Defying Dyslexia: How I Landed a Job at McKinsey & Company (Part 2)
Taking a Leap of Faith: Applying to McKinsey and Committing to Thorough Preparation and Hard Work
As part of my preparation for the CEO of the Future event, I needed to complete some online tests. One was math. I had always been good at math, but being out of school for a while had made me rusty. The second test included some symbol-related questions, which I found easy. I planned to take the test on a Saturday morning before going out for breakfast with my girlfriend. Wanting to avoid making her wait, I rushed through it. The symbol test was a breeze, but the math section required a lot of reading, and I didn’t give it my full attention. Nonetheless, I finished the test and headed out for breakfast.
The Event: Teamwork and Presentation Challenges
The CEO of the Future event was a mix of team exercises and presentations. The team exercise involved building a bridge with paper that needed to be stable enough for an egg to roll over without cracking. Our team built the longest bridge by constructing it on the floor with tiny pillars instead of between two tables, thus conserving materials and a much easier built. There was some team friction, which I helped resolve. One teammate wanted to boast about our success, but I asked him to refrain, maintaining our team’s focus and professionalism. Each team had an observer, and ours was a McKinsey partner who later hired me.
The presentation exercise was intriguing. Divided into small groups, we were assigned a room and instructed to present on the essay we had submitted. I hadn’t reviewed my essay since submitting it and had no copy with me. Luckily, the facilitator had a copy and handed it to me, noting my lack of preparation. I had just five minutes to skim through it and get ready. This turned out to be an advantage. My competitors were overly rehearsed and lacked authenticity. In contrast, my spontaneous presentation was engaging and memorable. I read the room correctly and connected well with the decision-makers, especially a representative from Bayer.
Feedback and Realization
After the presentations, I received feedback from the McKinsey partner. Nervous, as I hadn’t received much constructive feedback in the past, I was stunned by his praise. He described me as a natural leader who excelled in the team exercise and delivered an excellent presentation. However, my math test results were abysmal—16%. In contrast, my performance on the figure test was in the 98th percentile. The partner dismissed the math test results, assuming I hadn’t done much written math recently. I was relieved and thrilled to be among the final 20 out of 20,000 applicants.
To spill the bean, I didn’t win the competition, the experience was invaluable. Over three weekend events spread over six months, I met amazing leaders and learned a lot about consulting. My preconceived notions about consultants being arrogant and aloof were debunked. I found the McKinsey team supportive and encouraging, a stark contrast to my own workplace, where feedback was scarce and opportunities for advancement limited.
The Turning Point
Despite my frustrations at work, I remained committed. However, the lack of feedback and growth opportunities became unbearable. One morning, after the final presentation and celebrations, I saw the McKinsey partner with his family at breakfast. Summoning all my courage, I approached him and expressed my interest in joining McKinsey. He grilled me on my motivations and was satisfied with my answers. He promised to put my name forward for an interview. As a McKinsey partner he has one wildcard a year and he used it for me.
A day later, I sent him my CV. Within days, McKinsey’s recruiting team contacted me to schedule the interview day. Determined not to drag it into the new year, I opted for an early December date, giving me four weeks to prepare for what is known as the “interview marathon.”
Preparing for the Marathon
The interview marathon includes a written test followed by two interviews. If successful, you continue with two more interviews and a final one with a partner. I practiced for the written test with exercises my math teacher friend provided, and though I never completed it within the 60-minute time limit, I aimed to do my best. For the interviews, I meticulously prepared personal fit questions, writing detailed stories that demonstrated my leadership and impact. Just google for the personal fit question in a McKinsey interview you will find the categories they are probing for,
With two coaching calls, one from a partner and one from the head of personal development, I felt well-prepared. These calls provided invaluable insights, particularly on the famous Golden Gate Bridge case.
D-Day: The Interview Marathon
The day of the interview arrived… to be continued.
Stay tuned for the next part of the story, where I detail the interview process, the challenges I faced, and the unexpected six-month break in Australia that followed. Subscribe to hear the rest of this story.
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Current Books in Parallel Reading:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Pyramid of Success by Coach Wooden
Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Habits I’m Working On:
• Fitness & Health: More sports, healthy eating, no junk food, lots of veggies, and less sugar. Aim: Sports 4 times a week (weights and running).
Mindset: I’m a runner and I’m healthy.
Status: got a run in (gym 5k)
• Dental Health: Flossing daily to avoid crowns and root canals.
Mindset: I have healthy teeth and I don’t hear the drill sound anymore
Status: yep I’m flossing
• Writing: Practice, practice, practice—daily diary entries, no excuses.
Mindset: thinking how I got here part 2
• Weight: 112 kg (still still no scale)
Mindset: back at the hotel no scale
Consecutive Days Posting on Walter’s Diary:
Twenty-Eight (28)