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McKinsey Consultant for how long until moving further?

How long do people work at McKinsey before moving on to another job, on average?

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Top answer
Alberto
Coach
on Sep 30, 2023
Ex-McKinsey Partner | Most experienced coach (15 years exp, +2.000 real interviews) | 95% success rate

Hi there,

Average for new hires is around 2 years. For experienced hires is only 1. But only you, your professional aspirations and personal circumstances can define how long is good :)

Best,

Alberto

Vlad
Coach
on Dec 10, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

The average tenure at McKinsey is 2 years. Knowing that the com[any will do everything to keep you:

  • Significant salary uplift while moving from BA to Associate
  • MBA to take a break
  • Fast promotion from Associate to Manager
  • Fast promotion from Manager to AP

The best time to leave depends on the following factors:

  • Overall market conditions (In the bad market you should better stay at McK)
  • Client exit opportunities - exiting to the client with an established relationship, knowing all the internal set up is a very good exit
  • Your career path at McKinsey - i.e. you know that you might have issues with the next promotion
  • Your health / stress level, i.e. how much you are tired from that job

Best

Luca
Coach
on Dec 11, 2019
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

On average 2.5 years.

Most of the people decide to move to another job after a couple of years or wait until the third year in order to do an MBA.

on Dec 10, 2019
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

2/2.5 years, depending on the countries.


best,

Antonello

Deleted
Coach
on Dec 10, 2019
McKinsey | BCG | CERN| University of Cambridge

Hello there,

It really depends on the regions.
On average 1.5 - 2.5 years.

Typically at fresh graduate entry level (non-MBA) the number revolves between 1.5 - 2 years (with a lot of consultants going for MBA after 2 years mark) while post-MBA timeline is a bit longer, between 1.5 - 3 years (people try to aim for EM promotion before leaving).

Kind regards,
Nathan

Udayan
Coach
on Dec 10, 2019
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

I have noticed the following pattern

1. Business Analysts - ~1.5 to 2 yrs as they have many many options to choose from once they finish their time at McKinsey

2. Associates - typically leave a few months after making Engagement Manager. This can range from 2 to 3 years

Clara
Coach
on Dec 10, 2019
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello,

Slightly depends on which position you are: 

-BAs: either they leave at 24 months, when you depart to do your MBA, or they get their MBA finance and hence are forced to stay 2 years more. 

-Associates -mostly post MBA-: 2-3 years, depending on how the market looks, when they are/will be EMs, if one of their big clients opens a good position, etc. 

Hope it helps! 

Cheers, 

Clara

Deniz
Coach
on Dec 10, 2019
5+ Years at BCG & Kearney Dubai & Istanbul | 600+ Trainees | 900K+ YouTube Views

Hi,

On average, it is around 2-2.5 years, because of two main reasons:

  • Due to the up or out culture, some consultants are not promoted thus they are pushed out
  • Due to the highly demanding culture of the profession, some consultants leave for jobs that offer a better work-life balance

Best,

Deniz

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