How to Write a Resume for McKinsey & Company (2026)

What It's Like to Work There

Prestige-driven and intellectually demanding. Long hours but the learning curve is steep. Strong emphasis on mentorship and professional development. Up or out model. The alumni network is genuinely valuable.

Resume Tips for McKinsey & Company

Lead with impact, not responsibilities. "Grew revenue 25% by restructuring the sales team" not "Managed a team of 10 sales reps."

One page, no exceptions, regardless of experience level. McKinsey reviewers spend about 30 seconds on each resume.

Use their language: impact, transformation, client, stakeholder, initiative. You're speaking to consultants, so sound like one.

Include leadership from any context: work, volunteer, academic, military. McKinsey values leadership potential above all.

Quantify everything. If you can't put a number on it, rewrite the bullet until you can.

Education goes at the top if you attended a target school (Ivy League, top MBA, Oxford/Cambridge). Otherwise, keep it at the bottom.

Hiring Process

Online application with a Solve assessment (game-based problem-solving test)

First-round: 2 case interviews with consultants (30-40 min each)

Final-round: 2-3 interviews with partners including case and personal experience interviews

Process takes 4-8 weeks and is highly structured

Interview Style

Case interviews are the core. You'll be given a business problem and need to structure an approach, do the math, and present a recommendation in real time. Personal experience interviews dig deep into times you've led, influenced, and achieved.