McKinsey is making job applicants spar with a fake AI client

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/STK414_AI_CVIRGINIA_2_C-2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Company is going to ask some entry-level candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI simulation of a client as part of the interview process, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/mckinsey-interview-process-ai-7d08a69e">according to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The AI simulation "aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter in their day-to-day work," the <em>WSJ</em> says, and it isn't designed to "mimic an unhinged client." The AI won't score the candidates - humans will be in the room to assess the candidates and see how well they deal with the simulated situations.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The McKinsey tool will be in testing for undergrads seeking business-analyst jobs in "some" offi …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/1011654/mckinsey-ai-client-interview">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>