Kearney Middle East Offer as an associate but I think I should be getting manager due to my experience. Should I negotiate or join & request for faster promotion?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from Kearney!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, with over 10 years of experience in various roles, it may be justified to negotiate for a manager position. However, this is something you should have done before you even started the application process, as it is highly unlikely that they will be willing to negotiate for the role now.
• Moreover, and contrary to what other coaches have said, negotiating an early promotion is a fallacy unless it's added to the employment contract and the performance-based system for that promotion is removed.
• Lastly, however, it certainly is possible to negotiate other aspects of your employment, such as the signing bonus and/or the relocation bonus. I have written about this in more detail in the salary report of consulting firms.

You can find more on this topic here: Salaries in the consulting industry.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hey there, 

To come in as a direct hire Manager at Management Consulting Firms, you usually should have direct management consulting experience prior and with having led small teams before

You've got a great leadership record, but for Kearney, I do think it will be better for you to come in at Associate level and really make sure that you develop the required specific toolkit for Manager there first. 

I remember when I was joining McKinsey, I had 5 of years managerial experience and 12 years total in Financial Services and felt I should be coming in at Manager level, but quickly realised that Associate was a good level for me to learn the toolkit needed to be successful long term
 

All the best

To receive a manager offer, you generally need manager-level experience at a consulting firm of the same or higher caliber. You could push for more tenure credit to have a faster timeline to promotion, but I believe that it's 1) unlikely they will give it to you and 2) a challenge to ramp up that quickly to be ready for the manager promotion. It's worth a discussion, for sure! 

Hey there! 

if you have experience in leading small teams, the manager level should be the ambition but given your experience is mostly outside of consulting, K might be reluctant to offer it. 

My recommendation is to openly ask for what is needed to get hired as a Manager. McK, for example, would hire you as an EM but require 3-6 months of working as an Associate to get accustomed to consulting and learning the toolkit before giving you the responsibility of managing a whole team. 

Hope this helps & best of luck!

Hey there,

Congratulations on your offer.

I have seen many people with a similar background face the same situation, especially right after an MBA. However, unless you have prior consulting experience as a Manager, Kearney typically does not offer post-MBA entry into a Manager position.

Furthermore, I would highlight:

1. Promotion timeline: The usual path Associate-to-Manager takes two years. While fast-track promotions are possible in 1.5 years, this is contingent on  outstanding evaluations. When you join, you’ll essentially start fresh, and achieving a fast-track promotion will depend entirely on your contributions and reviews during your time at Kearney.

2. Post-MBA Associate Role: I understand how you are feeling. However, joining as a post-MBA Associate isn’t necessarily a disadvantage. It allows you to build a solid foundation and reputation within the firm and avoid the main risks that come with a Manager position, where expectations are significantly higher and could lead to average performance evaluations if not met.

That said, it doesn’t hurt to explore all your options and give it a try.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck,
Pietro

hey there!

Given your extensive experience, it's reasonable to negotiate for a higher-level role like Manager. If the role as an Associate doesn't align with your career goals, you should definitely bring this up during your offer discussion. Express your accomplishments and how they align with the responsibilities of a Manager role. It's important to communicate your value and ask for a reassessment. If Kearney is open to considering you for an earlier promotion, it shows they value your background.

Alessa :)

Share your concerns with them to make an informed decision.

I’ve seen many people transition from industry to manager roles in consulting and struggle significantly to adapt. Consulting firms have highly specific ways of working, and partners generally don’t have time to teach a new manager these nuances—they expect fast results.

In my view, spending a few months as an associate to learn the operating model wouldn’t hurt.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy

It doesn't work like that. You have 1~year with strategy experience and that is not enough to completely train a Manager (a strategy consulting Manager). You'll need more time, and if you don't... then in any case you need to prove yourself.

What you have to discuss with them it that you want to be considered for promotion 1 year after you start. That discussion is possible. Getting in as a Manager is unlikely.

Hello,

Without any previous consulting experience, it's a tough ask, and it's also for your own benefit to enter as an Associate to adapt to the ways of working in consulting, Manager can be a tough job straight from industry.  I think you could ask for some tenure at best, although firms will be reluctant to break their structured campus recruiting process (MBA -> Associate). 

Good luck!