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What is the difference between McKinseys Business Analyst and Junior Associate role?

analyst associate MBB McKinsey
New answer on Jun 10, 2020
8 Answers
3.3 k Views
Anonymous B asked on Jun 08, 2020

On their site they have mentioned bachelors degree as a requirement for both. What exactly is the difference between the two roles? What qualifications are needed for them?

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jun 08, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

BA is an entry role at McKinsey

Fellow Associate - The short role that some of the candidates may get. There are tree possible scenarios:

  • Entry role in some countries with widespread MA degrees. (Usually, they don't have BA roles at all)
  • If you don't have enough relevant experience for an associate role / performed not perfectly at the interview. If you have never worked in consulting this is a good starting point since you can get more experience before starting to manage projects and have more time to improve if you fail at something
  • As a promotion from SBA position if you are not getting MBA and your performance is not good enough to get a DTA (Direct to Associate promotion)

I would not compare Junior Asc and BA since those roles are too different and would rather compare JASC and ASC. Being a Junior Associate has both pros and cons.

Pros:

  • If you have never worked in consulting this is a good starting point since you can get more experience before starting to manage projects and have more time to improve if you fail something
  • The quarterly evaluation process is less tough than for an associate
  • You automatically get promoted to ASC in 1 year

Cons:

  • Lower salary and bonus
  • +1 year longer career path

Best

Good luck!

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Anrian
Expert
replied on Jun 08, 2020
Ex Kearney Senior Manager | Ex McKinsey Engagement Manager | Interviewer & Case Coach at McKinsey (200+ Real Interviews)

Hi There,

Junior Associate (or Pre-Associate) role exists in only some offices in McKinsey. The role is designed as a transition role for Exp Hire (5-8 yrs exp) or Advanced Degree (PhD) or in some offices MBA (in India) before assuming an Associate role.

Junior Associate will almost do similar works like an Associate but with more guidance, as they have some solid prior experiences prior to McKinsey. A person usually takes that role between 6 months to 1.5 years before advancing to Associate.

Meanwhile, a BA is a role designed for a fresh or 1-2 yrs of exp undergraduate. BA in McKinsey is usually their first-time job, hence the guidance is a lot more than a JA, and they will need to be mentored more closely on day to day basis. BA usually lasts between 2-3 years before advancing to Associate or Senior BA.

Hope this helps!

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Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

In addition to the answers provided, if you include some information about yourself we can let you know where you might fit best!

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Udayan
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

BA roles are typically for those just coming out of undergrad

Junior Associate roles are only available in select countries (mostly developing). They are usually there for postgraduates with limited or no work experience - such as India where it is very common to do an MBA without any work experience at all!

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Anonymous replied on Jun 08, 2020
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Anonymous replied on Jun 10, 2020

Dear A,

A business analyst ussually owns an analysis while an associate owns a part of the client problem. The analyst ussually is just out of undergrad while the associate has some experience and probably has an MBA. An additional difference is a material difference in annual compensation.

Hope it helps,

Best,

André

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
usually to get a junior associate offer you need at least 2 years of working experience (or 1 in consulting). It is a sort of fast track for the associate role, since you have only 1 year to get it (instead of 2/3 years of business analysts).
In terms of role in the team instead, they are quite similar. Junior associate often manage the biggest part of the project, but responsibilities and exposure on partners and clients are the same.

Best,
Antonello

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Few:

  1. Previous experience: junior associates do have some, but BAs in most cases not (or less than 2 years)
  2. Responsability: BAs are more junior and hence more accompanied, Jas fly solo from day one practically

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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