McKinsey Adds AI‑Simulated Client Chat to Entry‑Level Interviews

McKinsey & Company is expanding its interview toolkit by adding a 10‑minute conversation with an AI‑generated client to the entry‑level hiring process.

The simulation is built to reflect roughly 80 % of the situations a consultant might face on the job, giving candidates a taste of real‑world client interactions without the need for a live partner.

Recruiters hope the exercise will surface a candidate’s ability to listen, ask clarifying questions, and propose solutions under time pressure, skills that are hard to gauge in a standard interview.

While the exact impact on hiring outcomes remains to be seen, the move signals a growing trend of firms using AI to standardize and scale candidate assessment.

This brief is inspired by public announcements this week.