Accepting an offer from an office, but go to another

Question

I received an offer from Paris office, but I would like to work for the Amsterdam office (more interesting projects).

(I applied to Amsterdam office, but my CV was not selected. Different result in Paris office)

Is something that it is possible to negotiate / ask?

Answer 1

This is going to be almost impossible right away, especially given the fact that Amsterdam did not grant you an interview in the first place. However, it is VERY possible to work in Paris for 2 years or even a year and then ask for a transfer to Amsterdam. I had the same exact situation and transferred to a different McKinsey office after only 1 year.

To increase your odds, try to:

1) Network with Amsterdam office colleagues (especially Partners) and

2) Try to get staffed with Amsterdam Partners and

3) Try to get staffed on Amsterdam clients (which usually overlaps #2)

Answer 2

Hi,
I think the answer will depend on the firm.
At ATK at least, it doesn't seem realistic. Even though the recruitment process is supposed to be homogenous among offices, in the end you are recruited by the people you're going to work with directly.
I know for sure that you can ask for office transfer after a year once you have validated your performance and have created a positive reputation that will help push your transfer to the office you're targetting.

Hope this helps
Best
Benjamin