Hi! I applied for both roles, but HR got back to me regarding the Junior Associate position. Is this a good or bad sign? Is the Business Analyst role more competitive or considered more "senior" than the Junior Associate position?
Hi,
Junior Associate is more senior than the BA role at McKinsey.
In general, it is a good sign that they got back to you at all, that means that your profile is interesting to them. The vast majority of candidates don't hear back/get rejected :)
Hey there 😊
That’s actually a good sign! Junior Associate is the more senior role, typically for candidates with a Master’s, PhD, or a few years of experience. Business Analyst is more entry-level, often right after undergrad. So if HR moved you forward for JA, it means they see you as qualified for the higher track.
Let me know if you want help prepping for it!
Best,
Alessa 😊
JA is more senior than BA!
It means you’re expected to reach Associate level in 12-18 months or so.
If you’re a great JA, it’s also possible to become a full Associate in 6 months. Rare but I’ve seen it happen.
Hi there,
Great that you’ve been contacted about the Junior Associate position — that’s actually a more senior role than Business Analyst, not the other way around.
Here’s a quick comparison:
So if HR reached out to you for the JA role, it’s a strong positive signal. It means they believe your background is more aligned with that level and see you as ready to contribute at a higher tier.
Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.
Best,
Evelina
Hi,
They have adjusted your application to the role considering your graduation date and past experiences, not a bad or good thing per se. The good thing is they’ve got back to you. The (maybe) not so good thing is that the bar for the process will be a bit higher than it would if you were in the BA process.
Good luck!!
Best,
Mari
BA is more junior than JAsc, so they likely believe you have enough / sufficient experience to qualify for that one. If in doubt, do clarify this proactively with the recruiter to avoid the situation when you find out you're not right for the role later on in the recruitment process.
Best,
Cristian
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