Summers @ McKinsey
The summers experience
Started off with the CV submissions. First the master CV, then the Final CV. From personal experience, I found that it is better to do both the Final and Master CV together. I had two versions of my final CV - 1)With acads on top for Fin companies and 2)With workex on top for Consults
Next was about choosing your focus. Just like many of my batchmates, I was completely impartial. But as time went by and I started attending the company ppts, I found myself inclined towards Consulting. Many of my seniors also reaffirmed my stance with statements like "tera to pura consult cv hain".
The process of applying started. Its painful - believe me! Soon the shorlists came out...got all 5 consult firm shortlists and 9 ibank shortlists - count 14! But as thay say intent is not acceptance :)
D-Day minus 1
We had had all consult interaction sessions b4 where we got to have delicious lunch/dinner:). On 14th Nov,I had 4 I-Bank interaction sessions lined up one after another. The whole experience really got to my head - FX Derivatives, Credit Derivatives!!! I mean where is the end in trading risk - now weather, next hunger? Felt further vindicated to get into consulting
D-Day
Finally D-Day was woken up quite rudely by the thudding on the door. Looked at the watch - 6am. Had put the alarm for 6:30. No worries - did some stretching! Then peered into my laptop and opened iTunes. Opened my list of favorities and played "Kash Laga"-my current favorite at high volume :)
By 7:30 we had reported at the front desk-Audi
8:00am- First list of calls-my name is amongst them; all of us report at the front desk wherein we are told it is Mckinsey...ahh McKinsey- my first preference...cudnot hope for a better start:)
8:05am - Shailesh from McKinsey walks me to the interview. He introduces himself first (i dont think other firms do this-puts u at ease). Then he asks about me. Soon after he gives me a guestimate problem "Estimate the no. of airline seats used by IT Professionals in India"
8:20am - Shailesh escorts me to the seating area (IMPORTANT THING - Partners open the door for u...Founf that interesting!!!) where I find Navin Tahilyani waiting for me. He escorts me to his room. I between I grab a tea hoping to hv drink it while in the interview room. He begins by introducing himself and then jumps to the case "A tractor company is witnessing decline in market share whereas his competitor is growing. Give me 10 reasons" I start explaining the case when Navin says...no abhinav...just note down the 10 reasons and then we will go over them one by one...
I write seven reasons and ask him if its ok to start discussing...he smiles and says "the number 10 was not god send...lets start"...I run through the points...he asks he for more...I gave him 2 more...He looks at my sheet and says "Ok Abhinav, I would like to extend you the offer of Joining McKinsey"...I explain him the procedure of getting in touch with the Placerep. He walks out leaving me alone in the room...I look at my watch...its 8:40 and I have an offer:)
8:40 Navin comes in and introduces me to Vipul who is working in the construction industry. He asks me about L&T - the major risks in a project; the 3 steps to introduce its project mgmt...He concludes saying that he would like to talk to me over dinner about the new project...i remember that in between I had commented on how I have seen a top tier consulting firm (read BCG) helping put L&T in charting out its 5 yr strategy plan. Vipul comes back to me and says "So why dont you join that firm?" (I knew from his smile that he was refering to BCG)...I replied "Coz Sir, McKinsey is McKinsey"...and both of us laughed:)...Meanwhile Navin came back with a placerep and he signed thus confirming the offer...My summers was all about 1 interview and got over in 1hr.
My Comments on the whole process:
-Consult firms do a lot of candidate research. So don't be surprised if some one asks u about ur Orkut profile. More importantly, they like to hire ppl who are consult focussed. I found i-banks to be much more individualistic compared to consults.
-The process is little flawed. I was very lucky to get my first interview according to my preference list.
-Also dont lose faith in youself. I know of ppl who were literally GODS OF FINANCE not getting a single call...and there were some ppl in my batch who didnt have ne idea about the Sensex getting into the most coveted i-banks. Remember that time is a great leveller and FINALS aannddoozzzz
-Finally please dont get too bothered by this Slotting business. Dont cry or lose your cool. Just remember that all humans are greedy and try to get the best deal not knowing what "best" is...If u listen to your heart - you will know the greatest joy lie in the smallest of things. You will see your friends and family...if u want to make them happy...u dont need money...all u need is love:)
Started off with the CV submissions. First the master CV, then the Final CV. From personal experience, I found that it is better to do both the Final and Master CV together. I had two versions of my final CV - 1)With acads on top for Fin companies and 2)With workex on top for Consults
Next was about choosing your focus. Just like many of my batchmates, I was completely impartial. But as time went by and I started attending the company ppts, I found myself inclined towards Consulting. Many of my seniors also reaffirmed my stance with statements like "tera to pura consult cv hain".
The process of applying started. Its painful - believe me! Soon the shorlists came out...got all 5 consult firm shortlists and 9 ibank shortlists - count 14! But as thay say intent is not acceptance :)
D-Day minus 1
We had had all consult interaction sessions b4 where we got to have delicious lunch/dinner:). On 14th Nov,I had 4 I-Bank interaction sessions lined up one after another. The whole experience really got to my head - FX Derivatives, Credit Derivatives!!! I mean where is the end in trading risk - now weather, next hunger? Felt further vindicated to get into consulting
D-Day
Finally D-Day was woken up quite rudely by the thudding on the door. Looked at the watch - 6am. Had put the alarm for 6:30. No worries - did some stretching! Then peered into my laptop and opened iTunes. Opened my list of favorities and played "Kash Laga"-my current favorite at high volume :)
By 7:30 we had reported at the front desk-Audi
8:00am- First list of calls-my name is amongst them; all of us report at the front desk wherein we are told it is Mckinsey...ahh McKinsey- my first preference...cudnot hope for a better start:)
8:05am - Shailesh from McKinsey walks me to the interview. He introduces himself first (i dont think other firms do this-puts u at ease). Then he asks about me. Soon after he gives me a guestimate problem "Estimate the no. of airline seats used by IT Professionals in India"
8:20am - Shailesh escorts me to the seating area (IMPORTANT THING - Partners open the door for u...Founf that interesting!!!) where I find Navin Tahilyani waiting for me. He escorts me to his room. I between I grab a tea hoping to hv drink it while in the interview room. He begins by introducing himself and then jumps to the case "A tractor company is witnessing decline in market share whereas his competitor is growing. Give me 10 reasons" I start explaining the case when Navin says...no abhinav...just note down the 10 reasons and then we will go over them one by one...
I write seven reasons and ask him if its ok to start discussing...he smiles and says "the number 10 was not god send...lets start"...I run through the points...he asks he for more...I gave him 2 more...He looks at my sheet and says "Ok Abhinav, I would like to extend you the offer of Joining McKinsey"...I explain him the procedure of getting in touch with the Placerep. He walks out leaving me alone in the room...I look at my watch...its 8:40 and I have an offer:)
8:40 Navin comes in and introduces me to Vipul who is working in the construction industry. He asks me about L&T - the major risks in a project; the 3 steps to introduce its project mgmt...He concludes saying that he would like to talk to me over dinner about the new project...i remember that in between I had commented on how I have seen a top tier consulting firm (read BCG) helping put L&T in charting out its 5 yr strategy plan. Vipul comes back to me and says "So why dont you join that firm?" (I knew from his smile that he was refering to BCG)...I replied "Coz Sir, McKinsey is McKinsey"...and both of us laughed:)...Meanwhile Navin came back with a placerep and he signed thus confirming the offer...My summers was all about 1 interview and got over in 1hr.
My Comments on the whole process:
-Consult firms do a lot of candidate research. So don't be surprised if some one asks u about ur Orkut profile. More importantly, they like to hire ppl who are consult focussed. I found i-banks to be much more individualistic compared to consults.
-The process is little flawed. I was very lucky to get my first interview according to my preference list.
-Also dont lose faith in youself. I know of ppl who were literally GODS OF FINANCE not getting a single call...and there were some ppl in my batch who didnt have ne idea about the Sensex getting into the most coveted i-banks. Remember that time is a great leveller and FINALS aannddoozzzz
-Finally please dont get too bothered by this Slotting business. Dont cry or lose your cool. Just remember that all humans are greedy and try to get the best deal not knowing what "best" is...If u listen to your heart - you will know the greatest joy lie in the smallest of things. You will see your friends and family...if u want to make them happy...u dont need money...all u need is love:)
posted by Abhinav Roy at 5:21 AM
1 comments
...(yeh kya tha)...from salary...i save some part
)
