What do you think about career at McKinsey as a Business Analyst? pls share your experience of recruitment process (PST, Interview). I heard that their tests are the most challenging tests ever seen.
I’ve passed CFA L2 this June is it relevant for this position? Will it add any value to my candidacy?
Any help will be appreciated,
IMO…BA is a very broad term to use here…what BA usually do is gather requirements…analyze them…change them…define functional specifications…and blah blah…now lets say McKinsey is currently working on a non finance related project (after all it’s a consulting firm) a BA with CFA might not be that important than a BA with MBA…or as a matter of fact BA’s usually are MBA’s…but i would say CFA level2 passed …that should make some impact
At fresher level they used to have 3 or 4 rounds of interviews…like case study round…Group Discussion…and so on…not sure about others…
BA at McKinsey would sound cool…
The business analyst role at McKinsey is an entry level role into consulting. It’s not a “very broad term.” This is one of the most sought-after positions in the business world and is extremely competitive. They won’t care about your CFA Level II at all. What matters to them is your ability to solve complex business issues on the fly via case studies and other technical questions.
^ are you sure? I thought business analyst was also a term for their internal mckinsey operations side, and it doesn’t necessarily mean an entry level consulting position.
McKinsey…bleh
Is it possible for people with hacksaw MBAs to get in to Mckinsey?
Maybe if your dad or uncle is a partner/principal there.
That’s what I was afraid of
del
This brief primer is pretty good prep for a strategy/management consulting role:
Totally sure. Got an offer from the firm out of undergrad like a decade ago and that title hasn’t changed.
What about Problem solving tests? What to expect on real exam? are questions similar to the practice tests?
I never understood why people flock into consulting that much. Sure, compensation is great but hours suck, no chance for a functioning family life, steep hierarchy with little chances for career progression by merit and in the end you will never be more than the “smartass who comes in to fix things”. Also I don’t buy the argument that you learn a lot about different businesses. You are always the foreign body. It’s the same as getting to know a country by only staying in 5-star ressorts where your only cultural experience comes from the hotel gift shop.
Hi,
I new this an old post but I totally agree with you, How can someone understand a culture by only staying in 5 star hotels.
what’s the deal with McKinsey and how are they so prestigious?
Are they investment consultants like Mercer/Towers/Cambridge et al? All of the above pay less than asset managers and aren’t seen as prestigious at all so why does everyone love McKinsey?
No they are management consultants. They attempt to help a comapny perform better/more efficient etc. They are prestigeous as they pay pretty well, and very competitive, offer solid exit ops as you gain good experience.
Obviously on a Finance forum people would place IB & FO gigs above it as they pay better, but MBB consulting is one of the best careers you can have.
Numi isn’t entirely accruate about “business analyst” not being broad. Yes it is specific to entry level consulting but what you actually do depends 100% on the role within your assignments that change every 4-6 months.
I think a McKinsey business analyst consultant is a prestigious post in consulting, though not necessarily a big path to portfolio management or the things that the CFA and this forum are oriented towards.
I think the confusion is that lots of companies use the term “Business Analyst” for entry level roles that lead to generic management roles. It’s like how being an “analyst” at a tech startup has a different trajectory from being an IB analyst at Goldman.
ok thanks, that makes sense. management consulting never even registered in my job search after uni.
Business Analyst at top management consulting firms is the closest you can get to a golden ticket to top business schools. In this role, you also get high level exposure to large companies, and is a gold star on your resume for any career that you pursue. Few people actually want to be management consultants for long - for them, it’s just a launchpad for other careers. In fact, even though McKinsey and gang offer to reimburse your business school costs if you come back to work for them, most people I know in that situation decide to leave anyway. If not for the higher (expected) compensation in finance, I might have wanted to do this.
Unfortunately, this is not a position where it is common for you to apply and just get accepted. If you were not channeled into this position through a recruiting program at a top university, it’s unlikely that they will even consider your candidacy.