Career vs. PRC? First true test of my plan

McKinsey presented me with a query yesterday. HR wanted confirmation that I had no issue working outside of the PRC. Funny, because all other employers want to confirm precisely the opposite. McKinsey say they would want me to read and write Mandarin/Chinese in order to work in the PRC.

They say I could live where I liked, i.e. Shanghai, but that my work would be in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. And though they didn't mention it, realistically I suppose, London.

Working for McKinsey, in their Business Technology Office (BTO) would be very good for my career. Big name; they'd train me in their rather intellectual way of working; excellent international experience and clients; and I believe they would reward (compensate) me well.

I believe their question to me is akin to "do you love us enough to abandon your PRC plans?" or "are you going to play hardball with us, and risk not getting the job".

Right now, I think I want to finish the interview process, to learn more about working with them, and find out how 'keen' they are to hire me. I think my business/tech management advisory background is rare, and so if I fit their intellectual profile they should be keen to hang onto me.

I'm keeping an open mind for now. If I really fall in love with the job, and see grand future prospects coming out of it, then maybe I'll compromise my plans. However my gut feeling is that I could work with them for a few years, but then I'd have lost sight of my future plans for working at senior levels in the PRC. So during the rest of the recruitment process I need to discuss with them whether working for them would help achieve my planned 'future', or perhaps some other equally fantastic 'future'. If you know what I mean...