Recent PEI stories are usually easier to connect to your current responsibilities, but older stories can still be compelling.

The key is whether the situation demonstrates meaningful behavior at an appropriate level and you can explain it accurately.

A recent team turnaround may signal current leadership, while an older formative failure may be stronger for a specific learning question. Translate unfamiliar sectors into familiar business drivers, then state where your assumptions require validation.

Build your story bank around recent examples first, but retain an older incident if the stakes and your individual actions are unusually clear. Use the McKinsey PEI question guide to test whether each story answers the intended prompt.

My best failure example is from my first job.