What can I expect if I join?
Solid consulting skills are vital to a successful career at McKinsey. Before you begin work on client projects, you’ll take part in training programmes that introduce core consulting skills such as structured problem solving, client communications, influencing skills and analytics.
Once you start to work with clients, we’ll provide you with experiences to help you develop. As well as placing you on projects that draw on some aspect of your background, we’ll also give you opportunities to tackle issues you may not have encountered before so that you can build the broad problem-solving skills that will help you succeed in your career.
How long do client projects last?
Individual client projects can run from six weeks to six months.
How many hours a week would I work?
There is no typical week at McKinsey. Your hours vary according to the client project you are involved in. At the start of a project your team will discuss working patterns to take account of individual needs. There may occasionally be weekend work, but you can usually manage your time to avoid it.
How much time would I spend away from home?
Working on site with our clients enables us to build up a much better understanding of their challenges and needs. About a third of our engagements take place out of town, with consultants typically spending three nights a week away from home. However, all consultants are encouraged to spend Fridays in the London office, and consultants can express a preference for projects closer to home if they wish.
What does a typical week look like?
No two days are the same at McKinsey, but you can follow these links for some real-life examples:
Learn more on our global careers site
Would I be able to choose which projects to work on?
We encourage consultants to steer their own professional development, so you can specify which projects you would like to work on. Our staffing specialists will try to meet your preferences while taking into account the client’s needs, the skills required and the professional development of other consultants.
What experience and educational background do you look for?
We value diversity, and our consultants have a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds. This richness gives us the range of expertise we need to tackle our clients’ most complex problems.
Do consultants specialise in particular industries or functions?
Most newly hired consultants begin as generalists. Once they reach the position of engagement (client project) manager, they usually choose to focus on the areas that interest them most.
However, consultants can choose to join as specialists if they have deep industry knowledge or functional expertise. Specialists can serve as active members of a client project team or as sources of knowledge on which teams can draw. Individual specialists vary in the mix of client and knowledge-building work they take on.
Please check our open positions database to search for roles suited to your experience.
Can I apply to an overseas office?
Yes. You can find a list of McKinsey offices and their websites on our global site. If you apply online via the site, you can select up to four offices.
Should I include a cover letter with my application?
When you apply online, it is not necessary to include a cover letter as your application is automatically routed to the appropriate recruitment team. However, if you feel you need to include a cover letter, please address it to Recruitment Manager.