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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a former McKinsey & Company associate who worked at the company for one and a half years. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to privacy concerns. Business Insider has verified their identity and employment at McKinsey. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I joined McKinsey as an associate in 2021. Going in, I always knew, "I'm here for a bad time, not a long time."
I knew that the work would be challenging, and I also hoped that if I stuck it out, I'd be able to build up my analytical toolkit and learn how to problem-solve really well.