Does McKinsey office matter internally?

Based on the most helpful WSO content, McKinsey's global staffing model does indeed make the office location less significant compared to other firms. Internally, McKinsey views North America as "one office," which allows for staffing across the continent. This means that even if you're in a regional office, you can still access projects from other locations, including major hubs like NYC or SF.

However, there are some nuances to consider:

1. Networking and Relationships: While the global staffing model provides flexibility, building relationships with partners and senior consultants in your desired practice area (e.g., financial institutions) is crucial. This can help you get staffed on the projects you want, regardless of your office location.

2. Specialization and Local Expertise: Some offices may have a stronger focus on specific industries or sectors due to local demand or partner expertise. For example, if your regional office doesn't have a strong financial institutions practice, you might need to network more actively to secure those projects.

3. Travel Considerations: While the global model allows for cross-office staffing, it may involve more travel if the projects are based far from your home office. This could impact your work-life balance.

In summary, while McKinsey's global staffing model minimizes the importance of office location, your ability to work on specific types of projects (like financial institutions) will depend on your networking efforts and the firm's overall demand in that area.