One, I never speak about first tier and second tier firms. I only talk about opportunities that firms offer based on my 15+ years in the industry when talking to folks. Second, I do think about partners at other firms because I deal with them indirectly during LOPs, RFPs, and several of my close friends from undergrad are partners at other firms. Do I think there are differences between partners at different firms? 100%. I don’t think about them in tiers though, I just know my comp and perks are generally the highest in the industry and am grateful for that. Prestige is harder to measure but I would find I get invited to headline more events than colleagues/ equals at other firms, so yes as judged by the market?
We actually explicitly don’t - there’s policy in place about not talking about other firms. Also unless you’ve worked at another firm why would you have anything credible to say about them?
Time to get off to your high horse McK1. Sure we can collectively come up with more than 6 instances where McK people did same thing so don’t make this a “McK has more ethics discussion”. There’s plenty of examples with clients (incl in South Africa very recently) where that shows to be not true
I know for a fact that other MBB firms actively discuss McK during their recruiting processes and I have never seen one of my colleagues do that. I’m very proud of that.
I would also challenge the statement that most MBB consultants are vocal about other firms being second tier. It does happen, but my perception is that it is an exception not at all the rule
No. I talk about likely opportunities for growth and development. Which vary greatly firm by firm. But I would never dismiss another firm; they are all leaders in our profession and worthy of deep respect. No one is great at everything
I think MBB and especially McK attract people who want $ and prestige - so it is somewhat self-fulfilling. Given our culture in general and at top tier b-schools it takes a rather mature and self aware person to understand that a different firm might be a better fit for them individually. Or they need to find another firm that pays more than MBB, which some do.
@McKinsey1 - your anecdotes are fine, but as a partner, you probably aren’t exposed to the way your consultants speak to candidates. I know for a fact that McKinsey in a Midwest office talks about other firms
Partner 2, if you have instances where McK partners had formal sessions with multiple candidates about other firms, genuinely please let me know and I will investigate. I have only been discussing recruiting practices. On South Africa, I’ll refer you to our public comments on it.
Partner 2, I don’t think we are better than other firms. I am disappointed that offices would have formal sessions to discuss other firms, in my office I know for a fact this does not happen. Do individuals at McK talk about other firms? Likely sometimes but we treat it as a values violation and have removed people from recruiting for doing it in the past. I think you have to treat it that seriously because I think it’s misleading for candidates
I never said all partners. Candidates have told me they attended an organized conversation comparing all 3 MBB firms at both Bain and BCG during sell season. If anyone has heard of anything at McK, please inform me and I will investigate and try my best to remedy this.
@Bain1 and @BCG1 my son was cross offered at both of your firms and was invited to such events. I am not saying it happens in every office, but he shared this story and have heard it from 3 post-MBAs and 2 post-UG colleagues I mentor for. Maybe it’s just our region, but I know it happens here at least
“I don’t compare tiers. But my pay and prestige are higher than everyone else’s, so... 🧐” -McK1, probably
One, I never speak about first tier and second tier firms. I only talk about opportunities that firms offer based on my 15+ years in the industry when talking to folks. Second, I do think about partners at other firms because I deal with them indirectly during LOPs, RFPs, and several of my close friends from undergrad are partners at other firms. Do I think there are differences between partners at different firms? 100%. I don’t think about them in tiers though, I just know my comp and perks are generally the highest in the industry and am grateful for that. Prestige is harder to measure but I would find I get invited to headline more events than colleagues/ equals at other firms, so yes as judged by the market?
Mck1 - no we don’t
We actually explicitly don’t - there’s policy in place about not talking about other firms. Also unless you’ve worked at another firm why would you have anything credible to say about them?
McK1 says McK don’t talk about other MBB, then proceeds to talk about other MBB 😏😏
McK1- we don’t either. Policy is not to talk about other firms
Time to get off to your high horse McK1. Sure we can collectively come up with more than 6 instances where McK people did same thing so don’t make this a “McK has more ethics discussion”. There’s plenty of examples with clients (incl in South Africa very recently) where that shows to be not true
I know for a fact that other MBB firms actively discuss McK during their recruiting processes and I have never seen one of my colleagues do that. I’m very proud of that.
I would also challenge the statement that most MBB consultants are vocal about other firms being second tier. It does happen, but my perception is that it is an exception not at all the rule
No. I talk about likely opportunities for growth and development. Which vary greatly firm by firm. But I would never dismiss another firm; they are all leaders in our profession and worthy of deep respect. No one is great at everything
I think MBB and especially McK attract people who want $ and prestige - so it is somewhat self-fulfilling. Given our culture in general and at top tier b-schools it takes a rather mature and self aware person to understand that a different firm might be a better fit for them individually. Or they need to find another firm that pays more than MBB, which some do.
Not all other partners at MBB discuss McK. I don’t ever
I don’t talk to candidates about what life is like at other firms. I sometimes talk about BCG because my son works there.
@McKinsey1 - your anecdotes are fine, but as a partner, you probably aren’t exposed to the way your consultants speak to candidates. I know for a fact that McKinsey in a Midwest office talks about other firms
Partner 2, if you have instances where McK partners had formal sessions with multiple candidates about other firms, genuinely please let me know and I will investigate. I have only been discussing recruiting practices. On South Africa, I’ll refer you to our public comments on it.
Partner 2, I don’t think we are better than other firms. I am disappointed that offices would have formal sessions to discuss other firms, in my office I know for a fact this does not happen. Do individuals at McK talk about other firms? Likely sometimes but we treat it as a values violation and have removed people from recruiting for doing it in the past. I think you have to treat it that seriously because I think it’s misleading for candidates
I never said all partners. Candidates have told me they attended an organized conversation comparing all 3 MBB firms at both Bain and BCG during sell season. If anyone has heard of anything at McK, please inform me and I will investigate and try my best to remedy this.
@Bain1 and @BCG1 my son was cross offered at both of your firms and was invited to such events. I am not saying it happens in every office, but he shared this story and have heard it from 3 post-MBAs and 2 post-UG colleagues I mentor for. Maybe it’s just our region, but I know it happens here at least
Which region is this?
McK1 seems very sure that others talk about McK yet claims he doesn’t feel ‘superior’. Whatever makes u feel good about your employer