{
  "id": 15109297,
  "title": "McKinsey tweaks entry-level interview process, adds a new '10-minute chat with AI' round",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/mckinsey-tweaks-entry-level-interview-process-adds-a-new-10-minute",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-17T02:51:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/mckinsey-is-changing-its-interview-process-for-entry-level-jobs-adds-a-new-10-minute-conversation-with-ai-round-idea-is-to-test-how-recruits-think-and-handle-/articleshow/135006332.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "McKinsey & Company is introducing a new component to its rigorous hiring process, incorporating a 10-minute AI client interview round for aspiring business analysts in select North American offices. The Wall Street Journal revealed that this pilot program, piloted by partners and assessors, will assess candidates' ability to converse with an AI avatar representing a client in a natural environment. The AI, which has been trained on various client personalities, plays a role similar to a mayor, seeking the candidate's professional recommendations for stadium construction. Unlike a human interviewer, the AI does not influence the hiring decision, which remains with McKinsey's assessment team. According to Blair Ciesil, McKinsey's global recruiting head, the AI round aims to unveil candidates' authentic qualities beyond rehearsed answers. The initiative, while promising to maintain fairness and objectivity, also reflects the high bar already set by McKinsey, with an acceptance rate of only 0.5% to 1.5% for applicants.",
  "summary": "McKinsey has added an AI interview round to its hiring process for some entry-level business analyst candidates in North America. Applicants will face a 10-minute conversation with an AI avatar playing a client, such as a city mayor, while partners assess how they listen and respond. The AI won't score candidates, and McKinsey says the new tool makes recruiting fairer and less about rehearsed…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}