Global consulting major McKinsey & Company is urging job applicants to prepare for interviews using artificial intelligence tools. The move comes as AI becomes central to consulting work, prompting firms to test not just problem-solving ability but how candidates interact with technology, a Business Insider report said.
In April, the firm launched an AI tool to help candidates prepare for job interviews without having to pay for pricey consulting coaches. Marie Christine Padberg, McKinsey’s global talent attraction co-leader, told the publication that the tool is available globally to those applying for entry-level positions at the firm.
Meanwhile, according to CaseBasix, a US company that helps job seekers apply for posts at top consulting companies, McKinsey has been incorporating an “AI interview” into some final-round interviews.
On its website, CaseBasix said candidates in “select final rounds” have been asked to complete tests using McKinsey’s internal AI tool, Lilli. They are supposed to carry out practical consulting tasks with Lilli’s help.
“In the McKinsey AI interview, you are expected to prompt the AI, review its output, and apply judgment to produce a clear and structured response. The focus is on collaboration and reasoning rather than technical AI expertise,” it said. “In practice, candidates are typically given a business question or scenario similar to real consulting work. Instead of relying only on their own analysis, they use the AI as a support tool to explore information, structure thinking, and refine insights.”
Candidates urged to practice with AI
The report also noted that candidates applying to other companies are now being advised to practice interview scenarios using AI tools ahead of time.
Coaching platforms and mentors are encouraging applicants to simulate AI-supported case interviews — where responses may be incomplete or ambiguous — requiring candidates to apply judgment rather than rely on the tool.
“This is catching candidates off guard,” one interview coach told Business Insider, pointing to a “lack of preparation” for AI-led interactions.
Focus shifts to ‘collaboration with AI’
Unlike traditional interviews that test analytical skills alone, the updated format evaluates how candidates:
- Frame questions for AI
- Interpret outputs critically
- Apply structured thinking despite uncertainty
The goal, CaseBasix believes, is not to test technical AI expertise but to assess whether candidates can use AI as a “thinking partner” during problem-solving.
“Based on early reporting and candidate feedback, the McKinsey AI interview appears to assess how candidates think, judge and collaborate with an AI tool rather than their technical AI knowledge,” it said.