BCG/McKinsey research position vs. Google business associate

A close friend was recently offered employments for a senior research analyst McKinsey, a research associate at BCG, and a Google associate position for Business Operations and Strategy. Salaries + compensations are pretty much the same across all three companies (except BCG pays around $5000 higher annually compared to the McKinsey and Google). As a result, she's having hard time deciding which one to go to. Anybody have any good recommendation?

 
hopesanddreams:

Random question - is a Business Associate (Intern) at Google considered a FO role? Don't really get how Google classify their roles.

I do not know much about Google. I think it all depends on the nature of the work you will be doing at Google and your value add.

 
Best Response
State of Trance:
hopesanddreams:

Random question - is a Business Associate (Intern) at Google considered a FO role? Don't really get how Google classify their roles.

I do not know much about Google. I think it all depends on the nature of the work you will be doing at Google and your value add.

The general consensus I've heard from both CS guys and business folks at Google was that the pure business roles are considered second-tier to pure software roles.

But since the BCG and McK positions are non-consulting roles, I'd take Google any day. Same pay, much better environment. And you'll get all sorts of perks (especially if it's in Mountain View).

 

Thanks for everybody's feedback so far; so from your opinion, a research associate at MBB is not as prestigious as Google research associate? She did mention that for her particular job at McKinsey and BCG, it's a very good 40-hour per week job with no traveling but stay in the same office. I guess her main motivation is how much can she be promoted two or three years from now staying at either McKinsey/BCG or Google.

A little bit background of my friend: * Finishing up her PhD in economics at a top 10 US universities * Not interested in consulting (thus applying for research positions in these three firms) * Long term plan is to lead her own small team/group of researchers to help her future company gathering/analyzing information they need

 
xmasboy:

Thanks for everybody's feedback so far; so from your opinion, a research associate at MBB is not as prestigious as Google research associate? She did mention that for her particular job at McKinsey and BCG, it's a very good 40-hour per week job with no traveling but stay in the same office. I guess her main motivation is how much can she be promoted two or three years from now staying at either McKinsey/BCG or Google.

A little bit background of my friend:
* Finishing up her PhD in economics at a top 10 US universities
* Not interested in consulting (thus applying for research positions in these three firms)
* Long term plan is to lead her own small team/group of researchers to help her future company gathering/analyzing information they need

I think they're equally prestigious. Neither is the most sought-after position at each firm/company, but the brand name of MBB or Google will be beneficial to your friend.

Given that the positions are equally prestigious, I'd take Google any day because almost no company can beat Google in terms of the perks and the culture (i.e. in Mountain View: top notch gym, top notch food in several different cafeterias, free wifi-enabled shuttle, free laundry, etc etc)

 

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