Hi,
I would like to get your opinions and advice!
Previously, I posted about how I failed McKinsey two times and am feeling the pressure of age, but many of you encouraged me, for which I am truly grateful. For your information, I am 33 years old with 2 master's degree and 7 years of work experience (not in consulting).
I have been reflecting a lot on my career lately and have been speaking to numerous people in the consulting industry. Here are my current situation and thoughts:
Bain: I spoke to a Bain Partner who handles recruiting, and he mentioned that they usually prefer candidates with a consulting background, except for entry-level positions. Therefore, I believe I shouldn't pursue opportunities at Bain. Additionally, although I usually pass the CV screening for McKinsey and BCG, I was rejected at the CV screening stage for Bain. So what he told me is really true.
BCG: I applied two years ago but didn't pass the online case assessment. Recently, a friend referred me, and I completed the Pymetrics test two weeks ago. I'm unsure if I'll still need to do another online case assessment or if Pymetrics is the only test required. Also, how long does it typically take to hear back from them after the Pymetrics test?
McKinsey: I've failed twice before: once at the first interview stage and once with Imbellus. I'm currently on a ban period, which ends in August 2024. I had the opportunity to speak to a senior partner about my previous failures, and he suggested that failing twice might indicate I'm not suited for consulting, which has led me to reconsider my options. Consequently, I've applied for a Knowledge Analyst position and have a TEI interview scheduled in two days. I've read posts from others in a similar situation who aspire to transition from a knowledge analyst role to management consulting. However, many people suggest this transition is unlikely or rare, and that the knowledge analyst role is primarily a back-office position and not as prestigious as a consultant. While I haven't secured the job yet, I'm concerned given the discouragement from others regarding the knowledge analyst role.
For the KA position, I still need to undergo three case interviews. When I interviewed for an Associate position, I was given six months to prepare, but for the Knowledge Analyst role, HR informed me that the entire process (four interviews) would be completed within one month. I recall the difficulty of my previous case interviews, but during a coaching session with a Knowledge Analyst, the case he presented, which he mentioned was from his final interview, seemed less challenging. Can I expect relatively easier cases during this process compared to those for management consultant roles?
My final question concerns the salary range for a Knowledge Analyst in the GCC office, as many people have warned that it is quite low.
Thank you in advance!
