IIM Calcutta graduate compares careers at McKinsey and Google after switching jobs

An IIM Calcutta MBA graduate left her dream job at McKinsey to join Google. A year later, Jahnvi Singh shares her experience of switching between two prestigious companies, highlighting the differences in work culture, travel, employee benefits and work-life balance.IIM Calcutta graduate compares careers at McKinsey and Google after switching jobs (Instagram/@journeywithjahnvi)New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 10:37 ISTFor many management graduates, landing a job at a top consulting firm is a career milestone. But for Jahnvi Singh, an MBA graduate from IIM Calcutta, leaving McKinsey to join Google turned out to be a decision that changed not just her professional life but also her everyday routine. A year after making the switch from management consulting to the technology giant, Singh has shared an account of her experience, highlighting differences in the nature of work, travel, workplace benefits and work-life balance.In a video shared on Instagram, Singh introduced herself as an IIM Calcutta graduate and former McKinsey consultant before reflecting on what prompted a fresh chapter in her career. Her experience offers a glimpse into how moving between two prestigious workplaces can bring a different set of opportunities, challenges and lifestyle changes.WHAT CHANGED WHEN SHE MOVED FROM MCKINSEY TO GOOGLE?One of the most noticeable differences for Singh has been the nature of her work. At McKinsey, she worked with different clients and handled a variety of business problems. The consulting role exposed her to multiple industries and assignments, allowing her to move between different problem statements.At Google, however, her work revolves around a single business. While this gives her an opportunity to develop deeper knowledge of one industry, she acknowledged that working on the same business can sometimes make the job feel monotonous. The transition highlights a familiar trade-off between consulting and an in-house corporate role: the former can offer variety across clients and projects, while the latter can provide greater continuity and a deeper understanding of a particular business.FROM DOMESTIC TRIPS TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVELTravel has also changed considerably since Singh left consulting. Her McKinsey days involved frequent domestic trips, with work taking her between cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi. Such travel was part of the consulting experience, as assignments required her to work with different clients across locations. At Google, Singh works from the company's Gurugram office. Although her routine involves less frequent domestic travel, her current role offers opportunities to travel internationally for work.“McKinsey meant a lot of domestic travel. I used to constantly travel between Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi,” she said.She added that she now gets the opportunity to travel abroad for work two to three times a year.GOOGLE VS MCKINSEY: WHICH OFFERS BETTER WORKPLACE PERKS?Beyond the job profile, Singh also compared the workplace benefits she experienced at the two companies.At McKinsey, she recalled enjoying perks such as stays at five-star hotels, dinners and parties, which were associated with her consulting assignments and work-related travel.Google's benefits, she explained, are different. She highlighted the pick-up and drop-off facility for commuting to and from the office, along with the company's cafeteria and its range of healthy food options.Rather than describing one workplace as definitively better than the other, her account suggests that the benefits can differ depending on the nature of the role and the way employees spend their working days.HOW DID HER LIFESTYLE CHANGE AFTER JOINING GOOGLE?Perhaps the biggest difference Singh described was the time she now has for herself outside work. During her consulting stint, finding time for regular exercise and weekday plans with friends was difficult. Her current routine, however, has allowed her to make fitness a consistent part of her week.“At Google, I am working out five times a week consistently. I'm doing 8K steps daily, and on most weekdays, I can make plans with my friends without anybody's permission,” she said.Her experience points to a change that goes beyond office facilities or international travel. Having more control over her time has helped her build a routine around fitness, socialising and personal commitments.For professionals weighing a move from consulting to a corporate role, such everyday changes can be an important consideration alongside salary, designation and career growth.A CAREER MOVE THAT CHANGED MORE THAN HER JOBSingh's experience shows that moving from one prestigious company to another does not necessarily mean giving up professional opportunities. Instead, it can involve choosing between different ways of working and living.While McKinsey offered her exposure to varied clients, business problems and frequent domestic travel, Google has given her the opportunity to develop deeper business knowledge while maintaining a more consistent fitness and social routine.A year after leaving what she once considered her dream job, Singh's account serves as a reminder that career success can mean more than a recognised company name or an impressive designation. For some professionals, it also means finding a working style that leaves room for life beyond the office.- Ends