Hi! I have just landed an Engagement Manager role at McKinsey and start in two weeks. I have only been consulting for 9 months and before that have always been in industry. Can anyone give me any insight as to what to expect my first day, first week, first month?

Long hours, possibly?

Say goodbye to your friends, your hobbies, your parents, your girfriend.You can expect a highly competitive environment, where you will have no friends, but only people ready tu stub you from the back, as soon as you lower your guard.And the moment the Partner or the Associate partner will not be happy on the project, you will see that not even the God of your religion can save you: you will be out in three months.Ah.. one more thing consider to be paid 8pounds/net per hour (like in McDonald's)I was in McKinsey for two years and sadly experienced all of it on my shoulders.I highly regret it: today no company will match my salary in McK anyway.Wish you luckYou need it.

I would just turn up on day one with a healthy dose of enthusiasm and common sense, and an expectation that you will work very hard, but in a job that for the vast majority of people is a very smart career move.I think that Tacitus' experience is probably at the extreme end of a scale and it is worth taking anecdotal evidence with a pinch of salt...