McKinsey adds a 10-minute AI client chat to some job interviews

In short: McKinsey plans to include a short, AI-run client conversation in some entry-level job interviews.

What happened

McKinsey & Company, a major consulting firm, will ask some entry-level job candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI simulation of a client, according to reporting cited by The Verge.

The idea is to let candidates practice a common part of consulting work, talking with a client to understand a problem and suggest next steps. Think of it like a role-play exercise, except the “client” is a computer program that responds in real time.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the simulation is meant to reflect about 80 percent of situations McKinsey consultants might run into in day-to-day work. It also says the system is not designed to act like a wildly irrational client.

Importantly, the AI will not be the one grading candidates. Human interviewers will be present and will assess how the candidate performs during the exercise.

Why it matters

Job interviews are starting to include more AI-based steps, especially for roles where communication and problem solving matter. For applicants, this could change how they prepare, since they may need to get comfortable speaking to a scripted “person” that still feels unpredictable. For companies, it is a way to standardize part of the interview, like giving many candidates the same practice case, while still keeping final decisions in human hands.

Source: The Verge AI