To maintain its preeminent position (and to earn its high fees) the Firm seeks out the cream of each year’s crop of business school graduates. It lures them with high salaries, the prospect of a rapid rise through McKinsey’s meritocratic hierarchy, and the chance to mingle with the elite of the business world. In return, the Firm demands total devotion to client service, submission to a grueling schedule that can include weeks or months away from home and family, and only the highest-quality work. For those who meet McKinsey’s standards, promotion can be rapid.
