Emma

Junior Associate

Tell us a bit about your career before McKinsey.

My background is in public services. I joined McKinsey from the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit where I advised on a range of issues from immigration to local government. Prior to the Strategy Unit I was working at the CBI looking at how to improve government efficiency.

How did you manage the transition from your previous career or education to McKinsey?

The transition has been great. I have really enjoyed applying my understanding of public sector strategy and delivery to new private sector contexts. The McKinsey way, not least the acronyms abbreviations have taken some getting used to. I have found that the best way to deal with the change is to assume little and ask lots.

What types of projects have you been involved with so far at McKinsey?

Since joining McKinsey I have done both public and private sector work covering a range of industries. Most recently I have been helping some of our clients manage their mergers to deliver value for the new, enlarged business.

What training and support have you received since starting?

The training offer has been huge since I joined—not least the three weeks I spent in the US completing McKinsey’s mini-MBA course. I’ve also done training on other topics including corporate finance, business strategy, and Excel modeling.

What did you find most challenging about the interview process?

The most challenging aspect was getting to grips with the case interviews. Having not done a case interview before, I prepared well and actually really enjoyed them. I found it was a great opportunity to discuss tricky problems with interesting people.