The McKinsey PEI (Personal Experience Interview) is a critical component of the firm’s rigorous interview process, designed to evaluate how a candidate demonstrates key leadership and personal qualities. Unlike traditional interviews focused on technical skills or brainteasers, the PEI centers around storytelling—how you handled real challenges, led teams, influenced others, or navigated conflict. Each interview will typically start with a PEI question before diving into case studies.

To succeed in the McKinsey PEI, it’s essential to structure your stories using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or PARADE (Problem, Anticipated consequences, Role, Actions, Decision rationale, End result) frameworks. Common themes include leadership, personal impact, conflict resolution, and overcoming challenges. Each story should highlight your decision-making process, communication skills, resilience, and ability to drive results under pressure.

McKinsey places strong emphasis on depth over breadth in these responses. Expect probing follow-up questions that explore your motivations, emotional intelligence, and the exact steps you took. Practicing with mock interviews and getting feedback can help you refine both your content and delivery.

Ultimately, the McKinsey PEI assesses whether your past behavior aligns with the firm’s core values. Success depends not just on what you did, but how you did it. Demonstrating authenticity, clarity, and a results-driven mindset will make a lasting impression. If you're aiming for a career at McKinsey, nailing the PEI is just as important as mastering the case interview.