What role should I apply for?

Typically, individuals who have earned an undergraduate degree within the past four years (including candidates who have completed or are pursuing a non-business master’s degree) are considered for business analyst positions, often referred to as fellows in some offices. These individuals usually stay in the role for two to three years before either pursuing graduate school or gaining additional work experience. In some cases, they are invited to remain at McKinsey and transition directly into an associate role.

If you have a bachelor's degree and at least four years of professional experience, or if you have completed or are on track to complete your advanced degree (MBA, JD, MD, PhD, or post-doc), you would typically join as an associate.

Most new consultants begin their careers as generalists, working across a variety of industries and functions. Alternatively, some may join as practice consultants, focusing on a specific function or sector.

In addition to hiring students, McKinsey also recruits experienced professionals from a wide range of fields, including finance, government, engineering, law, military, medicine, manufacturing, and more. Experienced professionals may join in a variety of roles. For example, those with a bachelor's degree and a few years of experience may join as business analysts, associates, data scientists, designers, or research specialists. More seasoned professionals with extensive experience may join as associates, implementation coaches, industry or functional experts, or in more senior consulting positions. McKinsey also offers numerous career paths outside of consulting.

What is the difference between joining McKinsey as a generalist versus joining a specific practice?

Many candidates join as generalists if they are open to exploring multiple areas rather than specializing in one. If you already have a strong interest in one of our functional practices, you may choose to apply to that area specifically. While most of your work will focus on that practice, you will also have opportunities to work across various industries and functions. Please note, there is a single application portal that accommodates both generalist and specific practice preferences. You can list up to three office or practice preferences with your application.

How do I determine which office to apply to?

With offices in 130+ cities in 65+ countries, deciding which office to apply to can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor. You will want to consider: Proximity to your personal community and network: It is important to have community and support outside of work, therefore, consider a location where you have family, friends and/or roots. Local Industries: If you’re passionate about a specific industry, you should consider applying to an office that serves that industry extensively (i.e. Houston or Dubai for oil & gas). We also recommend you consider the size of the office (similar to choosing a university).

When you indicate your office and practice selections, you will allocate points to indicate your degree of preference between them, with a sum of 60 points across all choices. More points indicate a stronger preference and less consideration for other options. Ultimately, you will be invited to interview for one location or practice.

The standards for success in obtaining a McKinsey interview and offer are the same globally. All offices look for the same qualities in a resume/CV and a candidate, although certain locations require local language proficiency. Candidates are selected for interviews solely based on their experience and skills, not their office or practice preference.

Do you hire people with law degrees?

Yes, McKinsey has a long history of hiring colleagues with JDs and legal backgrounds—both immediately after law school and after practicing law for years. Consultants need the same skills that lead to success in law school, including strong leadership and communication skills and the ability to address multiple conflicting points of view to solve complex problems.

Do you hire people with medical degrees?

Yes. We have a large community of colleagues around the world who have medical degrees. While some joined our firm right out of medical school, others joined after years of leading clinical departments at major medical centers. McKinsey has found that the consulting world needs many of the same attributes and skills that contribute to MDs’ success in medicine, including being intellectually curious, creative, and analytically talented. MDs bring their teams not only relevant skills but also a valuable clinical perspective that allows them to approach healthcare problems distinctively. On healthcare projects, MDs understand the context deeply from day one and can speak the language of medicine with clients and external experts.

While most McKinsey MDs eventually focus on healthcare and life sciences, all McKinsey consultants—regardless of background—are encouraged to explore diverse industries and geographies. On McKinsey teams, MDs have ample opportunities to apply their medical expertise, though the problem-solving and interpersonal skills honed during their medical careers often prove most valuable.

Why do people with PhDs come to McKinsey?

Our colleagues with PhDs often say they joined McKinsey to expand their horizons. They discover that they can apply the problem-solving skills honed in academia in fresh, impactful ways, collaborate in dynamic team environments, and make a tangible difference. Many PhDs at McKinsey also take the opportunity to explore industries beyond their academic specialties, broadening their exposure.

At McKinsey, consultants tackle client challenges in months or even weeks, not years. They work closely with both fellow consultants and clients to solve these problems. Like academia, our firm fosters an intellectually stimulating environment, but one that’s also fast-paced and constantly evolving. PhDs who join McKinsey appreciate the opportunity to face new challenges with every project, growing both personally and professionally through mentorship, on-the-job training, and structured learning opportunities.

Does McKinsey hire veterans?

Yes, veterans bring valuable skills to McKinsey. They often excel in leadership and teamwork, having honed these skills in high-pressure environments. Their problem-solving and strategic thinking skills are key in addressing complex client challenges. Additionally, the discipline, resilience, and strong work ethic developed through their service make them highly effective in fast-paced consulting environments.

Is McKinsey a good career choice for former athletes?

Many athletes excel in high-performance environments because they are often accustomed to setting and achieving ambitious goals. Their ability to work as part of a team, stay disciplined under pressure, and maintain a strong work ethic makes them highly effective in fast-paced consulting settings.

Additionally, athletes are highly adaptable and possess a strong drive to continuously improve—all of which are essential for success in consulting. Their mental toughness and focus on results make them valuable contributors to McKinsey's dynamic teams.

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