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Meaning of the job title in the McK advert - an expert track or practice affiliation?

Hi all!

Could you please advise what is the meaning of a role name "Consultant - Supply Chain", or "Consultant - Procurement" on the job board at McKinsey Careers in terms of the track for the role?

Is this an Expert career track, with Consultant effectively meaning Specialist, or would it rather be the Generalist track but with Operations practice affiliation?

I am a bit confused, as there is a Specialist role on the Expert track, and an Associate role on the Integrative track, but Consultant isn't known to me, so not sure what stands behind it internally - I am just aware it's on the Associate level in terms of pay etc. 

Thank you for your help!

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Top answer
Ken
Coach
on May 22, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

It's hard to say without seeing the full job description. Technically both an Associate or Specialist are consultants but being foucsed on Supply Chain or Procurement will likely mean you are on the Expert Consulting not Integrative Consluting path. 

I would caution that switching tracks from Expert to Integrative is not as straightforward as people say it is. It's important to get views from both sides as most people join the Expert consluting track assuming the switch will be easy.

Anonymous A
on May 22, 2021
Thank you for your answer! An example of that kind of offer is: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/search-jobs/jobs/consultant-supplychainmanagement-14547 - would that be definitively an expert track?
Ken
Coach
on May 22, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach
Yes most likely expert consulting. It's worth distinguishing that within the expert consulting track, this is more consulting than knowledge/research.
Anonymous A
on May 22, 2021
Understood, thanks. As far as I am aware in this case the comp and exit opps are very similar to the generalist path, although the time to get to Partner may differ - am I correct?
Ken
Coach
on May 22, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach
Not sure about exit opportunities since your experience will be focused on ops. I'm not sure about the duration but partner election will largely depend on how much demand there is with your area of expertise.
Anonymous B
on May 22, 2021

Hi,

I just recently get this position from McK, and yes the position will most likely be specialist

your total experience and performance on your interview will decide whether you start as a specialist or junior specialist. both on expert career track

after talking with the people on McK, you can later choose if you want to be on more demanding partner track (specialist-expert-expert asc partner-expert partner), or less demanding senior expert track (specialist-expert-senior expert-master expert)

11
on May 21, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, yes, I confirm they are both roles into the operations practice

Best,
Antonello

Anonymous
on May 21, 2021
Sorry Antonello, but I am not sure what you mean. I am aware that they are both in Operations practice, the question is more about whether Consultant role is an Expert track (i.e. Specialist), or Integrative but affiliated with Operations (i.e. Associate).
Anonymous C
on May 22, 2021
He confirms!
Ian
Coach
on May 22, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Ultimately you need to talk to HR regarding this one. You have quite a few questions, every office operates a bit differently, and you need to be sure you're clear on what you're getting into!

That said, this looks like an expert track. You would very much become a supply chain specialist.

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