AI in consulting interviews: what the firms publish
What McKinsey, BCG and Bain say about AI in their hiring process, quoted verbatim with dates, and what that means for practice tools and live interview help.
Updated October 28, 2026
| Firm | Preparation with AI | AI during an interview or assessment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey & Company | Encouraged, in its own table | Not allowed, in its own words | mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing |
| Boston Consulting Group | Supported, in its own words | Own responses only unless BCG says AI tools are allowed | careers.bcg.com |
| Bain & Company | No published sentence found | No published sentence found | bain.com/careers/hiring-process |
What does McKinsey say about AI in interviews?
McKinsey's careers site has a section titled "AI in the Hiring Process". It separates preparation from the interview itself.
We know many candidates use AI to prepare, whether that’s polishing a resume or practicing interview questions—just as people have long sought feedback from mentors, friends, or family. When used responsibly, we see AI as a valuable tool that supports preparation.
Misuse, however, compromises fairness. Using AI to misrepresent yourself or to generate real-time responses during an interview goes against our values, creates an uneven playing field, and prevents us from understanding who you truly are. We want to get to know you, not your AI tool.
The same section carries a table. Its rows, verbatim: "Polishing your resume" and "Practicing interview questions" and "Asking AI to explain concepts or frameworks as part of your prep" are marked Encouraged; "Exaggerating or creating achievements that aren’t yours", "Generating real‑time answers during an interview" and "Using AI during assessments (unless specifically permitted)" are marked Not Allowed.
Under "Virtual Interviews", one of the tips reads:
Disable previously installed AI software (such as note-taking tools or virtual assistants), as these may unintentionally record or assist with the interview.
What does BCG say?
BCG publishes a page titled "How to Use AI in Your Application Process". The global English version, read on the same day, says:
Generative AI tools can support your job application—from helping you structure your resume to practicing for interviews.
Be transparent about how you use these tools
The Japan edition of the same page carries an English sentence the global page does not:
For interviews and skills assessments, please rely on your own responses unless we have said AI tools are allowed.
using external tools where not permitted may affect how we evaluate your application.
What does Bain say?
Bain's hiring process page, read on the same day, has no sentence about AI, outside help or assistance during interviews. Its sections are "Our Hiring Process", "Our promise to you", "What to expect" and "Interview information". Third-party prep sites summarize a Bain position; this guide does not repeat them, because Bain has not published one on that page. If you interview at Bain, ask your recruiter.
What about the Big Four and boutiques?
Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG publish interview preparation pages, and we found no sentence on them about AI during interviews as of the date above. Boutique strategy firms rarely publish a position at all. The practical rule: read the invitation email and any candidate guide attached to it, and if nothing is written, ask.
So where does that leave a live structure coach?
Casepartner is built for practice. It listens to the interviewer in a shared browser tab and shows one hint under 40 words: a structure, the next question, a math check, a STAR skeleton, or nothing. In a mock interview, a casebook recording, or a partner session, that is coaching. In a live interview it behaves the same way, and the two largest firms above say that real-time AI responses during an interview are not allowed. Our landing page says the same thing in one line: if you would not be comfortable telling the interviewer you used it, use it for practice only.
Two facts that matter when you decide. The window sits in plain view on your screen, and McKinsey's tip above asks candidates to disable AI software before a virtual interview. And nothing is recorded: audio is transcribed live and the transcript is gone when the session ends.
How to use AI for preparation the way the firms describe
Both McKinsey and BCG name the same preparation uses: polish the resume, practice interview questions, ask for explanations of frameworks. Casepartner's practice mode fits that list: run a recorded case or a partner session in a browser tab, and compare the structure the window shows with the one you said. Behavioral mode drills the STAR shape on the standard fit questions. None of that happens in front of an interviewer.
Questions
Can I use AI to prepare for a consulting interview?
McKinsey and BCG both say yes for preparation: polishing a resume, practicing interview questions, asking for explanations of frameworks. The quotes and links are above.
Can I use AI during a McKinsey interview?
McKinsey’s careers page lists "Generating real-time answers during an interview" as Not Allowed and says doing so "goes against our values". Read the full sentence above.
Does BCG allow AI during interviews or assessments?
The Japan edition of BCG’s AI page says to rely on your own responses for interviews and skills assessments unless BCG has said AI tools are allowed. The global English page asks candidates to be transparent about how they use AI tools.
Does Bain publish a rule?
Not on its hiring process page as of October 27, 2026. Ask your recruiter.
Is Casepartner allowed in a real interview?
Some firms say any outside help during an interview is out of bounds. Others say nothing. Read your invitation. If you would not be comfortable telling the interviewer you used it, use it for practice only.