I got an offer for McKinsey in Paris but I have doubts!

Hi there,

Congrats on your offer!

You are suffering what happens to the vast majority of MBB people (even if they are senior partners who have been working +20 years at the firm): the moment you join MBB you become an insecure overachiever (and you will probably always be).

I will always remember something I was told in my first day at McKinsey along with other 50 new joiners from all over Europe: “You all guys are here for a reason, mainly because you've been exceptional doing something before (studies, sports, entrepreneurship, etc.). Now you are all average (a very high average) and this is ok. Try to relax and enjoy the experience as much as you can”.

This is my advice to you. You got the offer for a reason so now make sure you learn and enjoy as much as you can :)

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi there,

First of all, congrats!

Second, you do not need to be a genius to survive.

Your thoughts/reactions are totally normal! EVERYONE at MBB has imposter syndrome. I promise!

Do it. You'll regret not doing it. If you “fail”, you learn, find out, move on, and never look back. If you don't try, you'll always wonder.

Yes, it's hard. But you'll find out for yourself. Get on the phone and talk to people at these firms to learn more!

Here's some additional reading as well to give you an idea:

Consulting Survival Guide - Tips for Your Consulting Career
 

The Pros and Cons of Working at a Top Consulting Firm

Hi, congrats on the offer!

What are your opinions?

You should 100% join. You'll 100% regret it later if you don't. Even if you try and fail it's better experience than thinking “what if?” for the rest of your life.

Is the fact that “geniuses”  work at MBB just a rumour?

The people working at MBB are certainly not geniuses, but are generally cut above the rest. You'll be held to a pretty high standard, but it's not something impossible.

Also, can you please briefly explain me what are the day-to-day tasks in a consulting firms?

Your work will be split between doing research, analysis in excel, preparing slides in powerpoint and communicating with the client and the team. The exact splits depends on the seniority of your position and the particular project.

Are people willing to train you? 

Yes, absolutely. You'll receive some of the best training in the world at McKinsey.

To round up, I'd like to quote what Victor Cheng said about working at MBB: “The companies would rather hire someone who didn't manage at MBB than someone who excelled at Big4”. This is a generalisation, of course, but this is rather telling.

Good luck,
Nick


 

Hi,

Congrats on the offer! Here are my thoughts on your key questions:

1. Do you need to be a genius to survive?

• The simple answer is no
• The more nuanced reply is no, because the reality of the job allows multiple paths and ‘types’ of success in the firm
  • Being a good consultant is a lot more than just being ‘smart’ or having intellectual horsepower - there are other aspects such as interpersonal skills and practicality that come into play
  • For a fact - I can tell you that some of the most commercially successful partners I've known aren't actually ‘geniuses’ (even by their own accounts)
• The fact that you passed the interview and got the offer means the firm believes you have the baseline ability on what it takes to survive

2. What are the day to day tasks?

• This really varies a lot - but in short, it will be a combination of
  • Research
  • Analysis
  • Output generation (slide, excel etc)
  • Internal meetings
  • External meetings (with client)

3. Are people willing to train you?

• Yes. At MBB, the apprenticeship culture is strong
• In fact, speaking from experience, being able to find internal mentors and a network of seniors who support and guide you is invaluable

All the best - enjoy the journey :)

Hi there,

congrats on the offer. You passed the recruiting process so McKinsey sees you as a “genius” now just like everyone else there - just kidding :)

The term genius is very vague to begin with. In consulting, you will also need a lot of emotional intelligence, not just analytical skills (in case you define genius based on high test scores). After all, it is a people business.

The most successful people in the company are often the most driven as well - they want to advance in their careers quickly, play the internal politics games and figure out where and by whom they need to be “seen”. That doesn't mean that they are necessarily the most capable consultants on the projects - or geniuses for that matter. It just depends on what the individual parameters are that you want to optimize for.

If you enter consulting straight out of undergrad, the firms expect you to need a lot of training to pick up the consulting skill set. They do have specific training programs for that (in addition to on-the-job training) and they give you time to adjust. 

Honestly, you should give it a try at this point. You have nothing to lose. And if you have enough of the day-to-day grind after 2 years, just do something else (like most people who start in consulting). But you will learn a lot of useful things during that time that will be universally applicable in whatever career path you choose going forward.

Best of luck

Hello, 

Congrats on getting the offer the harder part is done! 

This “genius” talk is definitely not the case! (The geniuses are out there building companies ^^). People are Smart and if you have been accepted through the process that means you are as Smart as they are - that is what all those interviews are testing! 

The expectation when receiving the offer to join is that you will be able to be trained to learn how to do what McK wants from their consultants → I wouldn't overthink it now that got the offer (YAY), take it and enjoy the ride, you will definitely learn a lot! 

That being said, people at MBB do work hard and a lot as there are high expectations. That doesn't mean everyone is super Genius, just that you are asked to do a lot of work and some aspects of the work come easier to some people than others (and that is perfectly fine!). Also everyone in the company has imposter syndrome but due to the environment plays it like they have it all figured out ^^. 

If you want to get in Consulting, I would say accept, you have nothing to prepare before joining necessarily, and then give it your best shot once you are in! (Worth it even if you stay 6 months or 6 years). 

Congrats again and cheers! 
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Nicolas Vilmin

This makes me remember a workshop they organised during freshers week at Oxford called ‘How not to feel the smartest anymore’. 

This is classic impostor syndrome. 

With time you'll find out that most people feel insecure in the firm. So you definitely belong. 

What you need to succeed is a growth mindset, not a ‘genius' mindset. So be open to feedback, try things out, fail and then keep on going. 

Sharing two resources you might find helpful in understanding the consultant life and how to best navigate it:

• Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant
• Expert Guide: How to Manage for Lifestyle in Consulting
• Expert Guide: What Do Management Consultants Do? 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there N.,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from McKinsey Paris!

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

• First of all, it's important to understand that the idea of needing to be a "genius" to succeed at McKinsey or any other top consulting firm is a myth. Success in consulting is about your ability to learn quickly, adapt, and work effectively in teams and not about being highly gifted or at least intelligent above average.
• Moreover, day-to-day tasks in consulting vary greatly but generally include problem-solving, data analysis, client meetings, and preparing presentations. You won't be expected to know everything from the start. Firms like McKinsey have comprehensive onboarding and training programs and a supportive culture where more experienced colleagues mentor and guide new joiners.
• Lastly, it's normal to feel apprehensive about stepping into a new role, especially one with high expectations. However, remember that McKinsey saw potential in you. Trust their judgment and your own abilities. I would highly advise you to approach this opportunity with confidence and a willingness to learn and grow.

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

Best,

Hagen

MBB's are smart work-hard people that work together in teams with highly knowledgeable partners and undergo good very high-quality training and are systematically exposed to great challenges (which help them reach their performance potential). 

Consultants grow through a lot of training on the job, and consulting firms setup things in order to make consultants successful.

You are falling prey to a myth that MBB's are “genius” type of people, but this is not correct at all. Very smart, very structured, very analytical, for sure. But they become great AFTER they join MBB and go through all the training and project exposure. And yes, they are not only willing but also quite prepared to train you!

So it's not about STARTING as a genius, but about GROWING into a great consultant. You want to reach their level? Don't run away from them, take the offer!