McKinsey & Company Mock Interview
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Question 11 of 35
What is your approach when entering an emotionally charged situation?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
In the management consulting industry, there are plenty of instances where those you aim to assist may experience feelings of vulnerability and fears of negative evaluation, causing instinct to kick in. Those whose decision-making is informed by how they emotionally interpret a situation require enhanced communication skills and an ability to adapt one's communication style to theirs. A person can be brought around to observing their reality situationally through diplomacy, mediation, and negotiation. This question assesses your communication skills. Your answer will inform them of your emotional intelligence, empathy, and ability to navigate such terrain.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I'll do everything first to establish a sense of trust. Everyone wants to feel heard and be treated with respect; everyone seeks validation. When I communicate with a client's team or other individuals in similar circumstances, I actively listen, mirror what I feel they're communicating, and validate what they're communicating based on their perception and their reality. I'll present the situation to them with the external components that may have been outside their perspective. I'll share my knowledge and the avenues I can explore to help them and do my best to keep the communication as amenable and transparent as possible. Show them that you're putting thought into it, exploring all options before reaching an outcome."
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