McKinsey Adds AI Client Simulation to Entry-Level Interview Process
The consulting firm will have some undergraduates applying for business-analyst roles interact with an AI simulation designed to reflect common client scenarios.
What happened
McKinsey & Company is incorporating a 10-minute conversation with an AI-simulated client into its entry-level interview process for some applicants. The simulation aims to reflect 80% of scenarios McKinsey consultants encounter in day-to-day work and is not designed to portray an unreasonable client. Human assessors, not the AI, will evaluate how candidates handle the simulated interactions. The tool will be tested this fall among undergraduate applicants for business-analyst positions in some North American offices, with hundreds potentially participating.
Context
McKinsey's move reflects broader industry adoption of AI-mediated interview assessment. By testing candidates' real-time client-handling skills in a standardized, repeatable format, the firm can evaluate a key competency for consultants at scale. The use of human reviewers alongside the AI simulation suggests an intent to preserve judgment about interpersonal performance while automating scenario design and delivery. This represents a shift in how entry-level consulting candidates are screened before or during the interview process.