Did not hear back from BCG

Hi there,

before offer decisions are communicated after the final round, they have to be aligned between HR and the interviewers in the process. This can sometimes take time for various reasons. A few common ones are listed below for a general overview:

• internal scheduling conflicts between HR and the interviewers, especially when partners need to be involved
• the firm is still conducting more final round interviews with other candidates and they might want to wait for that to play out to look at the full candidate picture before extending final offers
• offers have been extended to “first choice” candidates and the firm is trying to keep “backup” candidates on hold until they know who accepted and who declined their first batch of offers
• holidays or year-end shutdown delay the decision-making and communication process
• there is uncertainty internally around budget and the exact headcount they can actually hire so they are trying to buy time

I know that this is unsettling and every candidate wants to have clarity on the status sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, you'll always have to wait for the official word. It is legitimate, though, to politely follow up for an update after not hearing back for two weeks.

However, it is best to just assume a rejection and continue with the recruiting efforts with other firms until you have a written offer in your hands. That way you at least won't lose time.

Best of luck

Hi there,

A very common topic in this Q&A and the answer is almost always: try and relax!

ISSUE: Does the delay suggest a rejection? Contrary to the norm when there is a delay, they have actually been super transparent about the reasons and none of them have anything to do with a rejection. Make no mistake; if they decide to reject you, they have no problem in picking up the phone and telling you as much.

ADVICE: see above i.e., try and relax (easier said than done but you will hear back!).

Keeping my fingers crossed. Best of luck!

Moritz

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Hey Keyuan,

It seems you ended up on the receiving end of an organisational mix up. Such things happen sometimes, unfortunately. And since it’s an internal role I doubt that the standard recruiting timelines apply here.

I suggest you continue applying to other firms and hope for the best. It’s always easer to leverage your position if you’ve got another offer on your hands.

Good luck!

Nick

Hi Kenyuan,

Several response delays don’t necessarily means you were rejected, especially with organizational transitions happening at the same time.

I suggest that you:

• Keep following up with the new recruiter every 2 weeks to keep showing interest
• Apply in parallel to other firms leveraging your BCG preparation to diversify risks and gain leverage in a potential negotiation with BCG

Good luck!

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

I understand that waiting for a response after your final interview can be quite nerve-wracking. In this case, given the transition in recruiters and the mention of finalizing logistics, it's difficult to determine the exact reason for the delay in hearing back.

While it's natural to wonder if the delay suggests a rejection, it's important to keep in mind that internal processes within global teams can sometimes take longer than expected. The transition between recruiters and the need for additional time to finalize logistics could be contributing factors to the delay.

I recommend staying patient and giving the senior recruiter some more time to provide an update. It's possible that they are still working on the decision-making process or addressing any internal matters that may be impacting the timeline. If you haven't heard back after a reasonable period, it may be appropriate to follow up again to express your continued interest and inquire about the status of the decision.

Remember, delays in the hiring process do not necessarily indicate a rejection. It's always best to remain positive and continue exploring other opportunities in the meantime. I wish you the best of luck and hope you receive positive news soon!

Hi,

The delay certainly does not suggest a rejection.

Coming from BCG - there were times when processes can be abit slow due to several reasons (including re-orgs etc).

Be patient and I would follow up after another 2-3 weeks.

All the best!

Hi there,

Q: Considering this is a global team and an internal role, does the delay suggest a rejection? 

This is not possible to know, as the delay could simply be due to the HR transition.

Although I understand your desire to get a clear answer, the only thing you can do now is to act on what is in your control, that is (i) prepare for other interviews/ apply to other companies and/or (ii) wait for the results.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi Keyuan,

I would not say that you are out of running after just 2 weeks - keep your head up!

That said, of course delays are never great. Keep applying to other firms. Never let yourself be beholden to one company during interviewing. As in, hope for the best but prepare for the the worst.

Fingers crossed for you!

In general, it has no meaning. 

It can mean they are trying to gain more time in order to make sure they are making the right capacity management decisions, i.e., either trying to have a better view on their needs, or getting a few more acceptances or rejections (i.e., in practice being on a wait list).

Nevertheless, I don't think this is the case. It is most likely just what they are saying.

No, it doesn't suggest that. 

If I'm optimistic about it (and so should you :) ), I'd say this is a tough and intense period for recruitment and they are working through a backlog. 

If you want to minimize risk (which I'd recommend you do), then apply to other firms. Here's how to diversify your portfolio of applications to ensure you get at least one offer:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

If it was a rejection they would have told you by now. They do not gain anything by delaying it so in all likelihood it is about getting the feedback they need to make a decision.

No, just organizational complexity. Keep following up all 2 weeks. Warm regards, Frederic