6 Free Financial Modeling Lessons...and More.

Enter your e-mail below to get our new Free Modeling Tutorials ($200+ Value).

< previous | next >

McKinsey Dubai vs Bain LA
 

freshprince's picture
(Chimp, 4
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 6:29am

I recently got summer internship offers from Bain LA and McKinsey Dubai. I've had previous exposure to the Bain people, but recruiting season was my first go around with McKinsey. Anyway, I'm torn between the two, and since I am just a college jr, with very little experience, I thought i'd post here and see if I can get your 2 cents. If you've had any experience with either office, I'd love to hear your take on it. Clients, environment, projects, etc...all of that would be appreciated.
Also, when it comes time to turning down an offer, how can I do it without burning any bridges, or is that inevitable?
Thank you!

Tags:
najifa's picture

How'd you get the Mckinsey

PE
(Baboon, 123
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 6:52am

How'd you get the Mckinsey dubai offer if i may ask?

freshprince's picture

I don't know what you mean by

(Chimp, 4
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 6:56am

I don't know what you mean by that...on the most basic level-I applied, ranked Dubai and interviewed..same thing with LA

CDOMonkey's picture

Dubai in the summer is

CF
(Baboon, 102
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 7:48am

Dubai in the summer is horrible since the weather is absolutely unbareable (hot and very humid) but hey, you get international experience out of it which is a +.

I don't think you could go wrong either way. I think the quality of clients and professional talent in the LA office will probably be better (just an assumption - no facts) but if you're looking for a whole different experience then Dubai is your choice.

It also comes down to which team you would like working for. At the end of the day if you're working long hours then you want to be working with people you like.

"Free Market Capitalism is the best path to Prosperity!" - The Larry Kudlow Creed

noobstar's picture

He means why did you choose

ST
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 7:50am

He means why did you choose dubai? did u grow up there, have family in the country, etc.

if you did spend time in dubai you would know to avoid it during the summer as the weather is unbearable.
However, the international experience would definitely be valuable.

M Friedman's picture

Dubai is death in the summer.

(King Kong, 1,007
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 10:03am

Dubai is death in the summer. Think the hottest, most humid weather ever. Two seconds outside and the sweating starts.

See my WSO blogs here.

blahwoop's picture

Two seconds? It's so hot just

(Monkey, 54
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 10:40am

Two seconds? It's so hot just by looking outside you start sweating.

jtbbdxbnycmad's picture

For an internship I doubt it

O
(Gorilla, 610
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 11:29am

For an internship I doubt it matters.

For full-time, it depends.

You will make more money in Dubai, but despite the McK brand, it (inckuding both Bain and BCG) are not the market leaders in Dubai.

Bain, on the other hand, is very strong in LA, which is a fun city.

For money and b-school options, and obviously, if you're serious about the Middle Easr, McK fulltime is better. Otherwise, I suspect Bain LA is a better experience.

ilovews's picture

i think bain LA will give you

(Monkey, 64
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 4:20pm

i think bain LA will give you better exit opps.

redninja's picture

Do you think you're going to

CO
(Gorilla, 600
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 10:43pm

Do you think you're going to want to work at McK or Bain full-time after the summer?

freshprince's picture

I don't know if that's an

(Chimp, 4
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 10:54pm

I don't know if that's an either/or question or if you're just asking me about full-time work in general.
I would like to work at Bain/McKinsey after the summer, but I'm not sure which office.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!

OMS's picture

dude McK dubai, you will make

PE
(King Kong, 1,886
 
Points)
 on 2/19/12 at 10:58pm

dude McK dubai, you will make more, no income tax, great exp for bschool. Only con i can think of is that Dubai lacks the professionalism you see in the states. oh yea and its hot as balls, don't forget you will be in the middle of a tropical desert

redninja's picture

Well, if you have ties to the

CO
(Gorilla, 600
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 10:41am

Well, if you have ties to the middle east, then by all means go with McKinsey. If you don't though, don't underestimate how miserable it can be living on the other side of the world from your family and friends. Bain LA is a great place to work, but McK Dubai has this one beat in most ways.

lime1945's picture

Could somebody shine the

ST
 
Points)
 on 2/23/12 at 1:39am

Could somebody shine the light on the OP's second point, which is essentially "Is it possible to turn down an offer without killing your future there/burning bridges? And if so how?"

MarginCalling's picture

LA = hot chicks dubai =

HF
(Orangutan, 374
 
Points)
 on 2/23/12 at 9:30pm

LA = hot chicks
dubai = hot

seems easy

Riffs's picture

Without a doubt, Bain. You

(Monkey, 61
 
Points)
 on 2/26/12 at 12:24am

Without a doubt, Bain. You will have access to better clients, projects and teams.

In Dubai the weather isn't much of an issue since you'll always be indoors except when you walk from a building to your car/taxi. Life is pretty good, but not as good as LA. Contrary to what people are saying, you won't make that much more money than you would in LA since your salary will be adjusted based on the fact that you won't be paying tax, especially at the entry level. Not to mention, if you're an American citizen you pay tax no matter where you work (if you make over 80k/year).

Don't get me wrong, I know a few people in McK Dubai, and some great partners as well... but at an entry level you're better off learning in a developed market with educated clients. In Dubai you'll be frustrated because you'll have to dumb down all of your projects since your clients do not understand simple concepts and have no clue about strategy.

seekingalpha2's picture

You are better off earning

CO
(Baboon, 103
 
Points)
 on 2/26/12 at 5:09am
ConanDBull's picture

seekingalpha2 wrote: The

CO
(Gorilla, 542
 
Points)
 on 2/29/12 at 1:57pm

"Know what to do, know how to do it, and do it hard." - Juan Castillo

If you are in the Toronto Area join my group "Toronto Prospective Monkeys"
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/group/toronto-prosp...

angelinajolie's picture

isnt it easier to get in MBB

(Monkey, 62
 
Points)
 on 9/9/12 at 6:09pm
qweretyq's picture

angelinajolie: isnt it easier

ST
 
Points)
 on 9/9/12 at 11:53pm
angelinajolie's picture

You don't think it's true?

(Monkey, 62
 
Points)
 on 9/10/12 at 6:22am
Riffs's picture

angelinajolie: You don't

(Monkey, 61
 
Points)
 on 9/10/12 at 7:12am
angelinajolie's picture

I see, maybe I'm working with

(Monkey, 62
 
Points)
 on 9/10/12 at 7:17am
Riffs's picture

The main difference is that

(Monkey, 61
 
Points)
 on 9/11/12 at 2:30am
najifa's picture

@Riffs Where do you work? are

PE
(Baboon, 123
 
Points)
 on 9/11/12 at 4:07am
angelinajolie's picture

Wow! Thats the most generous

(Monkey, 62
 
Points)
 on 9/11/12 at 6:31am
qweretyq's picture

Riffs: Bain recruits out of

ST
 
Points)
 on 9/11/12 at 10:24pm
Riffs's picture

I was based in the gulf for 4

(Monkey, 61
 
Points)
 on 9/12/12 at 1:57am

6 Free Financial Modeling Lessons...Straight to Your Inbox.

Confirm your name and e-mail below to get our best tips

Monkey Stats
Account information
We respect your Name and E-mail privacy. By joining you accept our terms of service.