Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking about applying to McKinsey after graduation and I’m curious about what they’re looking for in candidates. What kind of background do successful applicants usually have? I’m currently studying at IIT and want to make sure I’m developing the right skills and getting the right experience. Are there particular courses, internships, or activities that would make my application stand out? Also wondering about the interview process and how competitive it really is. Any advice from people who’ve been through this or know someone who has? Thanks in advance!
Networking’s seriously underrated. Hit up a McKinsey info session - their recruiter straight up told us they hire tons of people through referrals. Reach out to IIT alums working there, most will help if you’re not pushy about it. They’re also really into social impact now, so maybe get some NGO or volunteer work under your belt.
Your skills are solid - keep it up! McKinsey loves problem-solvers, so drill those case studies and work on your logical reasoning. Having an IIT background is huge. Stay confident and you’ve got this!
My roommate landed McKinsey last year. What shocked me? They cared way more about his leadership stuff than grades. He wasn’t even our top student, but he was debate society president and ran our startup competition. His interviews focused mostly on those experiences, barely touched his coursework. He said case interviews were brutal, but mock sessions with friends who’d done consulting interviews before really helped. Don’t overthink the “perfect” background thing - they want to see how you think and talk.
lol good luck with that. McKinsey gets 200,000 applications for maybe 2,000 spots globally - you’re competing with every overachiever on the planet. IIT helps, but so do daddy’s connections or a Harvard degree. Those case interviews? They’re designed to make you sweat while some 26-year-old associate judges your “structured thinking.” Most people I know who got in had solid backup plans because counting on McKinsey is like buying lottery tickets. If you’re set on it though, you’ll at least get some great rejection stories out of it.