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McKinsey screens candidates with a video game – McKinsey Solve – before they ever see a case interview. Most candidates either try to copy other people's answers or panic because they don't know what it's measuring.
So here's the breakdown: what Solve is, what McKinsey is testing for inside it, and how to approach it.
The answer isn't Solve-specific prep. It's the same problem-solving fundamentals that carry you through the entire McKinsey recruiting process.
We cover:
What the Solve scenarios look like and how the timing works
The 5 cognitive abilities McKinsey is measuring – and why they map directly to what consultants actually do
How to prepare without wasting time on things that won't transfer
Resources:
If you want coaching from an ex-McKinsey interviewer – plus access to a practice Solve simulation – Black Belt is the program that top candidates turn to
New to case prep? Start with the Case Foundations course – free
Consulting Deadlines:
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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George Cary spent five years as a McKinsey EM. In this live case, he coaches candidate Harvey through a real McKinsey market entry study: should a diesel truck manufacturer build and sell electric trucks.
Harvey builds a framework, runs the full cost-of-ownership math, and lands a final recommendation. George pauses after every section to break down good vs. great in real time.
You'll learn:
Why McKinsey calls it "problem solving," not casing – and the vocabulary that signals you already think like a consultant
How Harvey turns a good, structured framework into a great, distinctive one 
The full math behind pricing an e-truck – and how to talk through your logic instead of just stating the number
Resources:
Harvey turned 3 weeks of coaching into a case that sounded ready for the real thing – Black Belt pairs you with a coach like George who breaks down your good from your great, session by session
Consulting Deadlines:
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Sharon had everything going for her. Top-tier MBA. MBB interview invites across the board. 
She'd done 50–60 cases – but didn't make it past a single first round.
What held her back wasn't her profile. It was her approach.
So she came back the next year when the stakes were even higher. This time, she did it differently – and landed McKinsey and Bain.
Katie breaks down what shifted and what re-recruiters (and first-timers who want to avoid the same trap) can take from Sharon's story.
Resources:
If you're re-recruiting and want a real plan this time, Black Belt is where candidates like Sharon get the structure and coaching they were missing the first time around
Not sure if Black Belt is right for your situation? Book a free 15-minute call with Katie and find out
Consulting Deadlines:
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
"Any other objectives?" sounds polite. But in a case interview opening, it costs you points.
Namaan breaks down the 3 questions that kill candidates in the first 2 minutes of a case.
The case opening is the first section that gets scored. And it's nearly identical every single time.
So if there's one part of the case you can walk in ready for, it's this one. Get the opening right, and the rest of the case gets easier.
Resources:
If you struggle with case openings, Black Belt pairs you with an ex-MBB interviewer who'll help build the muscle rep by rep
Newer to cases? Case Foundations walks you through the fundamentals – free
Consulting Deadlines:
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
You can nail every case you practice and still get rejected.
That's because firms aren't grading you on vibes. McKinsey scores you piece by piece – opening, structure, math, brainstorming, closing. Other firms use 3 buckets instead: structure, problem solving, communication.
Either way, a 4 out of 4 in math won't save a 1 out of 4 in brainstorming. Firms want you solid across the board.
In this episode, Namaan breaks down exactly what's being scored – and why doing 100 more practice cases won't fix a gap you haven't identified.
Resources:
Whether you're prepping for McKinsey's rubric or the 3-bucket system, Black Belt closes the gaps costing you the offer
New to case prep? Case Foundations is our free crash course on the basics – the starting point before scoring even matters
Consulting Deadlines:
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more