Business Analyst

Business analysts (or fellows, as they're called in some offices) take responsibility for a discrete part of the problem solving in each client engagement. They play an important role in data gathering, actively contribute to the team's final recommendations, and present their work to senior client executives. They also have a voice in determining the team's style and pace of work.  Business analysts find different ways to continue their personal and professional development. Many leave our firm to pursue advanced degrees or spend time in a new industry or with nonprofits. Other top performers stay with McKinsey and become associates. After pursuing advanced degrees, or gaining additional work experience, strong performers are invited to return to McKinsey as associates.

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Associate

Associates lead a key portion of an engagement.  They apply a broad range of creative problem-solving skills, combining technical and analytical excellence.  They synthesize conclusions into recommendations and work directly with senior leaders to implement change.  Associates have to develop foundational knowledge across each of the basic functions (e.g., strategy, organization, and finance).  Because the starting point for each associate entering McKinsey varies, so will the mix of client exposure and more formal training needed to build capabilities.  Generally, most associates identify an area of real interest in their third year and focus on learning more.

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Engagement Manager

When associates are ready for the next level of responsibility, they become engagement managers. Engagement managers own the client problem. They are the hub and center of the full engagement team. They are responsible for determining how to bring the best of McKinsey to the client. By working closely with clients, they maximize the impact of our work and lead the client through the change process. They also follow up our work on an ongoing basis to ensure sustained impact.  More experienced engagement managers act as thought leaders in an industry section and/or a function and are sought out by colleagues and clients for this expertise.

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Associate Principal

Recognized and elected as “partners-in-training,” associate principals begin to split their time among multiple engagements, rather than working on one engagement at a time. Associate principals continue to build real expertise in functional or industry areas in order to create new thinking and develop new problem-solving approaches. They are inspirational team leaders, typically having several people viewing them as a mentor. They make sure that each associate on their team leaves their engagement better performing than when they joined the team.

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Partner

Associate principals who are elected partners have demonstrated their superior ability to deliver significant impact for our clients. They possess distinctive knowledge and can use it to serve high-performing industry leaders. They inspire their colleagues and team members to achieve great things and actively mentor the next generation of firm leaders. They live our values and ensure our firm continuously fulfills its mission statement.  Typically, successful consultants who join McKinsey early in their career can expect election to principal (the first stage of partnership) within five to seven years. People with substantial prior professional experience may be elected much sooner and, in rare instances, may join our firm as a partner. There is no limit to the size of our partnership.

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Director

Directors are the most senior partners at McKinsey. They are typically elected director six to seven years after their partner election. They establish strong relationships with senior leaders and create opportunities for others to grow and develop. They are passionate about impact for our clients and the leadership of our firm.

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Associate

Associates lead a key portion of an engagement.  They apply a broad range of creative problem-solving skills, combining technical and analytical excellence.  They synthesize conclusions into recommendations and work directly with senior leaders to implement change.  Associates have to develop foundational knowledge across each of the basic functions (e.g., strategy, organization, and finance).  Because the starting point for each associate entering McKinsey varies, so will the mix of client exposure and more formal training needed to build capabilities.  Generally, most associates identify an area of real interest in their third year and focus on learning more.

Find profiles of McKinsey associates

Engagement Manager

When associates are ready for the next level of responsibility, they become engagement managers. Engagement managers own the client problem. They are the hub and center of the full engagement team. They are responsible for determining how to bring the best of McKinsey to the client. By working closely with clients, they maximize the impact of our work and lead the client through the change process. They also follow up our work on an ongoing basis to ensure sustained impact.  More experienced engagement managers act as thought leaders in an industry section and/or a function and are sought out by colleagues and clients for this expertise.

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Associate Principal

Recognized and elected as “partners-in-training,” associate principals begin to split their time among multiple engagements, rather than working on one engagement at a time. Associate principals continue to build real expertise in functional or industry areas in order to create new thinking and develop new problem-solving approaches. They are inspirational team leaders, typically having several people viewing them as a mentor. They make sure that each associate on their team leaves their engagement better performing than when they joined the team.

Find profiles of McKinsey associate principals

Partner

Associate principals who are elected partners have demonstrated their superior ability to deliver significant impact for our clients. They possess distinctive knowledge and can use it to serve high-performing industry leaders. They inspire their colleagues and team members to achieve great things and actively mentor the next generation of firm leaders. They live our values and ensure our firm continuously fulfills its mission statement.  Typically, successful consultants who join McKinsey early in their career can expect election to principal (the first stage of partnership) within five to seven years. People with substantial prior professional experience may be elected much sooner and, in rare instances, may join our firm as a partner. There is no limit to the size of our partnership.

Find profiles of McKinsey partners

Director

Directors are the most senior partners at McKinsey. They are typically elected director six to seven years after their partner election. They establish strong relationships with senior leaders and create opportunities for others to grow and develop. They are passionate about impact for our clients and the leadership of our firm.

Find profiles of McKinsey directors

Specialist

Some consultants begin their careers at McKinsey as specialists. As experienced professionals, they bring profound knowledge of an industry or functional area to their roles. Specialists divide their time between client and knowledge-building work, though the mix will vary from person to person. The type of client work can vary as well. While some specialists fill full-time roles on engagement teams, others consult to client engagement teams rather than directly to clients. Many specialists go on to become experts in their sector or functional area.

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Expert

Individuals advance from specialist to expert based on the pace of their knowledge development, internal and external reputation, and ability to deliver impact to teams. Experts continue to grow as professionals and contribute to the firm. Depending on an expert's desires and the firm's needs, some experts go on to become associate principals and principals.

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Associate

Associates lead a key portion of an engagement.  They apply a broad range of creative problem-solving skills, combining technical and analytical excellence.  They synthesize conclusions into recommendations and work directly with senior leaders to implement change.  Associates have to develop foundational knowledge across each of the basic functions (e.g., strategy, organization, and finance).  Because the starting point for each associate entering McKinsey varies, so will the mix of client exposure and more formal training needed to build capabilities.  Generally, most associates identify an area of real interest in their third year and focus on learning more.

Find profiles of McKinsey associates

Engagement Manager

When associates are ready for the next level of responsibility, they become engagement managers. Engagement managers own the client problem. They are the hub and center of the full engagement team. They are responsible for determining how to bring the best of McKinsey to the client. By working closely with clients, they maximize the impact of our work and lead the client through the change process. They also follow up our work on an ongoing basis to ensure sustained impact.  More experienced engagement managers act as thought leaders in an industry section and/or a function and are sought out by colleagues and clients for this expertise.

Find profiles of McKinsey engagement managers

Associate Principal

Recognized and elected as “partners-in-training,” associate principals begin to split their time among multiple engagements, rather than working on one engagement at a time. Associate principals continue to build real expertise in functional or industry areas in order to create new thinking and develop new problem-solving approaches. They are inspirational team leaders, typically having several people viewing them as a mentor. They make sure that each associate on their team leaves their engagement better performing than when they joined the team.

Find profiles of McKinsey associate principals

Partner

Associate principals who are elected partners have demonstrated their superior ability to deliver significant impact for our clients. They possess distinctive knowledge and can use it to serve high-performing industry leaders. They inspire their colleagues and team members to achieve great things and actively mentor the next generation of firm leaders. They live our values and ensure our firm continuously fulfills its mission statement.  Typically, successful consultants who join McKinsey early in their career can expect election to principal (the first stage of partnership) within five to seven years. People with substantial prior professional experience may be elected much sooner and, in rare instances, may join our firm as a partner. There is no limit to the size of our partnership.

Find profiles of McKinsey partners

Director

Directors are the most senior partners at McKinsey. They are typically elected director six to seven years after their partner election. They establish strong relationships with senior leaders and create opportunities for others to grow and develop. They are passionate about impact for our clients and the leadership of our firm.

Find profiles of McKinsey directors

Specialist

Some consultants begin their careers at McKinsey as specialists. As experienced professionals, they bring profound knowledge of an industry or functional area to their roles. Specialists divide their time between client and knowledge-building work, though the mix will vary from person to person. The type of client work can vary as well. While some specialists fill full-time roles on engagement teams, others consult to client engagement teams rather than directly to clients. Many specialists go on to become experts in their sector or functional area.

Find profiles of McKinsey specialists

Expert

Individuals advance from specialist to expert based on the pace of their knowledge development, internal and external reputation, and ability to deliver impact to teams. Experts continue to grow as professionals and contribute to the firm. Depending on an expert's desires and the firm's needs, some experts go on to become associate principals and principals.

Find profiles of McKinsey experts