Currently working as a Bank Examiner. 2 1/2 YoE and a Masters in Finance. Limited progression opportunities where I am and feeling bored/stuck.
Is it worth pursuing a BA role in McKinsey & Company that would pay almost same salary as my current role for the progression opportunities and exit opps?
Should I just wait a couple years and aim for Associate w/out MBA?
Yes
If you truly want to learn consulting and change your career path, take the McKinsey BA role even if the salary is similar.
Coming from a bank examiner role with 2.5 years of experience and a Masters in Finance, the BA position is not a step back-it’s a reset with a much higher ceiling. You trade staying in a boring, low‑growth track for two to three years of intense learning, top‑tier brand, and far better exit options. That experience will open doors to PE, corporate strategy, or an internal move to Associate later, which is much harder to get from your current role.
If you are not ready to fully commit to 2-3 years of hard work and learning, then staying and waiting for something else makes sense. But if you are serious about consulting and growth, the answer is clear: say yes to the BA role now.
Hi,
For me the key question is whether you want to try consulting or not, at least in the short to medium term. If the answer is yes (or even “I’d like to give it a try”), then I would apply now rather than wait.
The only reasons I would suggest waiting are if you are planning to pursue an MBA or expect to take on significantly larger responsibilities in your current role over the next 2–3 years that would materially strengthen your profile. Otherwise, I don’t see a strong advantage in delaying the move.
Also keep in mind that even if the initial salary is similar, the learning curve, progression, and exit opportunities in consulting can be quite significant.
Feel free to reach out if you have further questions.
Best,
Franco
Hi there,
First, good luck in your decision, and appreciate the fact that you have this hard decision to make!
There's a lot of feedback here, but I'm going to boil it down to something I live by: Future Regret Minimization.
Two years from now, picture yourself — which will you regret more:
1) Still being at your bank examiner role and thinking about where you could be at McKinsey
OR
2) Having moved to McKinsey and thinking about where you could be at your bank examiner role
Here's a reframe though: you're assuming you get McKinsey. The question before that is — do you actually want consulting? Because a lot of people spend months preparing for something they've never actually interrogated.
Sounds like you're stuck. Are you happy staying stuck?
This is one of those career decisions worth spending money on. Invest 0.5% of your salary in a coaching session and change your trajectory. Happy to help: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/coaching-packages-5/31
A few other resources worth checking out:
The pay being similar now is not the right way to think about this. The real question is where each path takes you in three to five years.
A McKinsey BA role opens doors that a bank examiner title simply does not. The brand, the training, the network, and the exit opportunities are in a different league. Two to three years at McKinsey as a BA sets you up for private equity, corporate strategy, or a direct path to Associate, all at significantly higher compensation.
On waiting for Associate without an MBA, it is possible but harder than people expect. McKinsey does hire experienced Associates without MBAs but the bar is high and the profile they look for is usually someone with more distinctive commercial experience than regulatory work.
If you can get the BA offer, take it. Feeling stuck and bored is a real signal worth listening to. The salary difference is temporary. The trajectory difference is not.
Start preparing seriously and apply. See if you can get the offer first, then decide.
It depends on what your long-term objectives are and to what extent this role would be aligned with them.
Most people who pursue a role with McK, BCG, Bain, etc. do so not because of the salary but because of the learning opportunities and the long-term 'glow' the brand gives them.
Arguably, it's the same with the top universities.
So this idea of whether it's 'worth it' or not should be viewed through this perspective.
Sharing here a guide that breaks down what a consultant actually does:
• • Expert Guide: What Do Management Consultants Do?
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Best,
Cristian
Definitely try for MBB.. But make sure your resume is polished enough, shows clear impact and quantification. Don't merely resume drop. I found a tool called consultedge AI resume scorer that allows free resume scoring against MBB benchmarks..Try it out
hey there :)
Yes, I would definitely consider it. The McKinsey brand is extremely strong and can open many doors later, even if the salary at the start is similar to what you earn now. A friend of mine actually made a similar move, joined McKinsey in a junior role, and later used that experience to get into an Ivy League MBA in the US. So the long term upside can be significant in terms of progression, exits, and education opportunities.
best,
Alessa :)
