McKinsey will test an AI-simulated client in job interviews
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company will ask some entry-level candidates to hold a 10-minute conversation with an AI-simulated client. Humans, not the AI, will assess the candidates.
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company is adding an artificial intelligence (AI) simulation of a client to its hiring process. According to The Wall Street Journal, some entry-level candidates will have a 10-minute conversation with the virtual client. The firm wants to see how applicants handle situations typical of a consultant's daily work.
What the simulation does
The WSJ reports that the tool is meant to reflect about 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work. It is not designed to mimic an unhinged client.
Humans do the assessing
The AI will not score candidates. People will be in the room to evaluate how well applicants deal with the simulated situations.
Who it is being tested on
The tool is currently being tested with undergraduates seeking business-analyst jobs. The source says this applies only to some of the firm's offices; the published excerpt does not list them.
McKinsey advises other companies, so the ability to talk with a client is a core part of the job. The new interview element lets the firm observe that skill in action rather than only hearing candidates describe themselves.
