We sat down with Philipp, who interviewed with McKinsey earlier this year, to hear about his experience interviewing with Finalta by McKinsey. Read more about how he tackled interviews while on a journey across Argentina.
About me
I graduated in finance from the University of Amsterdam and started my career at a global bank. Following three years as a credit analyst, I continued my journey as a banking restructuring consultant, focusing in mergers and acquisitions in Germany. Now, I am an analyst with Finalta by McKinsey in Budapest, where we benchmark the productivity and digital advancement of banks across Europe to help clients make strategic decisions.
I applied to McKinsey because it’s a global network of outstanding individuals who are motivated to work together to make a meaningful difference for clients. I appreciate McKinsey’s focus on value creation for clients; it’s a main driver of the firm’s amazing culture. Additionally, I was excited about the breadth of opportunities for career development here - it is unparalleled.
Before interviews
I read online resources about McKinsey’s interview process, and, honestly, felt overwhelmed. My worries turned out to be unnecessary. The interview process is designed in a logical way and consists of intellectual problem solving sessions. Rather than a right or wrong answer, intellectual curiosity should prevail. The combined case and fit-based interviewing style is an effective assessment, focused more on learning how someone thinks than examining the knowledge the possess.
Initial interviews
I felt nervous getting ready for my two initial interviews. It was pre-COVID-19, so the interviews were held in the Budapest office – a new city, a new firm and a ton of smart people around me. I hung onto the thought that I was invited for a reason, and took confidence in my preparations.
Final rounds
I had two final interviews, one in Madrid and the other in Buenos Aires (where I was traveling at the time). I was surprised by the genuine involvement of my interviewers who conducted the sessions in a coherent and guiding way. They guided me toward a holistic understanding of the requirements and substance of my role. As a bonus, when I visited those offices, I felt a sense of belonging I haven’t experienced so strongly before. I haven’t officially started at the firm yet, but I have already gotten to know my soon-to-be team members and leadership.
Interview highlights
I conducted my final interview with the Budapest office via video conference while backpacking in Buenos Aires. I didn’t have the most elegant clothing at my disposal, and ended up wearing a flowery shirt and flip flops (which, thankfully, could not be seen in the video). A formal offer arrived two hours after the interview, evidencing the firm’s meritocratic culture. While a suit may not be required for interviews, I wouldn’t exactly try my wardrobe that day by choice.
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