Associate

Job Description

Associate | McKinsey & Company

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at McKinsey & Company. The firm partners with clients globally to identify and implement strategic solutions, driving lasting improvements to their performance and helping them achieve their most important goals. This position is integral to developing future leaders who will create positive, enduring change, all within McKinsey’s distinctive and inclusive culture.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person – China (Shanghai)
• Team: Works within teams of typically 3-5 consultants, receiving frequent mentoring from a senior colleague and project staffing guidance from a dedicated professional development manager.
• Mission: To help clients make lasting improvements to their performance and realize their most important goals by identifying and often implementing solutions to specific problems and challenges.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Problem Solving: Structure ambiguous client problems and take action to solve them, contributing to lasting improvements in performance and goals.
• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Gather and analyze complex information, then synthesize clear takeaways and recommendations using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Collaborative Solution Development: Work effectively within diverse teams of 3-5 consultants to formulate and test hypotheses, developing the best solutions.
• Client Engagement & Communication: Establish trust-based relationships with clients, communicate effectively with all audiences including senior leaders, and present results and recommendations in a structured manner.
• Implementation Support: Collaborate with client team members to implement recommendations, moving organizations to act and realize their strategic objectives.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree. The role is initially broad in focus, meaning specific industry or functional expertise is not required for success.
• Experience: Capability to drive an independent workstream within the context of a broader team project. Work experience is preferred, typically 5 or more years for those without an advanced graduate degree.
• Skills: Strong capability to break down and solve problems through quantitative thinking and analysis. Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team and create an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization. Comfort navigating ambiguous, ever-changing situations. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s).
• Bonus: An advanced graduate degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) or equivalent substantial work experience is preferred.