Does McKinsey shut down over Christmas?

Question

Hi there,

I applied for McKinsey’s Junior Associate position and completed Solve on December 5th. I am wondering whether I’m likely to be waiting until the New Year for a response. At the moment I’m refreshing my emails 10+ times per day just waiting for something 🫣

Thanks so much in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Hannah,

Short answer, yes :)

That said, YOU should not “shut down” over Christmas. Make sure you're using this time to case prep!

Also, please, for the sake of your sanity, stop refreshing your emails :P

And, please assume you will not be invited to interview. I don't like crushing hope, but the most likely scenario is that you do not get the interview. I say this so that you set expectations. As such, make sure to apply to LOTs of other firms!

A successful recruiting journey involves 30-40 firms

Here's some reading to help:

How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks

Application Tracker – Keep Track With This Free Template

The Most Common Pitfalls in Case Interview Preparation

Answer 2

Hi Hannah,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with McKinsey thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, it's common for recruitment processes to slow down during the holiday season. Many staff members take leave, which can impact the response times.
Moreover, refreshing your e-mails constantly can be stressful. I would advise you to set specific times to check your email, like once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This approach can help reduce anxiety while keeping you updated.
Lastly, use this waiting time productively. Continue preparing for potential interviews or engage in activities that enhance your skills. I would highly advise you to focus on areas where you feel less confident, to ensure you're fully prepared when the opportunity arises.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 3

Hi Hannah,

Q: I completed Solve on December 5th.I am wondering whether I’m likely to be waiting until the New Year for a response.

It is possible, in particular considering the holiday period. The time to get a reply after the Solve game varies. It might be within 2 weeks but can also be longer. To my knowledge, there is no correlation between waiting time and outcome. I once helped a candidate who had to wait for almost 2 months and moved to the interviews.

If you don’t hear back within a couple of weeks, you can follow up with HR to ask for feedback.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 4

Hi there,

a lot of consulting firms have an end of year shutdown - can vary by geography though. In general though, not much will be happening in the second half of December or the first week of January.

Your test result will come eventually and in case it is positive news, you should be ready to take on a first round interview. So use the time you have to continue to prepare. I'm sure you have not only applied to McK (if you have, then you should expand your recruiting efforts) so just stay in the flow and focus on what's next.

As for McK, the ball is in their court now and you can take care of other things in the meantime. Refreshing your inbox all the time will not make them move faster ;)

Fingers crossed

Answer 5

Hi there,

This depends on the office but you can expect a lot of McKinsey offices shutting down from 1-2 weeks these period of the year. On top, everyone is rushing to close urgent stuff before holidays you there might be a delay on getting your answer.

In the meanwhile I suggest you use this time to keep practicing your interview skills. Happy to have a virtual coffee chat to share some tip on how to prepare for McKinsey interview. Just send me a message.

Best,

—

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

Answer 6

Hi Hannah!

It's still likely that you might get an answer within the coming week.

But indeed, activity at the firm goes down during this period. If you don't hear from them within the next couple of days, you can expect to do so mid-Jan.

Hope you get good results and that amongst all the prep, you also get to enjoy the holidays a bit!

Cristian

Answer 7

Hey Hannah,

At the moment I’m refreshing my emails 10+ times per day just waiting for something 🫣

Totally agree with Ian here: if you want to keep your sanity, It's definitely NOT the way to go. You must never be hung up on just one firm. Keep applying to other places as the chances of landing an MBB offer are extremely slim.

Good luck!
Nick

Answer 8

Hi,

Typically most offices will have ~1-2 weeks of office shutdown that starts before/during Christmas.

That being said, many people could already be on leave before the shutdown.

As its been almost ~2 weeks, I would wait a day or two more and then follow up politely.

Answer 9

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