McKinsey Miami, Chicago, NYC and Atlanta offices

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from McKinsey!

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

• First of all, no, there is no downside to choosing the Miami office.
• Moreover, I would advise you to consider the dominant industries that each office typically serves. For example, New York City focuses on financial services as well as technology, media and telecoms, Chicago and Atlanta on industrial goods, and Miami on a mix of different industries.
• Lastly, consider lifestyle and personal preferences. Miami offers a different lifestyle to Chicago, Atlanta, and New York City, which may be more fast-paced and have colder climates. Your personal comfort and work-life balance are important considerations when making such a decision.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

For McK, travel to client sites is the norm so the location you chose here is mainly relevant for other aspects (e.g., place you actually want to live, cost of living, closeness to friends and family, etc.).

All the best,

Florian

Hi there,

Congratulations on receiving your McKinsey offer. 

Each of the offices you’re considering has a different industry focus. Even though McKinsey follows a global staffing model where the best talent is staffed on projects regardless of their home office; PDMs, staffers, and office leaders are often incentivized to prioritize local or regional staffing. For example, the NYC office tends to serve clients across the Northeast, along with Boston and Stamford.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the industries commonly supported by each office:

• New York City: Primarily focuses on financial services (banks, insurance), as well as media and telecommunications companies. It is the biggest or second biggest office (I forget which office is bigger between London and NYC). Bigger offices generally have far more diversity and exposure to senior leaders in the firm
• Chicago: Being part of the Midwest region, it works with industrial clients pharmaceutical companies etc.
• Atlanta: Focuses on clients in the telecommunications, airline industries etc. as part of the Southern region.
• Miami: A smaller office with less specialization, so you can expect more variety in project types. However, this may also mean more travel, as many clients may not be local. Furthermore smaller offices generally have a more tight knit community which is probably a good thing. Lastly Miami enjoys the best weather and beaches of all three locations. Internal office transfers are fairly easy within McKinsey especially if you decide to hone in on an industry not actively supported by the Miami office

Best of luck as you make your decision!

Best,
Nilay