Meet Sarah, a junior associate in our London office who found McKinsey by way of our UK Insight program. If you’re a PhD student, post-doc or Rhodes, Marshall or Gates Scholar in the UK, Ireland, Benelux countries or Switzerland (like Sarah was), please apply by 12 Feb 2017 for this 3-day opportunity to learn problem-solving techniques, experience life as a consultant, and enjoy getting to know your peers and our colleagues.
We strive to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to our website. If you would like information about this content we will be happy to work with you. Please email us at:
McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.com
Interviewer: What were your interests before you came to McKinsey?
Sarah: I spent five years avoiding a physics lab by cycling, running, sleeping or eating cake as much as possible, then briefly became a secondary school science teacher.
Interviewer: What attracted you to McKinsey?
Sarah: I’ve never known what I wanted to do or be when I grew up (and I still don’t). Consulting was not on my list – I had barely heard of it or McKinsey. Then, I saw an email about the Insight programme and a free trip to Austria seemed like a great way to start my job search. I really enjoyed the programme and discovered that being a McKinsey consultant would give me everything I wanted from a job – short projects, opportunities to study and fix complicated problems, exceptional teammates from whom I could learn, and, most of all, the ability to make change happen.
Interviewer: What have you enjoyed most during your time here?
Sarah: The work is really interesting, I’m learning all the time, the people are very friendly and supportive, and I’ve received a lot of responsibility right away. The problem solving process is similar to scientific research – on a very compressed timetable. Previously, I’d spend weeks working on an idea or topic; now I spend hours – so I’m definitely never bored. And I’ve already worked abroad – I always wanted to work in New York and finally my dream came true.