Flexibility and Choice

Manage your commitments without sacrificing your success at the firm.

McKinsey has supported flexible working arrangements for more than 14 years. Over 170 consultants are currently working on part-time programmes. More than 800 have taken advantage of our flexibility options at some point in their career at the firm.

Flexibility

You might choose to work fewer days per week or fewer weeks per year, take a leave of absence, or switch to another role, either temporarily or permanently. As a consultant, you can explore these options through McKinsey’s internal Flexibility Web site or through one-on-one guidance at our Flexibility Centre.

Although some trade-offs may be necessary, choosing a flexible or reduced programme doesn’t mean your career will suffer at McKinsey. All of our offices worldwide support career flexibility. To date, more than 30 partners and two directors have been elected on part-time programmes.

You control your options

If you could do anything in your career, what would it be? We have a culture that encourages you to do what you want and an organisation with the size and reach to make it possible. Many of our successful business analysts are given the opportunity to study for an M.B.A. anywhere in the world for two years. Other consultants have used the McKinsey Global Rotation Programme to explore different countries and industries.

If you want to explore an innovative opportunity, add a new client, or even launch a practice, you can. If you make a solid case, you can turn a great idea into your next project.

For example, through personal initiative McKinsey consultants have:

• Launched a marketing publication for the telecommunications industry
• Organised a field trip to Asia, introducing colleagues from Germany to innovative mobile telecom companies
• Opened a new office in Morocco
• Created a climate change initiative to better serve clients in this increasingly important area
• Initiated a programme in which lower-tenure consultants in the firm provide developmental feedback to partners

Secondments

The firm has recently introduced leadership secondments which allow associates to work directly with selected outside organisations for 6 to 12 months, complementing the traditional project experience. Secondments are designed to provide "front-line" experience through which secondees can build capabilities that will further assist them in leading and serving clients upon their return to the firm.