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Here's the basic model: - McKinsey hires a bunch of "top" school grads - after a few years, some hires clearly have the potential to make partner, and most do

Here's the basic model: - McKinsey hires a bunch of "top" school grads - after a few years, some hires clearly have the potential to make partner, and most don't - McKinsey encourages clients to hire the people who aren't partner material at an attractive wage - feeling good about making a step up after capping out at McKinsey, most people gladly accept - McKinsey now has an alumni network at client's which are a good source of future business - repeat as desired to build up alumni network

esoterica 7y ago
Most people leave McKinsey willingly for greener pastures, not because they were not considered partner material and were forced out. People join consulting mostly for the exit opportunities, not because they strive to be lifers there
- throwaway2048 7y ago
  There isn't really any difference between what you said and what OP said, you don't have to be forced out to take the hint your job is a dead end.
- telotortium 7y ago
  They don't have to be formally forced out, just realize that they're not likely to win the competition to be partner and move to other companies out of self-interest.
- PopeDotNinja 7y ago
  There's a lot of setup that goes into encouraging people to leave. Management works hard to make sure that people have greener pastures to go to. The people leaving don't see that side of it. If a partner encourages a client to hire Susie, and Susie leaves for the client, Susie might not ever know that a partner helped create that opportunity. A friend of mine who used to work in management at Ernst & Young told me a bit about how this game is played. You need a strategy for getting people out that maintains the relationship, and offering backdoor bribes to lure people away is one way they do that.
  - snowwrestler 7y ago
    I'm sure this happens, but the implied idea that McKinsey only keeps the best and only loses the people they intend to lose, is hilarious. Consulting sucks in many ways, even if you're consulting for McKinsey.
m0zg 7y ago
Some people don't know this, but Sundar Pichai is ex-McKinsey. Could be one of those "not good enough to make partner".
- PopeDotNinja 7y ago
  Thankfully we don't have tattoos in our foreheads advertising what other people think of us :). I'm sure some arrogant ass somewhere is telling themselves that the great ones become partners at McKinsey & the washouts become CEO of Google. Kind if like that quote "Anyone can aspire to be President of the United States, but few have any hope of becoming president of the Bohemian Club." [1] [1] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-26-mn-2818-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-26-mn-2818-s...

esoterica 7y ago

Most people leave McKinsey willingly for greener pastures, not because they were not considered partner material and were forced out. People join consulting mostly for the exit opportunities, not because they strive to be lifers there

throwaway2048 7y ago
There isn't really any difference between what you said and what OP said, you don't have to be forced out to take the hint your job is a dead end.
telotortium 7y ago
They don't have to be formally forced out, just realize that they're not likely to win the competition to be partner and move to other companies out of self-interest.
PopeDotNinja 7y ago
There's a lot of setup that goes into encouraging people to leave. Management works hard to make sure that people have greener pastures to go to. The people leaving don't see that side of it. If a partner encourages a client to hire Susie, and Susie leaves for the client, Susie might not ever know that a partner helped create that opportunity. A friend of mine who used to work in management at Ernst & Young told me a bit about how this game is played. You need a strategy for getting people out that maintains the relationship, and offering backdoor bribes to lure people away is one way they do that.
- snowwrestler 7y ago
  I'm sure this happens, but the implied idea that McKinsey only keeps the best and only loses the people they intend to lose, is hilarious. Consulting sucks in many ways, even if you're consulting for McKinsey.

m0zg 7y ago

Some people don't know this, but Sundar Pichai is ex-McKinsey. Could be one of those "not good enough to make partner".

PopeDotNinja 7y ago
Thankfully we don't have tattoos in our foreheads advertising what other people think of us :). I'm sure some arrogant ass somewhere is telling themselves that the great ones become partners at McKinsey & the washouts become CEO of Google. Kind if like that quote "Anyone can aspire to be President of the United States, but few have any hope of becoming president of the Bohemian Club." [1] [1] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-26-mn-2818-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-26-mn-2818-s...