Grateful to have been there, just as grateful to have left - Engagement Manager (Previously Associate) McKinsey & Company Employee Review

5.0
Apr 9, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

+ People - both colleagues and most clients + Learning opps - both in terms of the consulting toolkit but also for the opportunity to get exposed to different industries, functions and geographies + Option value - great launching pad for career switching (pre-McK, I was in oil and gas in Houston, post-McK I'm in edtech in the Bay Area) + Alumni network - incredibly well-placed and people are actually super-responsive to asks for help + Brand recognition - helps in the jobs marketplace + Travel opps - if this is important to you

Cons

+ Lifestyle - enough said + Success/failure at the Firm is highly dependent on luck -- a lot really depends on the luck of the draw with respect to staffing. You want to be staffed on the right project with the right team at the right time. The Firm does its best to give you a fair shot, but a fair number of people fall through the cracks. + Nature of consulting -- eventually you might get tired of providing advice and want to actually build stuff. + People are uber-rational -- in MBTI parlance, almost everyone is an ''NT". It creates a very logical / rational culture - you need to make sure you can fit into the culture.

Explore other reviews about McKinsey & Company

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart, ambitious colleagues who genuinely care about solving challenging problems. The company attracts talented people, and there are many opportunities to collaborate with individuals who bring strong expertise and fresh perspectives. The business itself presents interesting and meaningful problems to work on.

Cons

Product thinking and customer-centric decision-making are not always prioritized, with significant effort often spent on stakeholder alignment, organizational navigation, and internal politics.

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

McKinsey was one of my favorite jobs. The culture stands out for the caliber of the people — smart, capable colleagues with a genuine desire to help each other succeed and create meaningful impact. One thing that impressed me was how seriously McKinsey takes its values. Many companies write them on a wall; McKinsey actively discusses and reinforces them. One that particularly resonated with me was the “obligation to dissent” – the expectation that everyone has a voice and a responsibility to respectfully challenge ideas. I’m grateful for my years at McKinsey and the colleagues I had the opportunity to work with.

Cons

McKinsey has a culture of high expectations and high impact, which can be energizing and rewarding, but it can also translate into super long hours.

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