McKinsey & Company Reviews

Pros

- Gives you a good "education”
- Tries to put people first
- Gets doors opened
- Alums are usually responsive

Cons

- Need to get staffed on the right project with the right people in order to make it long term
- Questionable as to how much they support alums.

Advice to Senior Management

Remember the mckinsey way. I think we've strayed a bit from the culture that truly supported exceptional individuals to make their own McKinsey. Have we become more of an organization that has a rigid definition of success?

Pros

- Great projects: Assoiates drive the problem-solving, which means they get more experience faster than other firms
- Senior level exposure
- Lots of feedback, so you will learn
- Great knowledge management system - a goldmine of information
- Strong alumni network, which will help for years to come

Cons

- "Client, Firm, You" ... in that order (i.e., you come last) :-)
- Work-life balance is non-existent
- Takes longer to become partner, and make the big money, than you might expect

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to innovate to stay desirable and relevant to the top talent that make the Firm great.

Pros

One gets to work on the most challenging problems with best people

Cons

Worklife is bit of an issue because of natural pressures to stay ahead of the curve

Advice to Senior Management

Can we a bit more thoughtful about staffing consultants onto projects with a bit more careful scheduling and avoiding unnecessary travel

Pros

Strong focus on personal development and career growth
Meritocratic and inclusive environment
Great firm culture

Cons

Work-leisure time balance issues
Intensive lifestyle
Travelling

Pros

Exposure to a variety of businesses and business functions in a very short time, working with a variety of professionals and experts. I loved learning about client's businesses, problems, and needs, and forming solutions with some of the fastest thinkers.

Cons

Work-life balance is minimal. Typical hours are ~80, rathern than 65 that is often promoted in recruiting events. Some engagements/studies are continuous months of 90-100 hours of work (essentially no nights no weekends). Leadership response to concerns about work-life balance is mixed; some partners are very keen to listen and address the issue, some don't care.

Advice to Senior Management

McKinsey is a top-choice destination for talent. If top-notch talent decides that the work/life price paid for the experience at McKinsey isn't worth it, McKinsey will no longer have the privilege to chose the top talent, and the Firm will crumble.

Pros

Good compensation, fast career track, exposure to senior management of clients, a lot of opportunitites for learning

Cons

Very hard work/life balance, competitive environment

Pros

McK & Co. provides an unparalleled environment for people with a passion to develop in. Great school, knowledgeable and hard working colleagues to learn from and best resources available. I can only hope that I get a permanent contract at the outset of my current internship.

Cons

Difficult work/life balance, but you know what to expect when you join. You have to like the job, otherwise there is little point in taking it!

Pros

Challenging work environment where you're surrounded by smart, motivated people and working on issues that are redefining companies and industries. As a research analyst, you get to see how different companies are facing similar challenges. You get a unique perspective on the industry.

Cons

The company has an always-on, type-A culture. The line between work and life is blurred because for many of your colleagues, they are one and the same thing.

Pros

Great global company
Lots of very interesting project
Fair - but not so high - compensation

Cons

Work/life balance
Recognition of outside expertise

Pros

work on challenging projects with amazing people
huge amount of variety
great training programs
rapid growth
great benefits and perks

Cons

very demanding of time
constantly feeling stretched