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His Mckinsey Interview - Career (2) - Nairaland

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Phds At Mckinsey (or other Consultancies) in Nigeria? / Mckinsey 2014 - 2015 Applications / Mckinsey First Round Interview (2) (3) (4)

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Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 8:24pm On Nov 22, 2013
Very insightful responses on this thread, kudos to the OP.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by GetOvaMe: 8:28pm On Nov 22, 2013
gcfr.com:
Fred: our client said the problem is from the painting.
Me: tor let them go and buy a new paint na, or better still get a fvking new plane.
lmao. The Perfect Answer!.. I wish i could like dat p0o a bazilion times

2 Likes

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by daRealest(m): 8:49pm On Nov 22, 2013
gcfr.com:
Fred: our client said the problem is from the painting.
Me: tor let them go and buy a new paint na, or better still get a fvking new plane.

LMFAO, I almost fell laughing at this...abi wettin person go talk again..

2 Likes

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by UyiIredia(m): 9:37pm On Nov 22, 2013
HNosegbe: Threads like this don't attract a crowd. Perfect for intellectuals.

I can't wait to read the second part - I've been eyeing that firm for a while now.

Unfortunately they don't, because folks here come dull and to dull their intellect.

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by blackis(m): 2:41am On Nov 23, 2013
When I drop by on NL I 'cherry pick' from the frontpage, view topics worth my attention and sign off.
Stopping by today I have found reason to say welldone to the OP for sharing his Mckinsey interview
experience. Just to chip in to what I believe you already know. When an interviewer responds like
yours did while mentioning that paint was actually the reason sighted for the spike in fuel cost,
what he could also be saying is - while all you mentioned also in some form contributed to the
rising fuel cost, I wish you had mentioned the weight of the paint!! To be honest with you
Jarus, it was a delight going through your responses and I will be on the lookout for the
next one.

People, we need more contributions like this on NL to generate the level of intellectual
discourse that has been lacking on this forum for a while. Thanks once again Jarus
and best wishes with your preparations for the next stage.

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by DonaldGenes(m): 6:35am On Nov 23, 2013
Cold faya: #faints. Waht kinda interview is dis again. Shuooo
Serious thing.

no be small interview be this oh? This one having first class alonecan't help you even if you didn't prepare

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by SolomonAdeola: 6:52am On Nov 23, 2013
Hmmm, nyc one
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 8:24am On Nov 23, 2013
Nice one jarus, Following this one, waiting for the next...
BTW, anyone notice there's been just one lady comment on this thread Ok, I'm sure they feasting on tonto dikeh's thread... grin grin grin grin grin

2 Likes

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by spinnin(m): 9:12am On Nov 23, 2013
Mckinsey is one hell of a place to be at. Passing the test alone is something to be proud of. I'm just imagining what my responses would have been if I was on the receiving end of that interview. It takes critical and logical reasoning ability to answer those questions. Nice 1 op
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Jarus(m): 11:36am On Nov 23, 2013
black is: When I drop by on NL I 'cherry pick' from the frontpage, view topics worth my attention and sign off.
Stopping by today I have found reason to say welldone to the OP for sharing his Mckinsey interview
experience. Just to chip in to what I believe you already know. When an interviewer responds like
yours did while mentioning that paint was actually the reason sighted for the spike in fuel cost,
what he could also be saying is - while all you mentioned also in some form contributed to the
rising fuel cost, I wish you had mentioned the weight of the paint!! To be honest with you
Jarus, it was a delight going through your responses and I will be on the lookout for the
next one.

People, we need more contributions like this on NL to generate the level of intellectual
discourse that has been lacking on this forum for a while. Thanks once again Jarus
and best wishes with your preparations for the next stage.
spinnin: Mckinsey is one hell of a place to be at. Passing the test alone is something to be proud of. I'm just imagining what my responses would have been if I was on the receiving end of that interview. It takes critical and logical reasoning ability to answer those questions. Nice 1 op

Thanks all. But as you can see it wasn't my experience. It was that of David, one of my blog's columnists.

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Jarus(m): 11:37am On Nov 23, 2013
Uyi Iredia:

Unfortunately they don't, because folks here come dull and to dull their intellect.
Intellectual threads don't attract crowd on NL smiley

3 Likes

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Jarus(m): 11:40am On Nov 23, 2013
This was the thread he opened on Nairaland before going for that interview 2 years ago:

https://www.nairaland.com/740444/mckinsey-first-round-interview

2 Likes

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 1:32pm On Nov 23, 2013
Wow.
Is this real? Did that interview really occur?
I'm trying to picture myself in that situation.
Please more of this, I'm following 110%
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 4:54pm On Nov 23, 2013
OP u try oh. Reading for that their PST alone was like a test to me gaan. Talkless of writing the test. For my mind I say wetin be this! I never even ready for dis one sef. But i write d test sha, I try for some, d rest I just shade anything. grin Pple dey sha.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by BuBBle1(f): 10:23pm On Nov 23, 2013
brown_kid: Nice one jarus, Following this one, waiting for the next...
BTW, anyone notice there's been just one lady comment on this thread Ok, I'm sure they feasting on tonto dikeh's thread... grin grin grin grin grin
. Meaning what? soo how many guys commented? What makes u think that everybody who reads this must comment whether lady or guy?mchewww. @OP nice one, pls get the guy to give us the 2nd one. Waiting.....
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by spawne: 10:57pm On Nov 23, 2013
Impressive answers...!
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by funkybaby(f): 8:02pm On Nov 24, 2013
BIGER BOY: the guy even tried to have passed the PST, dat thing is seemingly 'unpassable'

i think these interviews are designed not necessarily to get the precise answers out of you, but to see mechanics behind your reasonining, and d ability to find FIND solutions and not GETTING them per say. ..

Exactly!
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Jarus(m): 8:48am On Dec 04, 2013
Part 2

This is the sequel to the first part which contains a transcript of my second interview. Sadly, I didn’t make it through to the next round (reason why you are getting all these details – so you can get in) but I would also analyze why I think that didn’t happen in the third part and also answer some questions people have asked about the interview process. Let’s get straight to business.

As part of feedback from my first interview, Fred mentions the following things to me:
1.Let there be a structure to all your responses. This means ensuring that your thought process is sequential, logical and organized.
2.Communicate without pauses. Don’t doubt your statements just go on and speak convincingly.
3.Think outside the box. When I asked you why airlines paint their planes, I expected something out of the box. Almost everyone I have interviewed today said for planes are painted for branding purposes.
4.Automatically discuss the implications of your analysis. I like that you mentioned that the company spends about $1m for every kg of paint. It helps get a better perspective of the situations and not just spilling out figures.

My second interview was shortly after the first with about a fifteen minute interval.

This time I was interviewed by a guy named Nameet who was a project manager in Amsterdam and had been with Mckinsey for six years. This interview was conducted using video conferencing.

Nameet goes on to ask the competency based question as usual and surprisingly, it is the same question Fred asked me in my first interview – Tell me of a time you had to convince a superior and how you went about it.



The Case Interview

Nameet: In 1998, there were two airplane manufacturers – Boeing and Airbus both manufacturing similar products. Boeing and Airbus both produced about seven products of about 100 and 300 seats. Boeing then announced it had started developing a 400 seater Boeing 747 to which Airbus had no response. Airbus the decided to manufacture the Jumbo jet a 500 seater aircraft.

Nameet: So David, tell me. Given that air traffic is constant, what other factors would affect the demand for Boeing and Airbus’ products?

Me: two factors can affect their product sales – Positive factors and negative factors. On the positive side, passengers fear about aircrafts as a result of crashes and the recent volcanic ash…

**Nameet cuts in “Remember traffic is constant”

In my mind I am there wondering what is this guy saying. I start getting nervous because my line of thought has been broken and now I don’t even know where to pick up from again. I begin to wonder what is wrong with these people and airline industry today why didn’t they ask me about an industry that I could easily relate with. At the time of the interview, I hadn’t even been on a plane in my entire life.

My confidence level started dropping and I gathered myself to continue with the interview. Al these thoughts went on in my mind in a split second do there really was no pause.

Me: Ok, reduced prices, introduction of frequent flyer programs

**Nameet cuts in again “Remember traffic is constant”

This time I actually take a pause because I do not even know what to say again.

Nahmeet goes on to narrate the case again from the beginning and suddenly I realize my mistake!!!! I didn’t realize that Boeing and Airbus were not airline operators but airplane manufacturers!!!! OMG. You see what I was thinking? If it was a familiar industry now I would not make this kind of mistake.

Me: Oh, Oh, I’m sorry. Speed of airplanes, comfort of airplanes and the opportunity for airline operators to charge higher fees as a result of the new airplanes.



Nameet: Ok. Airbus has been told it would cost $12bn in research and development expenses to come up with the new Jumbo Jet. It costs $175m to produce one airplane and it can be sold for $200m. Airbus has decided to introduce the new 500 new jumbo jets by the introduction of 250 new jumbo jets and the replacement of 250 existing airplanes. How many years would it take Airbus to recover its investment?

Me: Could you please come again the network seems to be breaking.

At this time, I had already got all the details I needed. I only said that so by the time he repeats the question again, I would have finished my calculations and BAM!! I would slam him with the answer. He went on to repeat the question and truly I had finished my computations.

Me: Selling 500 airplanes at $200m gives us $100bn at a cost of $87.5bn (500*$175m). This gives us net revenues of $12.5bn.

This means Airbus can recover its money in one year!

Nameet: Ok, David, thank you for your time. Do you have any questions for me?

Me: Yes. Tell me how a typical workday at Mckinsey is.

Nameet goes on to talk and talk and honestly I am not interested in his story I just asked as part of standard interview procedure. All I could think about was how much time I spent on the mix-up between airline operators and aircraft manufacturers.

I thank Nameet for his response and the interview is over. I head home and begin thinking about everything. So this thing is real? Companies really do this kind of interview? All through my preparations I somehow thought it could never be as they had mentioned now I was thoroughly convinced.


http://www.jarushub.com/ysr-my-mckinsey-interview-ii/
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by horlajide: 10:42am On Dec 04, 2013
Oh Lawd! cry
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by BIGERBOY1: 11:24am On Dec 04, 2013
these guys are really the best in the consulting business, and they go for the best, they never compromise standard anywhere. I use to have a professor who was a mckinsey consultant or something he specialised in asian markets. i use to go sit in his office for hours to discus market trends, exchange rates etc hoping he might refer/recommend me to mckinsey. but the guy no bulge. may be one of these days or years i might consider given them a try again even though i luv my current job.

thanks for the insight OP better luck nxt time

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 11:47am On Dec 04, 2013
Interesting! I am looking forward to the third part. I feel the repeated emphasis on air traffic remaining constant may have been one of the factors that disqualified the interviewee.
If I may add to the tips given, speed of thought while presenting a logical,structured and sequential response is bound to be a plus.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by haibe(m): 1:36pm On Dec 04, 2013
Jesus Christ is a christian!! jeez, I still don't even understand the questions.

May God help me oo
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Sagamite(m): 7:01am On Dec 06, 2013
BIGER BOY: these guys are really the best in the consulting business, and they go for the best, they never compromise standard anywhere. I use to have a professor who was a mckinsey consultant or something he specialised in asian markets. i use to go sit in his office for hours to discus market trends, exchange rates etc hoping he might refer/recommend me to mckinsey. but the guy no bulge. may be one of these days or years i might consider given them a try again even though i luv my current job.

thanks for the insight OP better luck nxt time

BCG and Bain staff are equally as good.

I would also be careful with that statement.

They are the best in "strategy" consulting, by no means are they good or close to being the best in implementing the strategy. Majority of these kind of consultants (Mckinsey, BCG and Bain) are usually only good in blue sky thinking and theory. They tend to struggle with detail. Hence are not that good in strategic change and transformation, which are also highly intellectual fields but require a larger population to conduct and hence allows some not-so cream of the cream in with the cream, unlike high-level strategy that requires a few and hence very gregarious.

They are good for developing corporate, business and functional strategy. But there are many other consultancies better for transformation consulting. Those with a capability for both high level and mid level view of issues.

1 Like

Re: His Mckinsey Interview by jaybee3(m): 7:15am On Dec 06, 2013
Sagamite:

BCG and Bain staff are equally as good.

I would also be careful with that statement.

They are the best in "strategy" consulting, by no means are they good or close to being the best in implementing the strategy. Majority of these kind of consultants (Mckinsey, BCG and Bain) are usually only good in blue sky thinking and theory. They tend to struggle with detail. Hence are not that good in strategic change and transformation, which are also highly intellectual fields but require a larger population to conduct and hence allows some not-so cream of the cream in, unlike high-level strategy that requires a few and hence very gregarious.

They are good for developing corporate, business and functional strategy. But there are many other consultancies better for transformation consulting. Those with a capability for both high level and mid level view of issues.

You are bang on point bro (as always).

They did some consultancy work for us recently and what you described above is exactly how we felt once they left the building.

I actually did quite a lot of analyses for these guys. They are so damn rude.... Geeez
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Sagamite(m): 1:15am On Dec 07, 2013
jay bee:

You are bang on point bro (as always).

They did some consultancy work for us recently and what you described above is exactly how we felt once they left the building.

I actually did quite a lot of analyses for these guys. They are so damn rude.... Geeez

I am surprised they were damn rude because they are usually better trained than that.

Maybe that was a junior and recent hire that had his head up his arsse.

They are trained to learn get as much people on side with them and to aim to operate laconically with majority of client staff that are not their direct senior client contacts.

The ones that were rude to you can be out of the door if anyone ever found out.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 1:37pm On Dec 08, 2013
tunapa2009:
We need to know the area of the room, and also the area in which a golf ball can occupy..lol

it would be the volume of the room, not area. That gives you 3 dimension in Length, Width and Height.

Area is just 2 dimensions when considering a cube-shaped room, which is Length and Width.

As for the golf ball, you factor in the diameter for each ball which I believe would be uniform on others.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 10:16pm On Dec 08, 2013
What an interview !!!! Just picturing myself in the guy's situation.God dey .jarus, wish there will be a part 3, really enjoyed part one and two, so educational. ..
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by ladygogo: 10:05pm On Dec 09, 2013
Nice interview. really got me thinking.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Sagamite(m): 7:09am On Dec 10, 2013
If I was to rank consulting firms based on their specific business models, I would go like this:

Strategy
1. Mckinsey
2. BCG
3. Bain
4. Roland Berger
5. AT Kearney

General Advisory
1. Oliver Wyman
2. Deloitte Consulting
3. PWC
4. Ernst & Young
5. KPMG

Full Service Advisory
1. Accenture
2. Capgemini
3. Booz Allen Hamilton
* I will refrain from naming any more as I don't see any other player in the full service field that is diverse enough from systems integration and has the brand strength to win strategic/advisory work like these three named firms.

In consulting there are, by and large, two key success metrics:

1) Revenue per Consultant
2) Scale/size of firm

For the Strategy business model, (1) is dominant. High revenue per consultant with medium scale is good.

For the General Advisory business model it is a balance.

For the Full Service Advisory business model, (2) is dominant. Medium revenue per consultant with high scale is good.

Hence why the strategy consultants get paid more. Even in the Full Service Advisory firms, their strategy consultants get slightly higher pay. The hierarchy there is strategy->transformation->technology->outsourcing.

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Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Nobody: 7:35am On Dec 10, 2013
Sir Sagamite, I sent you a PM.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Sagamite(m): 8:18am On Dec 10, 2013
2s£xy:
Sir Sagamite, I sent you a PM.

Cool.

I go pick am up.
Re: His Mckinsey Interview by Sagamite(m): 8:28am On Dec 10, 2013
I replied but e bi like say NL email dey fail.

I dey get mail demon error reply.

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