Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
McKinsey to test AI client conversations in some entry-level interviews
McKinsey plans to add a 10-minute AI client conversation to interviews for some entry-level business-analyst applicants.
The test will involve undergraduates in some North American offices this fall.
The simulated client is designed to reflect many situations consultants face in everyday work, not to act unpredictably.
Human interviewers will assess candidates, rather than the AI scoring them.
The tool is being tested as consulting firms and other companies explore AI in hiring.
The exercise is intended to show how applicants handle client-like situations.
McKinsey expects hundreds of applicants may use it during the test, but no wider rollout is described.
McKinsey & Company plans to test an AI client simulation in some entry-level job interviews.
Candidates will have a 10-minute conversation with the simulated client.
The test is for undergraduates seeking business-analyst jobs in some North American offices this fall.
The AI is not designed to score candidates; human assessors will evaluate how they handle the scenarios.
The simulation aims to reflect 80% of situations McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work.
- Who
- McKinsey & Company and some undergraduate applicants for business-analyst jobs.
- What
- McKinsey will test a 10-minute interview conversation with an AI simulation of a client.
- When
- This fall. The article was published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Some McKinsey offices in North America.
- Why
- To assess how candidates handle simulated client situations.
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- Conversation length
- 10 minutes
- Candidates
- Undergraduates seeking business-analyst jobs
- Test locations
- Some offices in North America
- Scenario coverage
- Aims to reflect 80% of consultants’ day-to-day scenarios
- Evaluation
- Humans assess candidates; the AI will not score them
What people are saying
aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work
mimic an unhinged client