Is there a difference between applying to 'Digital' Mckinsey and Mckinsey?

Hi,

McKinsey Digital roles are not that much different from McKinsey Generalist. The major difference is a separate staffing. You will have a different staffing coordinator who has to approve all your projects. In general, it gives you more opportunities since you can be staffed both on IT and generalist projects.

Specifically, McKinsey digital is working on IT strategy, Agile transformations, etc. It also depends on the country where you apply - while in US you can expect a lot of Digital projects, in other countries most of your projects will be in various industries and functions

All of the above has the following implications on the interview process:

• You should prepare similarly to the regular McKinsey interviews (i.e. cases and fit parts)
• You should be ready to solve specific cases related to IT (e.g. agile transformation cases. The case process itself will be very similar to the regular Mck interview)
• You should be ready to talk on IT topics (Hint: read as many articles on McK website about digital transformations)
• 1-3 of the partners on your interviews will be from McKinsey Digital. You can collect some information about interviewing with them in advance (background, cases, questions, etc)

Best,

Hi, 

I'd agree with all of Vlad's comments on what to expect and how to prep. I'd add: 

McKinsey Digital is a body inside McKinsey, with over 1,000 people belonging to the org worldwide. It is growing, and growing fast. Therefore, assuming the expected content of studies (projects in McK lingo) is appealing and exciting to you, I'd consider the growth factor. 

This could prove helptful in a variety of ways: interesting opportunities to set up as demand from clients may outpace available consultants and even in pace of promotions further down the line. 

Good luck!

:)

Hi all, 

I totally agree with what was said previously in this thread. I would just add that McKinsey has a tendency to hire an increasing amount of specialists and experts for McKinsey Digital. Again to be clear, at McKinsey Digital you have two tracks:

1. Generalist: the process is fairly similar to a generalist interview path at McKinsey. You will have more IT related cases.
2. Specialist/expert (Marketing, Analytics...): the process differs from a generalist process.

Indeed if you come into an interview process on the expert path you will have:

• Normal case interviews: standard interviews with PEI and case
• Expert interviews: special interviews that are reviewing your expertise and PEI questions

Hope this helps,

Hi there

Great to see a fellow Aussie on this thread - I used to work at BCG in Australia, spent 70% of my cases working with BCG DV and now work at Uber Strategy in SF.

I am not super famililar with McKinsey Digital but it sounds like it does it covers a broad range of tech topics. BCG DV's primary focus is in product development and building new businesses - typically the mandate is what is a "big idea" for a new business or product that a client should invest in. BCG DV usually does the customer research, innovation, product design / development, BCG will help with business strategy, investment case, operations set up.

The closest role at BCG DV to a generalist BCG consultant is Venture Architect, but historically they have come from BCG side or were ex-entrepreneurs. Other major roles are Product Manager, Strategic Designer.

Hope that helps

For BCG the interview process between BCG and BCG DV is the same but interview structure is same if applying for consulting role within both (vs. for example UX/UI engineer or architect specialist). However, as you correctly assumed, cases have all a digital component since this is what you will be doing.

In case of BCG, BCG and BCG DV are part of same company but moving between the two is exceptional and not the most easy/straightforward process.

Hope it helps,

Andrea

Dear A,

Actually there are not that much different, by Digital McKinsey Implies that you would be able to solve IT related cases, and IT topics, including agile system and principle. 

In other is more less the same. 

Best,
André

Hi, 

Applying for McKinsey means that you will get in as a generalist consultant which can work an every industry/type of project.

Applying for McKinsey Digital meant that you will exclusively work on digital-related projects.

The application process is identical but your day-to-day job will differ in terms of functional focus.

Best regards,

Jorn

I have the same question. Trying to decide which I should apply 

Hi,

Your background seems quite strong and relevant for joining the digital practices of top consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Here are some tips for preparing for the interview process:

1. Case Interviews: The type of case interviews you can expect will likely involve digital issues, given your interest in joining the digital practice. Be prepared to discuss topics related to digital strategy, transformation, technology implementation, and data analytics. Practice both generalist cases and cases specific to digital topics.

2. Digital Acumen: Showcase your understanding of digital trends, technologies, and their impact on businesses. Stay updated on recent developments in areas like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital marketing.

3. Behavioral Questions: Expect questions about your experiences, especially your digital strategy internship at Deloitte. Be ready to discuss your role, responsibilities, and the impact you had during that internship.

4. Problem-Solving Skills: Demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, particularly in the context of digital challenges. Be structured and analytical in your approach to problem-solving questions.

5. Fit for the Firm: Research each consulting firm's digital practice to understand their specific focus areas and client work. Tailor your responses to align with the firm's values and expertise.

6. Networking: If possible, connect with current or former consultants from these firms who work in digital practices. They can provide valuable insights and possibly even conduct mock interviews.

7. Mock Interviews: Practice case interviews with peers or through mock interview platforms to get comfortable with the format and receive feedback.

8. Resume Review: Ensure your resume highlights your relevant experiences and skills, particularly those related to digital.

Remember that the interview process for digital roles may be more specialized than for generalist roles, but the core consulting skills (problem-solving, communication, structured thinking) are still crucial. Good luck with your application and interviews!

Warm regards,
Frederic

The only thing I'd add is that Digital McKinsey's process isn't very different from the generalist process. It's sometimes slightly more competitive given the types of people interested in technology, but process-wise it's the exact same. 

You're given a case and you do the PEI. The case may or may not be on digital topics - Digital McKinsey consultants do 50% of their work as generalists (at least as BA's), so you need to be able to do cases beyond just your typical digital topics.