Associate vs Jr Associate at Mckinsey?

Question

I have a little more than 4 years of experience as a consultant in Canada with a fortune 50 IT consulting firm. I have covered several roles in digital transformation complex projects from working in PMO, OCM, testing, data analytics and migration, agile deliveries, etc...

I completed a bachelors degree in Economics & Psychology + a masters degree in Data Analytics (both from top 10 schools in Canada)

I would like join any of the UAE offices (Abu Dhabi or Dubai) Which would be more suitable considering my consulting experience and education?

Answer 1

Hey there,

In terms of suitability, your profile looks more of a Junior Associate based on the number of years of experience.

An Associate typically with be required to have a minimum of 5 years experience. Also to note, I have seen some colleagues hired as Associate (mistakenly) being levelled down to Junior Associate because it was realised that they didn't have the pre-requisite experience for Associate when they were being hired. Please note, this was after they got the offer and had started working... Since then, recruiting have become a bit more strict and careful with this.

My worry with trying to apply for Associate in the hope that they will just level you down to Junior Associate is that they reject you outright. I've also experienced many candidates in your position trying to do this, and get rejected because they didn't meet the threshold of Associate

But because requirements do vary from region to region, I highly recommend you verify with recruiting what level you should be applying for.

All the best

Answer 2

Agreed on reaching out to consultants and/or recruiting in the office -- it will take the guessing out of the equation. Regardless of leveling, you will need a strong CV and compelling story to make your way past screening/interviews. If you want to dig into the specifics of your background, reach out for a free consultation!

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your career trajectory thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

Contrary to what other coaches have said, I would advise you to apply for the Associate role if you think your qualifications match. If the recruiter thinks differently, they will inform you either at the beginning or during the interview process, rather than simply rejecting you.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming McKinsey pre-interview assessment and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 4

The main difference really is the risk at stake. Entrepreneurial Drive is more about having initiative and driving th... (read entire answer)

The main difference really is the risk at stake. Entrepreneurial Drive is more about having initiative and driving things forward, but Courageous Change is about making the hard... (read entire answer)