As someone who spent years on the inside – first at BCG, then as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey – let me pull back the curtain.
Here’s how interviewers actually think:
If a candidate is underperforming, there’s no need to challenge them. They’re already off track. Additional pressure would be unnecessary – even cruel.
But if a candidate is performing strongly? That’s when the real test begins. At that point, the interviewer’s goal shifts from “Can they solve the case?” to:
“How robust is their thinking under fire?”
Can you integrate feedback in real time?
Can you strengthen your logic when challenged?
Can you hold your nerve when the heat rises?
If you can – you’re showing exactly the kind of resilience, curiosity, and intellectual flexibility MBB firms are known for.