McK vs Deloitte offer (different entry level position)

Question

I am currently in the fortunate situation of having to decide between an offer from McKinsey and Deloitte.
The clear decision for McKinsey is made difficult for me by the different roles I am offered. At McKinsey I would start as a Solution Analyst, whereas at Deloitte I would start as a Senior Consultant.
Both jobs are in a similar thematic environment (PM).
Considering reputation and later exit options, how would you choose a Solution Analyst position at MBB vs. Senior Consultant at Big 4? I would appreciate feedback and perhaps more information/insights on the image of the Solution Analyst track at McK. What makes me most unsure about the Solution Analyst position is the fact that it is not a traditional Consultant position and I am afraid to move into a niche here.
(Experienced hire with 4 years working experience in global FMCG comp.)

Answer 1

Hi,

Congrats!

Can you clarify exactly which area in the job offer in Deloitte? I am not familiar with the McK track but can provide insights on Deloitte.

To help decide between the two, answer the following key questions for yourself:

Do I have the right aptitude/skills to offer to the firm?
Do my values align with the firm’s (culture, leadership, ways of working, reputation etc)?
Is the role a good fit with my career aspirations at least in the short to mid-term? One way to gauge this by what responsibility you will be given
Will this job allow me to give my best & be happier?
Are any underlying risks of taking this job manageable? E.g. is there a risk the role won’t exist in 6 months?

Once you have answered the above questions honestly, you are then ready to look at other factors such as title, salary, benefits, location, work life balance etc to work out your final decision.

Just like everything else in life, no job or firm will be perfect. There will always be something a little better. There will be ups and downs and it’s important not to be driven by anxiety to get into “a job”. Focus on mutual fit.

Answer 2

Hi there,

Could you please provide the link to the solution analyst position? I fear that this is not the role you think it is, and that you'll stay as a support role (i.e. the Knowledge team) throughout your time at McKinsey.

You need to ask McK directly what the promotion track looks like. If it is not consulting (i.e. you get promoted to associate, consultant, etc.), then this is not a great move if your ultimate goal is to be a consultant...Deloitte would indeed be the correct choice in this situation.

Answer 3

A McKinsey solution analyst does really vary on the area/practice. Some can be more consultant-like while others can be more back-office. The only advice would have is not to take the McKinsey role with the hopes of being able to move into a consultant role later. They are very different tracks and only a very very small number of people make the transition. On the other hand, if the Deloitte role is client-facing, this could actually be a much better way to transition to MBB as a consultant if that is something you are interested in.