Acing your

McKinsey PEI
Introduction session

September 2017
Nicolas Constantinesco
nicolas.constantinesco@gmail.com
Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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PEI is not a typical ‘fit’ interview!

Typical fit interview: Deep dive into

several ONE story
2-3 minute stories
for 15-20 minutes

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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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There are 4 PEIs across the 2 interview rounds

PEI PEI PEI PEI

(20-25 mins) (20-25 mins) (20-25 mins) (20-25 mins)

Case Case Case Case

(35-40 mins) (35-40 mins) (35-40 mins) (35-40 mins)

Interview 1 Interview 2 Interview 1 Interview 2

Round 1 Round 2

On rare occasions there can be a 3rd interview, with or without a PEI

(call & ask the recruiter what you can expect!)

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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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12 criteria are assessed in interviews, 9 of which during PEIs

To pass Interviewers assess

McKinsey looks interviews: 12 criteria:
for: § “Distinctive” in § 3 during cases
§ Rare talent 2-3 criteria
§ 7 during PEIs
§ Well- § At least “very
roundedness strong” on all § 2 during cases &
criteria PEIs

Exceptional case performance is never enough:

irrespective of case performance, passing interviews
requires very strong performance in PEI

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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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The 12 (hidden) criteria reflect 4 buckets of characteristics

Does the
candidate have:
1. Intellectual
horsepower and
business sense
to find the right
solutions?
(case)
2. Skills (and flair)
to lead people
and drive
change in an
organization?
(PEI)
3. High propensity
PEI PEI Case PEI
to achieve?
(PEI)

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There is one PEI question for each bucket

Question 1:
Typically
Tell me about a time when you faced Round 1
significant opposition

Question 2:
Tell me about a time when you worked Typically
with others to achieve a challenging both rounds
objective

Question 3:
Typically
Tell me about a time when you stretched Round 2
yourself to achieve a challenging objective

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 2015
screenshot

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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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The opening mechanics are consistently the same

Interviewer’s opening script Candidate

At McKinsey we believe … / we look for people who…

In just a moment I’m going to ask you to tell me about one of your
experiences. Right now I want you to think of an example of a time when
[PEI Question]. When you have an example, don’t jump in – just tell me
you have an example in mind, and I’ll lead you through the rest of the
process
Yes, I have an example in mind
Great. Before you get started, I want to get an overall view of this
example. Please summarize your experience in a single, concise sentence
that starts with “I” or your name – like a newspaper headline
I convinced IESE to invest EUR 100k in
students’ preparation for case interviews
Excellent. Now, using exactly the same headline logic, please describe the
“roadmap” of your experience, i.e. the 3-4 key milestones or phases
1. I engineered leadership consensus
around the objective of being #1 in
consulting offers
2. I developed program to support students’
preparation for case interviews
3. I obtained approval for the funding
Thank you for this. In just a moment I’m going to ask you to get started.
As you recount your experience, please remember to keep the focus on
your role – don’t be shy about using “I” a lot. Also, I may interrupt you from
time to time to ask you clarifying questions – please follow my lead.
Finally, we may not make it to the end of your story, but don’t worry and
don’t feel rushed. With that in mind, please go ahead and start at the
beginning!

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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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The “PEI way” focuses on the facts about how you operate

3 key principles
1. The stories are about you and you only – you are the protagonist
2. Interviewers are interested in how you operate as a person, not
your intellectual or technical approach to business problems
3. They care 90% about process and only 10% about outcome

Therefore don’t… Instead…

§ Focus on the team
§ Focus on technical / problem
solving dimension
§ Adopt today’s perspective:
⎻ Philosophize
⎻ Judge
⎻ Deep dive into lessons learned
§ Focus on your role; say “I”, “I”, ”I”
§ Focus on what you did, said,
thought, decided, felt
§ Focus exclusively on the facts of
the story as they happened at the
time

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 Structure & tell your stories chronologically with deep dives into
“moments of richness”
Don’t…
§ Tell your story in parallel streams
§ Go back & forth in time
§ Feel the need to explain everything
§ Go into unnecessary detail
Beginning End

How to structure & tell your stories

§ Go strictly chronologically
§ Keep focus on what you did, said, thought, decided & felt
§ Deep dive into 3-4 vignettes / “revealing moments of richness”
§ Organize into 3-4 phases or chapters
§ Indicate transition from phase to phase
§ 12-15 minutes assuming no repetition or interruption
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Agenda

§ Introduction: how is PEI different?

§ How does PEI fit in interview process?

§ Does PEI matter?

§ What content does PEI cover?

§ How does the opening work?

§ How should I tell my PEI stories?

§ How can I best prepare?

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Master the “PEI way” before crafting your stories
Objective
§ 2 stories for each question (main + backup)
§ Each story PEI-ready

Suggested approach
1. Master the “PEI way” with one story
i. Select one story you’re excited about
ii. Make it PEI-ready
2. Select and prepare 5 additional stories

How to select stories How to make stories PEI-ready

1. Scan whole career and personal life:
work, university, sports, community
activities, music, clubs, etc…
2. Make long list of all potential
experiences/stories to use
3. Select the 5 stories that answer the
questions and fit the criteria in the
most relevant & compelling way
1. ”Relive" your story: recall what
happened and what you did, said, felt,
thought at each step along the way
2. Identify the key vignettes & revealing
moments of richness
3. Structure story with headline,
"roadmap” and phase detail
4. Practice again & again until ready

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Next session details

Next session:
§ 6 October 16:00-17:30
§ Between invitations and interviews

Homework:
§ Make one story for each Round 1 question PEI-ready
§ Practice each story at least once before the session

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