I don't work at the top consulting firms (of which McKinsey is one) but the first year or 2 at any major financial or consulting institution is a bit of a meme

I don't work at the top consulting firms (of which McKinsey is one) but the first year or 2 at any major financial or consulting institution is a bit of a meme as to what they go through in hopes of making it. The 80+ hour weeks working on pitch decks, next-morning deadlines, etc, aren't just a Hollywood meme. I've read some of the 600+ slide powerpoint decks that exist in consulting and finance, and I think I got interesting information out of the experience exactly once (Radio ads were a close #2 in advertising ROI against the internet back in mid 2010s, with TV and other mediums far behind.) There's a few blogs around about it; this one seems less hyperbolic than your average news headline but does mention the hours: https://managementconsulted.com/interview-first-year-mckinsey/ https://managementconsulted.com/interview-first-year-mckinse...