How impactful is a Partner's opinion for getting an offer?

Question

I had my final round interviews for BCG (had one prior interview), which consisted of two interviews.
The first interview was with a Principal and while I felt confident in the fit part, I faced some difficulty with the case. My interviewer also seemed very uninterested, which decreased my confidence.
However, the second interview was with a Partner and I felt a lot more positive about it. We had a great discussion in the fit part and my case interview felt smooth.
Basically, can you outperform a bad interview if your partner interview went well?

Answer 1

Hey there,

The general principle is that you would need both the approval of the Partner and Principal in this case to get the offer. So if one went well and the other didn't, more often than not, the outcome would be a no. However, in that situation, it is possible that the Partner could motivate heavily that you should (or could) be given a chance and the Principal could agree to you getting an offer

The likelihood of any of these outcomes depends on the extent of how well (or not) you did with the Partner. Also will depend on the practices in that BCG office regarding their recruiting policy and discretions. So whilst in theory it is possible that the Partner could sway the Principal, it's best to stay away from speculation too (especially considering that candidates are not always the best judge of actual performance in a case)

Wishing you all the best!

Answer 2

Hello,

In my opinion, it’s absolutely possible to outperform a weaker interview with a stronger one. Firms like BCG evaluate candidates holistically, and a strong Partner interview can carry significant weight, especially if you demonstrated clear potential in problem-solving and fit.

For example, during my EY-Parthenon process, one of my four interviews didn’t go as well as I hoped, yet I still received an offer because my overall performance was strong. Your second interview sounds very positive, and that can help offset the challenges you faced in the first one.

Focus on the strengths you showcased, and don’t let one less-than-perfect interview define your confidence!

Best,
Evelina

Answer 3

Hi,

The offer is depending on the performance during both interviews. There is not much you can do for now.

Hope this helps.

Mattijs

Answer 4

Hi there,

After each interview, the team typically discusses their impressions and votes on the candidate. If someone has doubts about hiring you, it’s often up to another person, to vouch for you. Their support can outweigh others' opinions and impact the final decision in your favour - and it’s certainly beneficial if the person advocating for you is a Partner.

Best of luck!
Kairavee

Answer 5

Doesn't matter what the persons position is. The scorecard is the same. If you didn't do well, you didn't do well. My advice - you really just have to wait, it's impossible to predict what the outcome will be