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Mentor
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I’m watching Seinfeld for the first time 🤨
Are firms hiring a looot right now?
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When you interview, do you tell them what specific contributions or ideas you have to help them become a better company or how to solve one of the challenges? At a certain level, companies have expectations of you coming up with relevant thought leadership and not having your manager tell you. You can expect some guidance, but if they are paying you $500k, they are not going to babysit you.
I fully agree with this process. I ended up doing 50+ interviews, which were useful to learn more about the companies and roles, what I actually wanted and get ready to crush the ones I really liked.
Several processes were through informal intros from friends or colleagues, other through LinkedIn. You will also meet very interesting people along the way. Always follow through and be upfront about your non-negotiable (e.g., location, total comp, direct reports, type of work, progression), it saves time and frustration from both sides.
If you are lucky and play the long game, you will ultimately receive several offers. Have patience and courage to say no when you don’t feel it’s right. Sometimes you do on the screening call, others you only know after you get the offer. I rejected 5 offers (each with their own pros and cons) and finally got 2 that had 50% higher TC and satisfied everything I was looking for (location, team, culture, work and progression). Take your time, you will find a great job for you!
I’ve got 6 yoe plus MBA, so it changes a bit - I mostly leveraged my professional networks and direct LinkedIn reach outs I received. Applying to open roles in my case almost never worked if I didn’t have a referral (from a recruiter or someone working in that company). In your case, you can probably apply to open roles and will probably get in the process (vs waiting for people to reach out to you)
Mentor
1. Be kind to yourself. This process is very emotional and requires you to come to terms with your biggest insecurities and you will spiral. Know that. But also know that you will learn with every interview and take care of your mental state
2. The job search process is a mutual process - u need to find a job that works for u and they need an employee that works for them. Don’t take rejections as an attack on your self-worth.
3. Find small wins and be happy (it could be a positive first round chat)
4. Get professional resume writing help
5. LinkedIn is important
6. Practice the response to “tell me about yourself” - a 100 times
7. Try to gauge the company’s culture by smart questions - don’t see your potential employer as some demi-god, probe as much as u can
8. Have a 100 coffee chats
9. Be shameless in asking for warm introductions
10. It’ll work out in the end
A2: keep plugging away. I was turned down by McK yesterday and I am already thinking what are my next steps. And I have been looking for about 8-9 months.
Mentor
For context, I have 11 yoe and make $500k+.
Mentor
From the few Partners I've had candid conversations with, it does get harder to find the right fit as you go up due to aspects OP mentioned. Good on you OP. 2nd the motion; be kind to yourself. And drink more coffee.
Mentor
Hi all, got a bunch of DMs - I’ll try to get to all of them. Im so glad all of you found this helpful. Maybe I should become an executive coach 🫠🥹
You got it. 😃
Subject Expert
Waiting on my first offer I’m genuinely excited about. Should hear numbers tomorrow. Will keep all of you posted! 🤫
Good luck OP! Any nuggets of info for us mortals following along on this lovely drama & learning experience thread? 😇🙌🏼 👀 4 deets
It seems like a lot of McK APs are in the market. If you don’t mind sharing, does the leadership give you the signal that you won’t get the partner promotion? Is that what triggers the job search?
To all the McK people, It could be worse. You could experience the same things at Guidehouse…
One time I went for an interview and they started with an IQ test - written IQ test. I got up and said sorry I’m not interested.
😂
Subject Expert
Ok here’s the first offer: $750k TC for a senior ops role at a late stage startup in my industry. 33% cash, rest is equity.
Mentor
That sounds like a portco offer haha.
OP I will just add one thing since it is an equity heavy startup offer - ideally, you want to know what the waterfall is (i.e. any terms from prior rounds that could impact your shares) and what their future funding goals are. It's not often linear.
And could be a moot point but with interest rates rising, it is possible multiples come down - so you could do very well operationally but still have a flat or down round or liquidity event. In that scenario, rachet clauses or warrants can easily demolish common or even early investors (Ex. Square IPO)
Going through a similar process OP, 10-12 YOE and $500k+. Feel exceptionally fortunate but ultimately don’t want to be a career consultant.
It’s incredibly challenging to find the right role, right fit, right people. But we’ll both get there. Best of luck to you!
Subject Expert
Great to hear! Happy to share notes / DM if helpful. Might be good to connect :)
I'm pretty early on in my career (as is evident from my title), but just wanted to say gems like this thread are what make this app so incredible. The honestly and insight is awesome- thanks OP and everyone else who contributes :))
In the same journey. Thank you for sharing these gems of wisdom!
Mentor
Glad it helped, it was quite impromptu
At 500k tc I would be set for my life! Why are you even interviewing ? At your level the opportunities should find you
More of the former. Would say I ended starting the process for the role that I am in now about 4-5 months into the process. The process took 4-5 months too
About to start the job search, this was so helpful
OP, what are some smart questions on gauging company culture? I really want to understand WLB, but not sure how to ask. Thank you for sharing this…helpful for me after a tough week with 2 rejections as well.
Subject Expert
Hope it helps. Stay strong! 🤗
Same here (my title is dated) - if helpful you’re not the only one!
Mentor
🤗 thanks for sharing!
What sorts of roles (business leaders, execs, vps) could be possible at your level once you reached this many years in consulting? Is it actually true that you could make 1M+ base with an exit into the industry?
Never heard of anyone having a base that high. $1M+ TC is possible.
This is SO helpful! Same profile as yours and in the market . TC: $550K+
THANK YOU!!! Agree with exec level recruitment, getting the right role and trajectory from there on and compensation can all be time taking
Subject Expert
Y
You are lucky getting 4 opportunities in just 4 weeks .
Can you drop your resume writer down below. I haven’t updated my resume in 7 years. Thx!