McKinsey & Company Reviews in India

Pros

-> Client exposure is just awesome - you are advising CXO level AND they are listening to you
-> McKC is extremely good in enlarging its knowledge base - just about every engagement gets documented and key learning are codified
-> the people are good - despite all attempts most fit a rather narrow personality type

Cons

-> work hours - very long
-> travel - out 4 days a week
-> the progression plan which does not allow one to become really good in one particular domain

Advice to Senior Management

-> move away from necessary client site presence
-> create more roles where performance is not measured only on client impact

Pros

Only the brand is something which makes you stick around

Cons

They consider employees as mere resources and does not care about their growth once their means are acheived

Advice to Senior Management

Strongly work on leadership skills of the knowledge center

Pros

Business in India is fast paced and exciting today - much more so than in other parts of the world. McKinsey India gives you a front-row seat in that ride. Many projects are implementation focused, which we are told are "un-McKinsey-like" - but there's a lot more fun in demonstrating the impact on the ground rather than in giving advice.

Travel and living arrangements are generally comfortable - making travel in this hot and humid country less painful.

Cons

Most people in the Firm here do not have industry experience because Indian MBA's come straight out of school.
Indian clients squeeze consultants - so forget about in-Office Fridays. You're at the client's site Mon to Fri and come home only Fri night.
We're told consultants in India office work far harder than outside India...
Very experienced hires also come in as "Junior Associates". with a promise to be upgrated to Associate level in 1yr. If you join between evaluation cycles, you can expect it to take 15-17 months!!

Advice to Senior Management

More compassion for associate needs. Faster track for experienced hires.

Pros

great work, fantastic people, amazing apprenticeship. All you could ask for as you are just starting out. Stringly recommed you do it if you are up to it

Cons

Long work, less flexibility over type of work you want to do -that all I can think of - it truly is a super place to work

Advice to Senior Management

Fix above i.e. Long work, less flexibility over type of work you want to do -that all I can think of - it truly is a super place to work

Pros

Lots of learning
Push to make you do better, think harder and test yourself
Real investment in people
Open working culture

Cons

Could be more thoughtful in taking internal decisions. Seems to move from one extreme case to another
Can also be more efficient as an organization

Advice to Senior Management

Drive more efficiency in the system. Do the same thorough re look at internal operations as would be done for clients

Pros

Undoubtedly the best in class when it comes to any subject. Allows you learn directly from experts in the firm who are the best in their domain.

Cons

work life balance is poor. If you are in the knowledge network then you need to build relationships with the right people in the firm in order to grow.

Advice to Senior Management

do not hire folks who are obviously overqualified for the R&I positions.

Pros

Its a good window to the think-tank of consulting world - McKinsey.
Good peer-set.
Emphasis on sharpening one's problem-solving and communication skills. Hence good learning.
Collegial environment

Cons

Hectic hours.
Management do not care about work-life balance.
Rigid (some times partial) management policies.
Constraints on upward feedback.
Not so good perks

Advice to Senior Management

Pay heed to the advice of your employees.

Pros

- Brand name
- Company non monetary policies
- Good place tostart your career

Cons

- Politics and politics
- Many managers is very incapable and have reached this level only by sticking here for so long and bootlicking
- They fool you big time by their compensation. Lots of catch there.
- Promotions are not based on merit but on the basis on demand and supply. If your seniors have left the firm and they are not getiing right candidates, then you despite being an average performer might move up to the next level as they have fear of loosing u. On the contrary, many people who are good dont get promoted when they actually deserve it.
- Compensation varies drastically even if 2 people are at the same level. You might be performing well than other but still be at a lower comp.

Advice to Senior Management

Politics level have increased so much that its spoiling ur reputtion. Should pay heed to that soon.