Hi there,

I generally agree with Adi here.

If you're really optimizing for prestige/name brand, McKinsey is globally recognized as the clear #1. BCG is generally recognized as #2 (but the gap between BCG and Bain is closer than the gap between McKinsey and BCG).

Ultimately, you need to figure out what matters to you most. Personally, I think fit is incredibly important. I also think it leads to better long term success. However, others will pick McKinsey no matter what because they want to be #1. Others will pick a better salary, better location, better starting role, etc.

You need to decide what you value and pick accordingly!

At the core of it- behaviours, performance expectations, type of work & general well-being, I am going to say that they will all be pretty similar. Of course there will be variations in various aspects by office/country, but broadly the core will be same. Same thing different logo :).

As a candidate, I always advice people to go for mutual FIT! This includes strong FIT in terms of:

1. Personal and professional values (culture, leadership, ways of working, reputation, etc
2. Career aspirations
3. Will this job allow me to give my best and be happier
4. Are any underlying risks of taking this job manageable

Please have a browse of this article which provides more guidance on how to choose between jobs/careers- https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

All the best!

It truly depends on what you are optimizing for. If you want to do a 2-year stint to get the prestige factor on your resume, then go for the most recognized brand in your region (usually McKinsey). If you think you might want to make a long term career out of it (which is quite rare given how brutal it can be) then spend a lot of time thinking about where you might fit in better and where the culture sounds most appealing to you.

Best,

Udayan

Hello,

It really depends on what you value most! The nature of the work, salary, career progression, and caliber of clients is quite similar between firms (though there will be more heterogeneity by geography). There are some differences in how work is conducted, such as staffing models, that might be worth being aware of. But beyond that, I think going based on what you feel is a better fit is good advice that generally applies regardless of the region you are going for.