How AI is changing the legendary McKinsey interview

Entire books have been written to teach people how to ace a McKinsey interview. Now the game changes.

For decades, consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company have relied on case interviews, in which potential candidates work through simulated customer problems with company managers.

Now, as consulting firms race to both adopt AI and advise their clients on how to do the same—implementing the technology in everything from report writing to data synthesis—technology has become a new hurdle in the vaunted interview process at McKinsey, BCG, and others.

The changes come as these firms change the nature of their work and focus less on pure consulting projects and more on developing, implementing and maintaining tools for businesses. They look for candidates who understand the nuances of AI and can use it to work faster and smarter.

Earlier this month…