McKinsey is introducing a new interview exercise for some entry-level applicants in which candidates hold a short conversation with an AI simulation of a client, according to reporting cited by multiple outlets. The AI-led segment is described as lasting about 10 minutes and is intended to test how candidates handle realistic client scenarios during the early stages of the hiring process.
Outlets describe the exercise as part of McKinsey’s broader effort to evaluate candidates’ judgment and communication skills under simulated, work-like conditions. The AI simulation is reported to be designed to reflect a large portion of scenarios consultants may encounter day to day, with one report citing a figure of roughly 80% of those situations. The news coverage frames the change as another twist in McKinsey’s already challenging hiring funnel, with candidates potentially facing an additional, technology-driven assessment beyond standard interview rounds.
