Frequently Asked Questions

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What makes McKinsey distinctive?

McKinsey is a firm based on values: delivering the best to our clients and providing an unrivaled environment for our people. These values filter down into everything we do, creating a firm distinctive in both form and function.

As a truly global firm with offices in more than 80 locations, McKinsey has the ability to bring the best to bear on any client problem. No matter who our clients are or where our consultants are based, our "One Firm" philosophy allows us to bring together the world's leading experts in almost any field. This global know-how will expose you to an exceptional diversity of insights.

The breadth of our global presence and client base also means that you will be exposed to a wide variety of business and managerial issues. To supplement that experience, we provide training, development reviews, and mentoring programs that give you every chance for success. If you want to learn what it takes to run your own business, McKinsey can provide you with those skills.

McKinsey is also a trusted source for our clients. That means we provide objective opinions stemming from fact-based analysis. We have no bias in terms of favoring one solution over another. Instead we are committed to finding the best possible solution, even if it isn't necessarily the answer our clients want to hear. This objectivity means that you will become a trusted partner to the leading business leaders in the world.

What will my life be like at McKinsey?

As at most companies, work at McKinsey is demanding. However, we constantly strive to improve the work/life balance. Teams have become increasingly sensitive to lifestyle issues such as travel, long hours, and weekend work as well as effect on personal or family responsibilities and the physical and mental well-being of team members.

McKinsey emphasizes the importance of working on-site with clients. However, our strategy of serving clients from our local offices—we have more than 80 locations worldwide—tends to mitigate travel requirements. The amount of travel varies widely by office and by project but remains a necessary feature of the consulting profession.

We have also taken steps to make our consultants' lives easier. Initiatives include Fridays spent in the home office, consultant lunches, team outings, work style agreements limiting team members' working hours, and promotion of day trips versus overnight stays.

Respect for an individual's responsibility for balancing their personal and professional lives is one of our guiding principles. Consultants take responsibility for the way they manage their time. Taking work home, exercising in the afternoon, departing early for an evening commitment, and arriving early the next morning are all examples of choices people make that provide them with the flexibility they need to juggle their commitments.

How much influence will I have in choosing the work that I do?

The firm provides transparency of assignment opportunities around the world. Consultants can formally indicate their preferences and interest in a specific sector or topic. Local staffing coordinators consider this information and the consultant's development plan as well as the client's and the firm's interests when making staffing decisions. Our surveys show that about 80 percent of consultants are consistently staffed to their preferred projects.

Most McKinsey consultants begin their careers as generalists. After the first few years, it becomes more important to develop deeper expertise in one or more functional areas or industries. By "deeper," we mean more than the knowledge gained in one engagement. At a minimum, this means repeated exposure to a class of problems or industry issues.

Some consultants are brought into the firm because of their specialized knowledge, experience, and interests. These individuals are encouraged to maintain/deepen their skills in specialized areas, and to develop their generic problem-solving and consulting skills. The area you develop does not necessarily have anything to do with your experience prior to joining McKinsey. Most of our experts have grown their expertise through their work here. Indeed, some consultants have developed expertise in several industries or functions over time.

What opportunities are there for transferring to a different office?

We strongly support and encourage transfers within Europe or to overseas offices. Transfers help us leverage our accumulated skills and experience. They can also accelerate a consultant's personal and professional development.

We offer three kinds of transfers:

Study transfer (a few months). A consultant transfers for a specific purpose, such as a client assignment or a research project. Usually, this requires specific knowledge or experience.
Extended tour (one to two years). This is usually for the benefit of the receiving office. For example, a consultant can bring specific skill or knowledge in an industry sector or a functional field. Or a skilled and experienced engagement manager could be transferred to develop and lead a team. Typically, these transfers occur in a consultant's third, fourth, or fifth year with McKinsey.
Long-term transfer (three years to permanent transfer).In these transfers, the office and the consultant have a mutual interest in his or her serving the office and playing a development role. In some cases, these transfer requests are based on a consultant's personal situation.

How flexible are the working arrangements?

McKinsey supports flexible working arrangements that enable a consultant to shape his or her career:

Leave of absence. Consultants can take time off for personal reasons or for a non-work-related experience, such as a trip around the world. This unpaid leave typically lasts for two to six months, after which the consultant's smooth return to professional life is fully supported. Several Benelux consultants have recently enjoyed this benefit.
Part-time work. This option is offered at times to senior consultants. The prerequisite for success is a good track record at McKinsey.

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