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How is McKinsey Practice Coordinator different from Consultant?

BCG McKinsey and Bain MBB McKinsey preplounge
New answer on Jun 17, 2020
6 Answers
2.2 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jun 17, 2020

Hello all,

I got an interview call for Practice Coordinator with McKinsey in Private Equity. I would love to know your thoughts on-

1. How is Practice Coordinator different from a Consultant?

2. How is the recuitment process like?

3. Does it require travel?

4. Is it a good position to enter McKinsey and switch to Consulant position?

More ideas are welcomed. Thanks

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Honestly, no, it´s not admin!

There is some info in GlassDoor, but honestly its a very unique position -very little-.

In your shoes, I would look for actual people who hold this title in LinkedIn and connect with them, to better udnerstand the day-to-day and how to prep for the process.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
it is more an administrative role, that can organize events, communication campaigns but also support teams at standardizing some documents or searching for knowledge. Compared to consultants, it does not require so much travel.

It will be difficult to switch to consultant position.

Best,
Antonello

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Sidi
Expert
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 350+ candidates secure MBB offers

Hi!

I disagree with the previous answer. A Practice Coordinator at McKinsey is not an administrative role! It is a highly strategic position which is very often filled by ex cconsultants (usually former EMs). The Practice Coordinator is the operational leader when it comes to everything that links to the business development of the practice. So it includes strategies to attain/codify knowledge, develop clients, but also recruiting strategy and adjacent topics. In some way, it is somewhat similar to a Consultant Role, but your client is the respective McKinsey practice. You are working in tight collaboration with the partners and APs who lead the practice, and sometimes you might even get a team staffed for core initiatives.

Cheers, Sidi

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Anonymous updated the answer on Jun 17, 2020

Hello,

I am well aware of this role which also exists within the BCG.

1. How is Practice Coordinator different from a Consultant?

It is a coordinating role (which is similar to a chief of staff for the head of the practice). You will be in charge of coordinating the offers, the marketing (eg digital) and the animation of the internal community (organization of events, sharing of good practices). It is not a consultant role, you will not be client facing and will not be staffed on a project.

2. How is the recuitment process like?

You will meet the partner in charge of the practice and for the rest, probably other members of the practice.

3. Does it require travel?

If the head of the practice is not from the same office then yes often. Otherwise, only a little bit (for example for offsites, or other events that you organize within the internal community

4. Is it a good position to enter McKinsey and switch to Consulant position?

I do not think so. In general the movement is done in the other direction.

Best

(edited)

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Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

  1. Practice coordinator is an internal role to coordinate business activities (think of a business development position) - very interesting role, just with very limited external client contact (it's an inwards-facing role)
  2. Usually it's a role developed internally, so it's interesting to see that you are considered for that role as an outside hire. For outside hires for this role, I don't have any direct insights for that, sorry.
  3. Yes
  4. It's definitely a good and rather unique position - usually the flow is from consultant to practice coordinator, but if you want to switch sides after a while I don't see any reasons why it should not be possible.

Hope this helps - if so, please be so kind and give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

It would help if you provide a link to the job description since it's not the most common role.

However, one thing is for certain - it will be very hard to make a transition to the generalist role.

Best

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Clara gave the best answer

Clara

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McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut
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