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1. What can I negotiate with offer (BA McKinsey) 2. Office attire

Hello everyone,

I hope you're doing well!

Thank you in advance for your insights!

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Hagen
Coach
bearbeitet am 10. Okt. 2024
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from McKinsey!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

  • First of all, about the fast-track promotion, I would advise you to discuss your experience with HR, but such adjustments are rare for entry positions. You can find more on exactly this topic here.
  • Moreover, regarding your tattoos, I would advise you to observe the firm culture. Consulting firms are becoming more open with such aspects, but professionalism is still important. You will most likely wear long sleeves at least at the client side either way, though.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Anonym A
am 10. Okt. 2024
Thank you very much for the congratulations and the response! Yes the best way to go about both of my questions is to speak to HRR.
Hagen
Coach
am 10. Okt. 2024
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience
Of course, I'm very happy for you and always there to help! And yes, HR is typically the go-to department for such topics.
Alessa
Coach
am 10. Okt. 2024
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | xRB | >400 coachings | feel free to schedule an intro call for free

Hey there! 

Congratulations on your McKinsey offer! 

Regarding your questions: 

  1. Negotiating a fast-track promotion: While salary is non-negotiable at entry level, you can definitely bring up the idea of a fast-track promotion, especially considering experience / MSc. It's worth discussing, but be aware that promotion timelines at McKinsey are typically rigid. Still, showing your ambition and qualifications might open up opportunities for quicker growth. It's all about positioning it as a question, rather than a demand—asking for clarity on promotion prospects could help you set expectations.
  2. Business attire and tattoos: McKinsey is traditionally formal, but it’s evolving, especially in recent years how I had the feeling, with more diversity in style. Visible tattoos, particularly in Southern Europe, might still lean more conservative than in startups, especially with clients. However, it’s unlikely to be an issue if you’re professional and confident in your role. For spring/summer, it’s a good idea to feel out the office culture first, and you may want to opt for lightweight, long-sleeved professional wear in high temperatures if you sense formality is still expected. You can always ask HR directly about this, as office cultures differ! :)

Best, Alessa :)

Anonym A
am 10. Okt. 2024
Thank you so much for your detailed response! You are right, I should ask HR about it.
Florian
Coach
am 10. Okt. 2024
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

Congrats! :-)

Let's break it down: 

  1. How are you planning the PhD start and the McKinsey career in parallel? There is no way to make this happen at the same time - even if it's part time. A typical McKinsey work week is 60+ hours plus travel. Even if you want to sacrifice your weekends for the PhD, the contracts usually prohibit any additional work outside of McK.
  2. You should definitely ask for it - you have nothing to lose. If you decide to negotiate, make sure to substantiate your desire with 3-4 concrete supporting arguments and keep the discussion friendly. If they say no, accept it and move on.
  3. For any client setting, this should not be an issue as you would wear a suit and shirt anyway. For the in-office setting for home office Fridays, for instance, I would directly ask the office manager or HR what they think. While McKinsey is becoming more progressive over time, at the core, it's still a conservative organization (not too long-ago brown leather shows were frowned upon a partner once told me) and there are differences across offices as well.

Enjoy your time and all the best,

Florian

Anonym A
am 10. Okt. 2024
Thank you very much for the responses and the congrats ! PhDs in my country aren't paid positions, you are simply a student, so there's no conflict of interest. However you are right about the time constraints. My other option is to be an external researcher and simply conduct research on the project occasionally. That is something I will see when I start being on the job. I already code in my free time, I don't think it will make much of a difference.

Perfect I'm glad I can bring it up with HR!
Yes I know it's more traditional especially compared to the tech industry. I will be wearing my suits during winter, but I'm not sure if other female colleagues will be wearing suits during the summer season. It's not that common even in corporations here during summer because the weather is simply extremely hot. It worries me because as I said I'm quite qualified as an individual but the way I present myself is non-conventional. Which of course will be toned down for the job.
am 12. Feb. 2025
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

In terms of office attire - business casual is normally the baseline. However if you are at client site, then you would dress according to your client. All of this will be briefed by HR (office attire) and your case team norms before you start each case. 

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