Petjo

Junior Associate

What prompted you to investigate a career in consulting?

Originally, I was attracted to consulting and investment banking, as they both seemed to offer a prestigious career in an intellectually stimulating environment, with the benefit of working alongside interesting people. Having enjoyed two years as a financial securities trader, I nonetheless decided to re-consider a career in consulting as I realised that it might offer a better fit for my personal preferences. I believe that the possibility to work on contrasting projects; with different people in a variety of industries and sectors is a tremendous bonus of consulting. It creates a uniquely rich mix of challenging opportunities to learn and grow which are valuable for any desired career path.

How did you decide to accept your offer from McKinsey?

It was difficult to find anyone that advised me against accepting the offer. I was impressed with everyone I met and, even more importantly, I had the feeling that everyone was happy in their job and honest about the advantages and disadvantages of the role. Whilst McKinsey made a convincing effort to show what it could offer, I did not feel pushed. The opportunities offered to meet a range of consultants and discuss their experiences and views further convinced me of the quality of the people and the pleasant working atmosphere.

What are your long term goals?

Whilst I can imagine a long-term career in consulting, I also find the idea of setting up my own business exciting. No matter what I do in the future, it will be important to me to have the feeling that I am progressing and that I enjoy what I am doing. On a more concrete level, I would like to be responsible for a team of people and be able to express my ideas and see them flourish. I would also like to help to find new ways of solving problems in business organisations, for example by improving misaligned incentive systems and developing strategies to implement effective corporate cultures.

What advice would you give to someone investigating a career in consulting?

The most important thing is to get an unbiased picture of the job and its requirements. I would try to meet with a lot of people who can help you to form a realistic opinion about a career in consulting. Reading brochures and books is a good start, but face-to-face communication is indispensable in order to find answers. It especially helps to see whether one can relate to consultants from different firms and if one can imagine being in their shoes.