Cu Chuyn Con ng Ti MCKINSEY

Ca Mt Sinh Vin Thnh Cng

jacky
June 14, 2014
Gng mt

ckinsey l tp on hng u th gii v lnh vc t vn chin lc kinh doanh. Vi

nhng sinh vin mi ra trng, c tr thnh mt Mckinsey consultant thc s l nim m c

ca rt nhiu ngi. Bi trc ht h s c mt mi trng lm vic cc k chuyn nghip, mc
lng i ng rt cao cng nh nhiu tri nghim rt ring. YBOX xin gii thiu bi vit ny ti
nhng ai ang theo ui gic m vo nhng tp on a Quc Gia trong nc v ngoi nc!
[Sharing - VN] How to get into McKinsey from my own experience and how life as a
consultant
Ngy cng c nhiu bn lin lc vi mnh hi thng tin v mun mnh chia s kinh nghim
v vic lm th no vo c McKinsey v cng vic t vn qun l, c th l McKinsey
l nh th no, etc

Do c qu nhiu bn quan tm trong khi, thc s l bn thn mnh cng ang b overwhelmed
vi qu nhiu vic nn khng cn tch cc tr li cho cc bn na (T.T). C rt nhiu typical
questions m mnh phi tr li t nht hn chc ln ri V vy, hm nay mnh s chia s thng
tin v con ng ca mnh vo McKinsey, cng nh cng vic McKinsey th nh th no.

Cng xin ni trc, c l case ca mnh kh l exceptional trong McKinsey mnh chia s
hon ton da trn kinh nghim ca c nhn nn ch mang tnh cht tham kho thng tin cho cc
bn. Cn mi ngi s c mt chin lc ring thnh cng.

C mt vi hit th v khi mnh nhn offer ca McKinsey:

1. Mnh l consultant tr nht ti thi im mnh vo McKinsey Vietnam
2. Mnh nhn c offer v bt u lm vic ti McKinsey trc khi mnh tt nghip i hc

3. Mnh l consultant duy nht ti thi im c nhn l SV hc trong nc (Mnh tt nghip

H Ngoi Thng Sau ny th c thm 2 bn hc local uni na)
Nh vy cc bn bit l Nothing is impossible McKinsey l cng ty duy nht mnh apply
V cng l cng ty m mnh gn b n thi im hin ti.

Background ca mnh trc khi vo McKinsey (in short):

- Academic: H Ngoi Thng, GPA: 8.2/10 Na nm gap year exchange in US
- Work experience: Citibank VN (Global Banking Intern), Viet Thai International (Financial
analyst intern SEO Vietnam Intern), Gold Sun (Business Development) v Six Flags (Sales
USA)
- Activity: Ph ch tch CLB Nh doanh nghip tng lai H Ngoi Thng, i biu VN
tham d mt vi din n doanh nghip tr / thanh nin ti Hn Quc, Vit Nam v Indonesia
- Achievement: Gii Nh Khi nghip cng Kawai, Gii Nht Khi nghip v mt lot cc hc
bng cng nh hot ng khc

Mnh s chia s theo dng topics da trn nhng cu hi m thng mnh c nhiu bn hi
trong thi gian va qua.

1. General prep
- Advice:
+ nh hng ngh nghip & self-reflection: mnh ngh on top of everything vic u tin
trc khi bn apply bt k mt cng vic no th bn nn hi bn thn mnh l ngi nh th
no, mnh mun lm g v mnh s tr thnh ngi nh th no. Ban c im mnh l g, im
yu l g nhng cng vic nh th no s ph hp vi bn, etc Mnh thng thy cc bn
thiu bc ny m thng s apply theo branding job status benefits C nhiu bn c
thy Big 4 l cm ci apply thi tuyn v suy ngh mt cch rt tiu cc c cng vic tt l
c. C th, nhng cu hi what do you want, what you want to be in 5/10 years? bn khng
th c cu tr li chnh xc ngay ti thi im hin ti (no worry v bn thn mnh nhiu lc
cng phi pause li retest nhng cu hi trn) nhng chc chn, at least bn phi c mt
shortlist v mt k hoch (strategic plan) really figure it out in a benefit way. Mnh c bit
khuyn cc bn SV nn c nh hng cng sm cng tt v nn tn dng khong thi gian i
hc test asumption ca cc bn. Chia s iu ny cng c cht xu h: khi hc H mnh
khng phi l type cao vic chm ch n trng, hc hnh chm ch Ngay t u, mnh t
target rt r rng: ch cn gii l c (8.9 will not make a big different to 8.1) v vy mnh
cng ch aim 8.1-8.2 m thi. Thi gian cn li, trong qu trnh sinh vin, mnh tham gia cc

hot ng CLB, networking v i lm nhng cng vic m mnh ngh mnh thch. Tuy nhin,
nhn mnh li l cc bn khng nn tham gia trn lan nghe ci g exciting l cng sign up m
nn ngh futher v c vision l how this activity will support you in the future. Cc bn nn tn
dng thi gian hc i hc th tri nghim nhng phi l mt tri nghim thng mnh.

+ Mindset: similar to the point above a bit mnh tip xc vi nhiu bn tr, mt mindset m
mnh gp rt nhiu l mt 4 nm hc ri, NT, ra trng phi lm vic cho honh trng b
li chi ph (c hi) khi hc c l v p lc cm o go tin m thc s c rt nhiu bn
m lao lao ba ngha l c mt cng vic tt, thu nhp cao. Nhng, v bn cht, bn ch l
mt sinh vin mi ra trng bn cha c power negotiate vi nh tuyn dng. V 1-3 nm
u sau khi ra trng l khong thi gian bn build up branding v expertise cho mnh.
Bn thn mnh cng t cho mnh mt mindset 2 nm u mnh s i lm hc nhng th
mnh mun hc Nhng nm u l hc ch khng phi kim. Khi bn build c
expertise v experience ri th mnh tin chc l bn cn kim nhiu hn bn kim trong 3-4 nm
u ny rt nhiu. V vy keep calm and be strategic. M xc nh hc l khng ngi kh
ngi kh. Mc d ni l thi gian hc i hc l th nhng v l internship nn c hi
bn exposure khng nhiu nn phi do above expectation. Mnh c 2 ci internship nhng c
hai ci l unpaid thm ch 1 ci mnh cn lm HCM nhng l chi ph c hi. Nu khng
c 2 internships , c l mnh khng y ngy hm nay. Hi lm intern, h giao 1, mnh lm
10 mnh lm mit mi v lun ask for things to do and proactively do thing before they are
asking. Nn hi u, t vic ng s sch mnh nhn task nh mt nhn vin chnh thc. Hi
lm ti Vit Thi qua chng trnh internship ca SEO th khi mnh thm ch cn expore
n Board of Directors lm trc tip vi cc Directors. C hi l do mnh to nn thi nn
cc bn nn khng ngng c gng.
+ Research: tm hiu focus. Mnh ch apply duy nht McKinsey v phi chia s thc s l
sau khi interview xong th mnh bit kh nng mnh nhn c rt cao Mnh apply
McKinsey khi mnh rt rt t tin bi mnh cc k sure about value added mnh mang li
cho McKinsey, ti sao mnh ngh mnh fit, ti sao mnh thch McKinsey cng vic ntn,
etc Preparation makes different. Nhng preparation will not make different if you dont fit. V
vy, make sure you know its a great match If you could not convince yourself how you can
convince others
+ Networking to get access: network vi nhng ngi lm trong cng ty m bn mun apply
trc khi mnh apply mnh tham d information session ca McKinsey ti H Ngoi
Thng v network, follow up vi Managing Director ca McKinsey ti VN -> network hiu
r v cng vic, clarify your concerns, etc Anw, again, lm g cng phi c objective r rng
nhiu bn i workshop ch l i. Trc khi i, nn point out ra 1-3 im mnh mun t c
ti mi mt networking event l g v DO it! ng n ri v v chng c g xy ra! Nh vy
l bn lng ph thi gian v c hi ca chnh bn thn mnh ri!!!
- Resource:
+ Google: mnh rt cm phc google nh google mnh m mn ra mi th

+ Company website: most of information is there. Make sure you dig the website before asking
any undeducated questions
+ People: connect vi nhng ngi trong firm thm perspective, contact lm company
visit Im sure they welcome if you are seriously interested!

2. PST prep
- Advice: indeed, thi gian mnh chun b test v interview khng nhiu nn khng c nhiu
kinh nghim chia s. Mnh hon ton prep da trn sample PST ti McKinsey website. Minh did
it twice v t draw out ra strategy ca mnh v vic time allocation.
- Resource:
+ Sample test ti McKinsey website
+ Unofficial test: hi dy mnh nh mnh c google ra mt bi sample na ngn hn bi ti
website Mnh cng practice bi lun.

3. Case interview prep

- Advice: case interview l mt khi nim rt l lm vi hu ht cc bn sinh vin trong nc.
Nhng nh c google v company website, mi th u c th prepare. Mnh khuyn cc bn
nn s dng McKinsey website mt cch ti a c th. Ch cn master nhng material c sn
website th mnh tin nhng bn no fit s interview tt. Mnh hi cng spend time c
mt vi quyn: Case in Point, McKinsey way, Vault guide Case interview, Case Interview
guide book Harvard MBA, Columbia. Nhng m, i vi mnh material hiu qu nht li l
series video ca Victor Cheng m trc khi mnh phng vn mnh c xem mt vi video
coaching ca Victor Cheng v m lm bm t interview n hm interview mi th din
ra rt natural. Mt ci highlight m bn no lm case cng cn phi bit: l case test your
approach not to test your IQ. Mnh c coaching cho nhiu bn lm case interview nhng
mnh s khng ni nhiu y cc bn t explore ra cch lm/strategy ca mnh style ca
mnh. Mnh khng hc cc framework ca cc case, mnh khng hc case mnh ch hc cch
ngi ta structure problem v illustrate cch approach ca mnh sao cho logical v make senses
nht. Tt c assumptions ca mnh u c back up with reasonal reasons. V mnh khng c
nhiu time chun b cho interview lc nn mnh khng lm mock interview c. Nhng
mnh khuyn tt c cc bn NN MOCK INTERVIEW AT LEAST 1-2 ln trc mi khi phng
vn. iu ny s gip rt nhiu cho bn lm quen vi cch tr li lm sao clear nht, relevant v
adaquate nht c th. Peer group hon ton cng c th gip bn lm mock interview nhng tt
nht l nhng ai c background similar to your interviewers
- Resource:

+ McKinsey website: trn cng c video coaching v 2 cases bn practice. Bn c th s

dng case lm mock interview.
+ Recommended: Victor Cheng

(free resources)

+ Book: a lots nh mnh mentioned trn nhng honestly l mnh khng thy helpful in
case ca mnh lm Case in Point, Case Interview prep Harvard, Columbia, MIT,
McKinsey way/mind, Vault guide to case interview

4. Recruitment process
- Round 1: Screening CV
- Round 2: PST
- Round 3: 5-6 interviews

McKinsey p dng standard recruitment process throught the world nn requirements v

process d bn c apply v tr no office no cng nh nhau m thi. Thi gian cho c qu
trnh ny khng c nh thng cng ko di khong 1-3 thng, c th ngn hn (nh case ca
mnh) hoc c th di hn (+/- 6 thng) do vic phng vn nu bn vo su c vng trong th
ph thuc availability ca interviewers. M nh cc bn bit cng vic McKinsye th super
hectic nn get time ca mt senior colleagues l rt kh

Cc interview u c cu trc Experience interview (15-30 mins) + Case interview (30-45 mins).
Cc interview rounds s ging nhau v format ch khc nhau l interviewers th senior level s
cng ngy cng cao thi.

5. Qualifications needed any limitations to local students

Case ca mnh s khin cc bn thy r there is alway an exception
C nhn mnh ngh, nu bn c nhng skills v interests sau you definitely should apply
McKinsey or management consulting
- Problem solving skill/analytical skill
- Communication skill & Interpersonal skill
- Leadership skill

Mnh, xut thun t local student =), khng h ngh c gii hn g ng k gia vic l sv trong
nc v sv du hc v nhng yu t trn khng affect bn d bn hc u. Tuy nhin, sv local
c mt hn ch r rng nht l language skill McKinsey, ngn ng s dng l Ting Anh
(100% thi gian v vy note mnh vit ting vit c hi kh hiu, cc bn cng thng cm)
nn vic dng Ting Anh din t khng hiu qu th rt kh lm vic McKinsey

6. What should I do to prep in collegue time?

- Cu hi ny 10 bn reach out 10 bn s hi c n cu ny bn vn hi, th c li cu 1
nh Mi ngi s cn mt strategy ring lm sao n khi gp recruiter, you have an
interesting story to tell

7. How long can I resubmit my application to McKinsey?

2 years rule applies. Nu sau khi apply vo McKinsey m bn khng thnh cng th sau 2 nm
bn mi c quyn reapply li McKinsey. 2 nm l khong thi gian m McKinsey ngh
enough bn c th bridge gap to be ready at your role. V vy mnh khuyn cc bn ch nn
apply McKinsey khi mnh cc k ready. T l acceptance rate ca McKinsey is below
single digit (FYI)

8. As the interview structure is the same, should I exhibit same stories or example for the
same questions across all interview rounds?

Khi nim same c l cng ch l tng i. Mc d structure interview l ging nhau nhng
khng phi l interview l the same. ng thi, mnh ngh l d cu hi c the same th sau
khi c kinh nghim tr li ln trc, bn s phi tr li tt hn. Ni tht, sau mi ln tr li
m bn ngh cu tr li ca bn l perfect th mnh cng khng khuyn cc bn nn thi vo
McKinsey.

Vic s dng cng response mnh ngh bn thn bn s c cu tr li chnh xc nht sau ln
phng vn or mork interview l c tip tc s dng cch approach hay khng. Mi
interviewer l nhng ngi khc nhau nn trong trng hp (may mn) c cng cu hi v
bn t tin vi example ca mnh th why not?

Part II: Life as a McKinsey consultant

1. Cng vic ti McKinsey nh th no? C hi ngh nghip cho sinh vin mi ra trng?
- Ni ring v track consultant:
+ lm vic theo team cho mi d n. Mi d n c set up s c mt team khc nhau. Size ca
team ph thuc vo scope of the project (typical 2 weeks 3 months)
+ mi thnh vin c mt workstream khc nhau under the management of project leader v
guidance from project leader. Bn phi chu trch nhim push cho workstream ca mnh deliver,
draw recommentation by running analysis
+ mi client c nhng problem khc nhau. Client s a ra bi team gii quyt v a ra
phng n/ xut
- C hi ngh nghip cho sinh vin mi ra trng
+ Ti Vit Nam ni ring, c mt track gi l local consultant (LC). Fresh graduated is highly
recommended to apply. Sau 1-1.5 nm, nu bn performed tt s c promote ln next level l
Business Analyst (BA). V bn cht, u l consultant, nhng BA l mt offical position trong
firm v bn s c staff (lm nhng d n) theo tnh cht khu vc m ph hp vi preference
v experience ca bn trong khi LC th s lm vic ch yu ti Vit Nam.
+ Nu khng thy ph hp vi consultant track, mt track khc l Market analyst thin v
mng research v back office/ support function hn.

2. McKinsey t vn nhng mng no? C yu cu no v kin thc ngnh hay chuyn su

v mt ngnh nht nh no khng?
- McKinsey t vn khng gii hn industry no (mining, oil&gas, consumer, banking,
telecom) v khng gii hn functions no (operation, organization, marketing & sales)

- i vi v tr LC hoc BA thng c gi l generalist consultant hiu nm na l loi g

cng lm. Tuy nhin, cng lm lu, bn s xy dng expertise trong firm v preference ca bn
cng s r rng hn. Nh mnh th thin v finance service (industry) v strategy, operation &
marketing & sales (functions). V vy, mnh khng ngh c kin thc v mt ngnh no l
must cho nhng entry level m ch l plus thi. McKinsey, c rt nhiu background khc
nhau rt th v: khng him gp nhng ngi tng l bc s hay cnh st trong firm u nn
nu bn thy bn thn ph hp th ng ngi m th.

3. McKinsey c chng trnh internship khng?

- Rt tic, theo mnh bit th McKinsey khng offically c chng trnh internship cho cc bn
sinh vin v tr consultant nhng admin intern th c. V McKinsey cng c chng trnh
summer internship dnh cho MBA student na.

4. Mi trng lm vic ti McKinsey nh th no? Nhng im c v khng c?

AWESOME! l t m mnh mun din t v mi trng McKinsey
- Learning opportunity: bn c c hi hc nhiu ngnh khc nhau trong mt thi gian rt ngn
v c v s resource hc ch s bn li hc nh mnh thi Firm th c learning portal
(nh kiu intranet, c rt nhiu course dng publications, course, webex hc ch cn sign up
or search l mt lot cc ti liu lin quan n ch mnh tm hiu hin ra bn c :)) v
experts (trc mi study, mnh thng reach out n cc expert v topic mnh mun tm hiu
ni chuyn v hi h nhng th khng m mnh khng tm c cu tr li hay nhn inh v
trends, etc
- People: phi ni l ngi ca McKinsey awesome ai cng smart nhng rt collaborative v
helpful. Ai cng open share, gip bn. Khc vi nhng cng ty khc, accessibility
McKinsey rt cao. Vic ni chuyn vi Director or Parnter l chuyn hng ngy. V mi team
cng c leadership bn gp ti thiu 1 tun 1-2. Thnh thong i qua phng bo tao vo ni
chuyn vi my mt t nh th l ngi ni chuyn lun. McKinsey th khng c hierachy
ai cng nh ai, same expense policy th nn mi c chuyn funny l mnh tng bay cng
chuyn vi mt partner bn mnh mnh th bay business class, bc th economy do mnh bay 2
chng Ngoi ra, ai cng supper smart nn lm vic hc c nhiu t chnh ng nghip &
leader ng thi bn thn cng lun c challenge :). Last point v people l accessibility l
global reach team McKinsey lc no cng hn hp t nhiu nc khc nhau cng mt d n
(do c related experience) v partner/expert th everywhere. Nn vic lm 1 study Vietnam m
team ngi, mu da l chuyn bnh thng sng ra, ngi luyn thuyn vi bc expert
tn US chiu contact vi bn UK, India =) M c ci McK culture work hard, play
hard Nn mnh super enjoy
- Growth opportunity: firm, ai cng s c official mentor ngi lun lun lng nghe lun
lun thu hiu bn a ra road map bn improve bn thn they care you as a person

im mnh khng thch: LIFESTYLE

Work life could not balance. Typically, d n no mnh m xong vic trc 11h m th gi l
good lifestyle ri. Vic thc m hm lm l chuyn thng ngy. Ni tm li l, trong weekday
th bn l victim of work ch bit n, ng v lm thi khng bit lm g na. n cui tun
ng b mt t ri i chi l ht ngy.

Ngoi ra, travel lin tc. Trong mt ngy, sng Indo, chiu Sin, ti Vit Nam hay T6 bay
v, CN bay i l chuyn hon ton bnh thng McKinsey. Mc d 5 star hotel, flight to
different countries every week might be excited you at first nhng s depressing then

C nhn, mnh ngh con trai th chc ok hn ch con gi th lifestyle nh vy khng sustainable
(at least l i vi mnh). Gn 2.5 nm ri lm McK mnh lost contact vi friend and
somehow family a lot!

Tuy nhin, xc nh dedicate time hc nn rt worth C mt vi bn ng nghip c

chia s vi mnh l 1-2 nm lm McKinsey bng 3-4 nm lm ch khc. Thit ngh cng ng
v hc c nhiu qu, lm vic cng nhiu qu lun Nn l fair point

V vy, mt iu mnh nhn mnh vi nhiu bn l should be passion driven nu khng th

McK s l mt nightmare vi bn. Vo c l tt nhng tr c l c mt vn

5. McKinsey c training cho nhn vin khng? Lm th no lm nhng d n m mnh

khng c mt cht kin thc no v ngnh?
- C

nhiu lm

C th #1 cu 4

Tm thi l th. Ai c cu hi th post, mnh s c gng tr li

Disclaimer: y l chia s c nhn, khng nhm mc ch thng mi v cng c th out-of-date

bi mnh apply vo McK cng 2.5 trc ri

Nguyn tc xuyn sut ca thi quen gi ng lc rt n gin, gi gn trong vi ch hy tin

tng bc nh. Mi bc nh, t d nh mt mc tiu, mt ch tiu, hay n gin l mt iu
mi l, u c tc dng gi b no bn rn m hung phn, khin tinh thn bn lun mc sng
khoi cao.

Thnh cng, s hi, am m tt c u nhng trng thi tm l tng i, m thng qua thi
quen lp li lu di c th cng c hay ph b. T d, chng s rn l mt trong nhng
chng s hi ph bin nht i vi con ngi hin i, hu nh bit ti loi rn qua nhng b
phim v tranh nh. Chng ny mt s ngi nghim trng n mc ch cn nhn thy bng
dng di ca mt si dy cng khin h git ny mnh nhy ra xa. Bc s Geogre Pratt tng thc
hin mt lot cc th nghim da trn nguyn tc hy tin tng bc nh cha nhng ca
nghim trng y. T vic luyn nhn dy da, nhn bng rn trn, xem nh, xem phim ri tin
dn n chm mt trc tip, ng chm, v cui cng trc tip chm sc. Hng chc, thm ch
hng trm bc nh c thc hin to ra thnh qu y.

Bng cch to ra nhng thnh cng nh, ghi nhn chng, v hn hoan trn trng bng nhiu cch
khc nhau (ghi nht k, chp nh, cho ngi khc thy), bn s gip mnh tim nhng liu kch
thch sinh hc hon ton c li cho b no v tinh thn.

Ngoi ra, cc nhn thc th gii v tnh cnh hin ti ca bn thn gp phn kin c ha nim tin
v vai tr ca bn trong cuc sng. Thi quen s 4 bin th thch thnh tr chi nhm gip
bn dn vt qua ni s hi v ri ro, bin ri ro t p lc kinh khng khin bn li bc tr
thnh tr chi y hng th bn chin thng. Trong khi , thi quen s 6 t nhc mnh v
sao ta c sng li nhm gip bn trn trng tng giy pht, tng ca ci (khng ch vt cht)
m mnh ang nm ly. Kt hp vi thi quen chp nh v ghi k s, s l b combo tuyt ho
cho mt ngy bnh-thng-m-hon-ho y.