Interviewing for a job at McKinsey can feel intimidating. The consulting firm is known for its rigorous hiring process. 

One of the most challenging parts of the process for many candidates is answering personal fit questions. Commonly known as Personal Experience Interview (PEI).

It’s crucial to make a strong impression in your responses. But you also can’t ramble on forever. You need to be concise.

So how do you know what is the right amount of time to spend answering each question?

I’m going to break it down for you in this article. I’ll share:

• What the PEI is all about
• The ideal length for responses
• How to structure your answers effectively
• Strategies to avoid overly long responses
• Expert tips for nailing the PEI

Let’s get started.

What is the McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI)?

First, let’s make sure we understand what exactly the PEI entails.

Purpose and structure of the PEI

The PEI is McKinsey’s unique spin on behavioral interviewing.

During behavioral interviews, companies ask about your past experiences. They want to learn how you’ve acted in real-world situations.

For the PEI, McKinsey will ask you to tell stories about your life. They want examples both from work and from your personal life.

Your goal is to showcase times when you demonstrated McKinsey’s values. Tell stories highlighting skills like:

• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Resilience

The PEI has a very structured format. McKinsey interviewers are looking for specific things in your responses.

You need to know these expectations in advance. That way, you can craft your answers accordingly.

Core values assessed during the PEI

McKinsey isn’t only looking for smart candidates. They want people who share the firm’s core values.

The main qualities McKinsey looks for include:

• Personal impact – Show how you inspire those around you.
• Entrepreneurial drive – Demonstrate how you take initiative and risks.
• Inclusive leadership – Share examples of leading diverse teams effectively.

Your stories need to bring these qualities to life. Don’t just tell the interviewer that you’re a great leader. Show them through vivid examples.

To help you prepare, here’s a breakdown of common PEI question types and example prompts you might encounter:

What is the recommended duration for McKinsey PEI answers?

Now let’s address that burning question:

How long should you talk for each PEI response?

The ideal speaking time: 3-4 minutes per answer

Based on my experience and feedback from successful applicants, aim for 3-4 minutes per answer.

This gives you time to share a compelling story. But it’s short enough to keep the interviewer engaged.

However, don’t treat the 3-4 minute range as a hard rule. Be ready to adapt based on cues from your interviewer.

Balancing detail with conciseness

You need to find the right balance between detail and brevity during the PEI.

On one hand, you want to provide vivid details to illustrate your story. But on the other hand, you don’t want to ramble or bore the interviewer.

I recommend using the “precision storytelling technique”:

• Start with a one-sentence summary of your story.
• Identify 3-4 key moments that led to the outcome.
• Spend about 30 seconds elaborating on each key point.
• Wrap up with an impactful conclusion tying back to the initial question.

This structure ensures you hit all the main points without unnecessary fluff.

Let’s look at some examples of how to apply PST:

Scenario: You’re asked about a time you overcame an obstacle at work.

“When COVID hit, my team faced major delays in a product launch. I kept us on track by holding daily check-ins, reassigning tasks, and motivating my team. We ended up meeting our original deadline despite the challenges.”

Scenario: You need to demonstrate entrepreneurial drive.

“In college, I created an app to help students schedule study groups more easily. I did market research, designed the UI, and recruited 100 beta testers. Within a month, 25% of students had downloaded the app.”

See how these responses provide enough vivid detail in a compact time frame. Now let’s look at some ways to tailor your response length.

Adapting your response length to interviewer cues

Pay close attention to the interviewer’s body language and comments during your response.

If they lean forward or ask follow-up questions, provide additional detail.

But if they start glancing at their watch or nodding, wrap up your story soon.

Adapt the length to show you’re responsive to their cues.

How to structure your PEI responses effectively

Using a clear structure is crucial for telling compelling stories during the PEI.

Here are two options for structuring your responses:

STAR framework: A comprehensive approach

The STAR method is a proven technique for behavioral interviews:

• Situation: Set the context in 1-2 sentences.
• Task: Describe the challenge or goal in 2-3 sentences.
• Action: Share 3-4 key actions you took. Spend 30 seconds on each.
• Result: Wrap up with the outcome in 1-2 sentences. Quantify results if possible.

STAR ensures you hit all the main components of the story.

Implementing the PARADE structure

Consulting expert Victor Cheng developed the PARADE structure specifically for consulting interviews:

• Problem: What issue needed solving?
• Anticipated outcome: What did you hope to achieve?
• Role: What was your specific role?
• Approach: How did you tackle the issue?
• Decision: What key choices did you make?
• Explanation: Why did you make those decisions?

PARADE prompts you to share rich details. But beware of making your story too long.

Tailoring your structure to McKinsey’s expectations

Whichever structure you pick, ensure it showcases what McKinsey looks for, like:

• Problem-solving skills
• Leadership and teamwork
• Results and Impact

Make those qualities shine through your stories.

Strategies to avoid overly long responses

It’s easy to ramble and lose the interviewer’s interest. Here are some tips to keep your responses focused:

Recognizing signs of excessive detail

Watch for these red flags of too much detail:

• Explaining background info that isn’t relevant
• Naming people not vital to the story
• Describing step-by-step processes rather than your actions

Course-correct if you catch yourself doing this. Stick to pivotal details.

Techniques for self-monitoring during the interview

It’s hard to monitor yourself in the heat of the moment. But you can try strategies like:

• The mental timer: Visualize a 3-minute timer as you start speaking.
• The paragraph rule: Structure your response like a well-written paragraph.
• The hand method: Track the main points with your fingers. Once you reach five, wrap up.

These tricks can help you stay aware of pacing.

Moreover, you can use these time management strategies to ensure your PEI responses are concise and impactful:

Offering additional info strategically

If you have more details to share, avoid cramming them all in. Instead, try this:

“I’ve shared the key points so far. Would you like me to elaborate on any specific part of the story?”

This shows you can provide depth when needed.

Master the art of concise storytelling

With practice, you can learn to tell powerful stories within tight time frames.

Crafting impactful narratives within time constraints

Focus on the pivotal moments of change in your story. Use the “pivotal moment technique” or PMT:

• Identify 2-3 critical points where you made an important decision or took impactful action.
• Spend about 1 minute on each pivotal moment.
• Use vivid details to bring these moments to life.
• Connect each moment to relevant McKinsey values.

This structure keeps your story engaging while highlighting your top skills.

Highlighting key achievements and learnings

Don’t just recount events. Show what you accomplished and learned. Use phrases like:

• “This experience taught me…”
• “The key takeaway was…”
• “This project resulted in…”

These impact statements demonstrate the value of your experience.

Preparing for follow-up questions

Expect the interviewer to ask for more details. Be ready to expand on aspects of your story when asked. But don’t overload them upfront.

Expert tips for PEI success

With my experience on both sides of the McKinsey interview table, here are my top insider tips:

Anticipating and preparing for specific questions

McKinsey often asks about certain themes aligned with their values. Prepare stories demonstrating:

• Leadership in challenging situations
• Innovative problem-solving
• Resilience after setbacks
• Cross-cultural collaboration

Have at least two examples ready for each theme.

Balancing preparation with authenticity

Thorough preparation is key. But don’t sound overly rehearsed. Use this “authentic rehearsal method”:

• Write out your stories in full at first.
• Identify the key points to cover.
• Practice summarizing those key points off the cuff.
• Vary your wording each time you practice.

This approach ensures you sound polished but genuine.

Leveraging your unique experiences

Don’t just talk about work experiences. Personal stories showcasing skills like resilience often resonate.

Connect these diverse experiences back to McKinsey’s values. Show how your varied background is an asset.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

With preparation, you can sidestep these frequent mistakes:

Rambling and losing focus

To avoid rambling:

• Use STAR or PARADE structures to stay organized.
• Pause and refer back to the question if you feel off track.
• After each point, ask yourself if you can summarize it in one sentence.

Neglecting to emphasize results and impact

Always circle back to the end outcome. Ask yourself:

• How did my actions affect the team/company/client?
• What measurable results can I point to?

Misaligning stories with McKinsey’s values

Before your interview, review McKinsey’s website to refresh on their current priorities.

Ensure your stories fit those values. Adjust or swap out any mismatches.

Conclusion: Perfecting your PEI performance

Mastering the PEI is about showcasing your consulting potential through impactful stories. With the right preparation, you can ace it.

Key takeaways for optimal answer length

• Aim for 3-4 minutes per response, but be flexible.
• Use organized structures like STAR or PARADE.
• Adapt your length to interviewer cues.
• Focus on pivotal moments rather than exhaustive details.

Final preparation strategies

As you prepare, also remember to:

• Practice with a timer to get comfortable with pacing.
• Record yourself and review the footage to improve.
• Conduct mock interviews for feedback.
• Review McKinsey’s website to tailor your stories.

The PEI is your time to shine. Approach it with confidence. Show McKinsey how your unique experiences make you the kind of leader they want.

You’ve got this!