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McKinsey will test an AI client simulation in entry-level interviews

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McKinsey will test an AI client simulation in entry-level interviews

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company is going to ask some entry-level candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI simulation of a client as part of its interview process, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Verge relayed the report.

The simulation "aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work," the WSJ says. It is not designed to "mimic an unhinged client." The AI will not score the candidates. Humans will be in the room to assess them and see how well they deal with the simulated situations.

The tool is due to be tested this fall for undergrads seeking business-analyst jobs in "some" offices in North America. The WSJ says "hundreds" may use it.

The Verge adds that other companies are also building tools that use AI avatars in the job interview process. Its colleague Hayden Field tried some of them for a video the outlet published in March.

Key facts

  • McKinsey & Company will ask some entry-level candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI simulation of a client, per The Wall Street Journal.
  • The AI will not score candidates; humans in the room will assess how well they handle the simulated situations.
  • The simulation aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter day-to-day, and is not designed to mimic an unhinged client.
  • The tool will be tested this fall for undergrads seeking business-analyst jobs in some North American offices; the WSJ says hundreds may use it.

Why it matters

A top consulting firm is putting an AI role-play into the first stage of its hiring process. The twist is that the AI plays the client, not the judge: it creates a realistic situation, and people do the evaluating. Other companies are also building interview tools around AI avatars, so McKinsey's pilot sits inside a wider trend.

Who it affects

Undergrads applying for business-analyst jobs in some McKinsey offices in North America. The WSJ says hundreds may use the tool during the fall test. The source does not name which offices will take part.

How to use it

This is not a product readers can try. It is an internal interview step at McKinsey, and the source does not say who built the simulation or which model it runs on. For candidates, the practical detail is the format: a 10-minute conversation with a simulated client, with humans in the room assessing how they handle it.

How solid is it

All details come from the WSJ report as relayed by The Verge; the source does not give any McKinsey spokesperson's statement. The 80% figure is the simulation's stated aim, not a measured result. The scale is vague: "some" offices and "hundreds" of candidates who "may" use it.

Risks and caveats

This is a limited fall test, and the source does not say the tool will be rolled out permanently or beyond entry-level business-analyst candidates. It also does not say whether the simulation result affects hiring decisions beyond humans assessing the candidates. The exact number of candidates and offices is not given.

“aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work”

— The Wall Street Journal, as quoted by The Verge