Applying to McKinsey When Home Office Isn’t Hiring – How to Approach Location Strategy?

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in my final year of undergraduate study (with ~2 years of relevant experience) and exploring entry-level roles at McKinsey (Consulting Analyst / Business Analyst level).

My home country office isn’t currently hiring, but a recruiter has offered to directly refer me to suitable roles. I also have a general referral. I’m therefore considering applying to roles in other regions (e.g., Middle East or South Asia).

My questions are:

How should I approach selecting office locations strategically when my home office isn’t open and isn't expected to open soon?
Is it better to apply broadly across multiple geographies or focus on 2–3 specific offices?
How do firms typically view applicants applying outside their home country at entry level?
Does McKinsey generally support candidates with visa and relocation requirements at the analyst level, and how much does this vary by office?

Would really appreciate any insights from those who have applied cross-border or transferred between offices.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi! if you're keen to join McKinsey but the local offices aren't recruiting, you can consider applying to other offices. However, here's something to consider:

Some locations are more open to international candidates than others (in terms of strong visa sponsorship, limited/no language requirements, limited/no need for prior experience or ties to the region, etc.)

What offices want to understand is 1) is this person serious about the firm? 2) is this person serious about the office (i.e. hopefully he or she will not immediately ask for an office transfer in under 12-months tenure). Cover letter is a good way to explain your motivations and understanding of offices.

You should look at Analyst role descriptions across different offices to ascertain their willingness to bring someone with your background onboard! Good luck and happy to support you in your prep should you decide to apply to McK and/or other consulting firms!