Let me tell you something most candidates don’t want to hear:

If your MBB interviewer starts pressing you harder...

Asking tougher questions...

Pushing back on your logic...

That’s not a bad sign.

That’s a compliment in disguise.

We prepare our mentees for one thing above all else when it comes to MBB interviews:

If your interviewer leans in, challenges your assumptions, or even questions your framework – you’re not failing. You’re standing out.

Why?

Because the best candidates at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain get tested harder, not easier.

This may sound counterintuitive.

Most people associate challenge with failure.

But at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG, challenge is a signal of trust.

When your interviewer starts sparring with you – it’s because they see potential.

They want to explore how far your thinking can go.

Think of it like a high-level chess match.

They’re not trying to beat you.

They’re testing if you can play at their level.

And if you embrace it?

You flip the script.

You stop looking like a nervous applicant.

And start acting like a future consultant.

We tell every one of our clients to expect this moment. And to prepare for it mentally and emotionally, not just intellectually.

Here’s how to reframe it:

1. Don’t panic – pivot. Use the interviewer’s pushback to clarify your logic, test your assumptions, and show you're adaptable under pressure.

2. Stay curious. Don’t defend your answer like it’s gospel. Say, “That’s an interesting angle – let’s think it through.” Invite the conversation. Show you’re thinking with them, not against them.

3. Remember the rule: Only strong candidates get pushed this hard. If it’s happening to you — you're on the shortlist.

If you're preparing for MBB interviews and you're hoping for a “smooth ride,” you’re thinking about this the wrong way.

McKinsey, BCG, and Bain don’t just want right answers.

They want how you think.

They want how you react.

They want how you handle pressure – when stakes are high and the clock is ticking.

And if they push you, it’s because they believe you just might have what it takes.

So when that moment comes (and it will!), don’t flinch.

Lean in.

Play the game.

And prove you belong.

If you, as an applicant at one of the big strategy consulting firms, would like to learn how to ensure success in your interviews with McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, then feel free to apply for a free initial consultation with us. In this free session we will find out whether we can help you, and if so, how we can help you to reach your goal of joining a firm like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain & Company. 

Within the last years, we have helped more than 350 people to receive job offers from the three MBB companies! On average, every single week, two of our clients are signing an employment contract with either McKinsey, BCG, or Bain.