Qualification of McKinsey Junior Associate

Question

Hi guys,

I have a question about the qualification of applicaion criteria of Junior Associate at McKinsey.

I have a Bachelors degree and a non-MBA Masters degree, together with 1.5 years working expeirence in consultancy. Does this meet the application criteria of Junior Associate at McKinsey?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Anonymous,

the answer may be different according to the country, but at least in Europe, with such experience you will be considered for an Analyst position, not a Junior Associate Position. In order to qualify for a Junior Associate Position, you would need to have completed a PhD or have a minimum of 3-4 years of work experience.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Answer 2

As Francesco has said, you likely wouldn't be considered for a JA position. However, you may be able to negotiate entering at a 2nd year Analyst level, meaning you have the opportunity for faster promotion to Associate if you prove yourself. In London, this happens quite frequently at both Bain and McKinsey.

Answer 3

Dear A,

Generally saying, there are undergraduate degree and strong academic credentials from a reputable institution. An MBA or graduate degree is preferred for Associate positions. Exceptional problem solving and quantitative skills, typically tested through case interviews.

Best,

André

Answer 4

Hi there,

Junior associate position (only available in certain geographies) is for profiles with 3-5 years of experience that might not be fully ready yet to join the associate position.

Best,

Alberto

Answer 5

Hi,

I agree with the previous comments, 1.5 years of work experience in Europe would likely not be enough. In my home office, BAs with a master degree can progress to JAsc role in typically 2 years, therefore, if McKinsey accepted you as a JAsc with 1.5 years of work experience, it would mean that they allowed you to progress faster than the BAs.

If you have 2-3 years of experience at another company, you can already start negotiating for JAsc, although also depends on your backgound - if you are coming from a non-business background, they might still want you to complete the BA training. Feel free to discuss your individual situation with a hiring manager, too.

Best,

Réka

Answer 6

Hi there,

JA possible, but Associate more likely.

If you can get to the 2 year mark, and get a promotion, you'd have much better odds for JA.

That being said, it doesn't hurt to start discussions now (this question is a great exuse to contact HR and network). The light relationships you develop in that process could 1) Help you get a referral now or 2) Help you re-initiate recruiting in the future!

Answer 7

Hi, no, it would be senior BA

Regards!

Answer 8

Hallo, in Deutschland wurde er laut HR in den meisten Büros abgeschafft und wenn, dann wird ein Test nur für bestim... (read entire answer)

Hallo, in Deutschland wurde er laut HR in den meisten Büros abgeschafft und wenn, dann wird ein Test nur für bestimmte Practices verwendet. Die Aussage war von September '15.

Answer 9

Neil, I was an experienced hire as well, so can definitely relate. The hardest part for your will likely be to get... (read entire answer)

Neil, I was an experienced hire as well, so can definitely relate. The hardest part for your will likely be to get an interview. McK is probably most open, assuming you have a... (read entire answer)

Answer 10

Let me take a crack at this (in English) since no-one has addressed this. Top consultancies typically want the best... (read entire answer)

Let me take a crack at this (in English) since no-one has addressed this. Top consultancies typically want the best people regardless of their background. Yes, some roles are... (read entire answer)