1: The Solve Game
McKinsey replaced traditional psychometric tests with Solve, a gamified digital assessment. You play through scenarios — typically an ecosystem-building game and a tower-defence-style resource game — that measure critical thinking, decision-making and systems thinking. What it tests: how you handle complex, dynamic problems with incomplete information, not whether you're good at games. You can't study the games directly, but practising structured decision-making under time pressure helps. Play through each scenario twice if the format allows a practice round, and narrate your reasoning as you go — the habit of explicit logic carries straight into the case interviews. Treat every in-game choice as if an interviewer is watching your logic.
Round 2: First-Round Interviews (Case + PEI)
Two interviews, each about an hour, each split between a case and a PEI. McKinsey's cases are interviewer-led like Bain's: the interviewer guides you through a business problem step by step. The PEI is the differentiator — the interviewer picks one experience ("Tell me about a time you led a team through a challenge") and drills into it for 15–20 minutes: what exactly did you do, what did others do, what would you change. What it tests: the case tests structured problem-solving; the PEI tests self-awareness, ownership and impact. The classic fail is a PEI story where "we" did everything — McKinsey wants to know what YOU did. Prepare two stories (one leadership, one challenge) and rehearse them against the "five whys": for every claim, be ready to answer "how exactly" five levels deep without contradicting yourself.
Round 3: Final-Round Interviews (Case + PEI)
Two more interviews with engagement managers and partners. The cases get more open-ended and the PEI goes deeper — partners are testing whether your judgement and leadership instincts match what McKinsey puts in front of clients. Expect the case maths to be faster and the PEI follow-ups to be uncomfortable ("You said you persuaded the team — how, exactly, word for word?"). This round is as much about presence as intellect. Prepare by doing mocks with people who will interrupt and challenge you, not just listen politely — partner interviews reward candidates who stay composed when the conversation gets uncomfortable.
FAQ
What is McKinsey's Solve game?
A gamified digital assessment replacing traditional aptitude tests. It measures critical thinking and decision-making through interactive scenarios rather than multiple-choice questions.
What is the PEI interview?
The Personal Experience Interview: a 15–20 minute deep dive into one leadership or challenge story from your life, with relentless follow-up questions. It's unique to McKinsey and eliminates more candidates than the case.
How many interviews does McKinsey run?
Typically four interviews across two rounds, each combining a case and a PEI. Some offices add an extra assessment.
Is McKinsey's case interviewer-led or candidate-led?
Interviewer-led — the interviewer structures the flow and feeds you information. Your job is sharp analysis and clear communication at each step, not owning the framework.
Applying to McKinsey? Our 2027 McKinsey Solve Game & Case Interview prep covers every round — $79 one-time, instant download.
