Switch from McKinsey Research into Consulting

Hi - I agree with Vlad that it is not that easy and that it takes quite some time, but it's not as rare as you may think. I know dozen cases where it happened - typically:

- From Research Analyst to Business Analyst (or Junior Associate if the title exists within the Office)

- From Senior RA to Associate, and from Knowledge Specialist to practice-affiliated Associate

- From Senior Knowledge Expert to Expert Associate Principal

Now the common thread between those cases is that these all happen after one (or more) promotions *within* the research track. Say you join as a JRA, get designated RA, and nearing SRA designation you decide to choose client service and get designated BA instead. Same for a RA that gets promoted SRA and then decides to go as Associate instead.

If you have a client service skillset but from some reason choose the Research track and perform well it will get noticed by your evaluators - but the 1 year time frame is unrealistic indeed.

Hi,

1. There are not many cases, I've heard of a couple so far. But I would assume that mainly because if tyou go to reasearch it means you have already made a choice not to work in consulting
2. Think of it, as a junior researcher you'll have to work with lots of teams, all of which are quite demanding. I don't know your backgroung but I assume it will be quite hard to be a top performer in a 1st year, get all briliant feedbacks and make this transition. Realistically I would think that transition is possible in 2-3 years horizon.

In short - do your best to get to Mck as a consultant if that's what you are dreaming of:)