McKinsey BTO Offer but unsure about reputation
My Profile: Finishing up at a top 5 B-school, with previous experience in software / project management (defense and aerospace field). I should state up front I have zero interest in IT as a future career (i.e. anything to do with ERP, Oracle DBs, etc.), but do want to work in the high-tech space eventually (development of high-tech products, later stage start-up, etc).
I have an offer from McKinsey BTO, but I get the feeling it is not as highly regarded as a straight McKinsey strategy position. I have confirmed with those in BTO that about half of their work is outside BTO, and I don't doubt that the experience will be valuable for wherever I go after.
*But* that said, perception seems important, and I am worried that post-McK BTO I will be labeled as an IT guy from then on.
I also have the following offers:
- Amazon to be a Senior Technical Product Manager
- (TBD) Google Product Manager (will know next week if I have an offer)
Any thoughts or input? Part of my thinking had been that if I can go McK BTO, and later move in to a Product Manager role at Google, Amazon, etc., then McK BTO would be a good experience to get.
Google it bitch.
You basically focus on a few key areas: Application Management Enterprise Architecture IT Strategy & Organization Lean IT Sourcing Tech-Enabled Marketing & Sales Tech-Enabled Operations Technology Infrastructure at Scale Value Assurance
Benchmark and Performance Center
McKinsey has established a broad fact base from industry-specific operations and technology benchmarks drawing on systematic and disciplined client outreach. These benchmarks consists of quantitative assessments as well as qualitative metrics and best practices. Benchmark and Performance Center professionals work with clients to diagnose performance gaps in operations and technology, and identify related improvement opportunities.
McKinsey’s Systems Solution Center (SSC) combines unparalleled business knowledge with a world-class agile development process to offer distinctive support for enterprise IT enablement. Our highly skilled system architects and development managers configure software packages and build custom applications, creating the foundation for rapid and cost-effective implementation of systems that maximize value from day one.
I went through the BTO recruitment process. The reputation is good and inside of McK there is no bias against BTO people (it is not like BCG's platinion; they charge a similar daily rate as other groups). However, all your projects will be very IT heavy. More of the CIO level IT but IT nevertheless. If you are interested in IT companies but not the IT function itself, BTO is probably not the best place to go. I'm not sure about McK but other consultancies have something like a TMT industry group. That would more likely be what you are looking for.
with your goals I would choose Google PM before McK
at BTO you will work a lot on the IT aspects of different companies, which will most likely involve banks/insurance and telecos since those are usually the most IT heavy
being interested in high tech means you should go for regular consulting roles and focus on tech industry
or another way would be to eventually transfer out of BTO to regular McK generalist (which is possible but will take some effort)
Noone outside McKinsey knows about the BTO vs generalist split, and noone inside cares. As for BTO work it is actually rarely straight up architecture, infrastructure etc., but more usually an even mix of strat / ops & IT, with the rare org piece.
I have no idea what the Benchmark and Solution Center stuff posted earlier is about - they are tools you can use, but are not you do as a BTO person.
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