How to get over rejection ?

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection and the way you feel!

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

• First of all, recognize that rejection, especially from a top-tier consulting firms, is not a reflection of your worth or potential. It's a highly competitive field, and many factors can influence the outcome beyond your performance.
• Moreover, use this experience as a learning opportunity. Reflect on any feedback you received, and identify areas where you can improve or strengthen your skills for future opportunities.
• Lastly, I would advise you to allow yourself time to process the disappointment, but also to actively seek support and motivation from peers, mentors, or coaches who can help you regain perspective and prepare for the next challenge.

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 your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Get yourself together! This is a job. You didn't land it this time. There are multiple very similar firms, and you can apply again in the future! 

Be aware: most probably, every interviewer you met also received multiple rejections before he was successful.

And it is also not necessarily about how much work you put in. I regularly meet candidates who have prepared for months, but during all this time they have just become perfect in doing wrong things (due to lack of quality guidance and the usual preparation material filled to the brim with inaccurate myths).

So chin up! The fact that you reached the final round is already indicating that you have all it takes in principle. Now the remaining ingredient is persevereance. It doesn't matter when exactly you're successful. If it takes you one more year - so be it. Make sure you fill that year with meaningful activities/work that further builds towards your goal.

All the best!

Sidi

___________________

Dr. Sidi S. Koné

Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™

Hi there,

You're in the 99%

You have company!

Does being amongst 99% of the rest of the recruiting population sound like failure?

Of course not!

It's like saying “Man, I played the lottery today and lost. Nothing good can ever happen”

I got rejected by BCG in undergrad. Then I worked for them 6 years later. Also, guess what, the firm I worked for instead out of undergrad was the best comapny I ever worked for.

I've seen people who were rejected 2 years in a row McKinsey (in final rounds), then we worked together and they got all of MBB.

It's not over. Your work wasn't wasted….you can use your training for other firms. You can re-recruit next year.

Come on - failure is a part of life. What matters is how you react now. Pick yourself up…many opportunities lie ahead!

Hi there,

Q: How to get over rejection?

Sorry to hear about your rejection. 

A complete answer would require knowing more about you. As a short answer: think about what your real goal was in getting into consulting. Most likely, there are other ways to achieve that goal. 

Even if your objective was to stay in consulting, you can apply again in 12-18 months, and then again if it doesn't work out.

If you still want to apply to consulting now, I would recommend the following:

1. Understand the exact reasons for the rejection. Then work to fix the issues. If needed, contact HR to ask for feedback.
2. Network to get referrals from as many consulting companies as possible that are interesting to you. Besides MBB (I suspect your rejection is coming from there), you can target several other firms (e.g. Oliver Wyman, Strategy&, Roland Berger, Kearney). Even if your final goal is MBB, you can work there for a few years and then apply to MBB again.
3. Apply and refresh your previous prep. If you passed the first round, your level should be already good and with minor fixes, you should be able to land an offer from another top consulting company.
4. If nothing works out and you still want to work in consulting, find a second-best job, work there for a few years, apply again after the ban. In the long run, it won’t really matter that you didn't succeed on the first try.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi!

I'm really sorry to read this. 

It must feel absolutely awful. 

Honestly, it's ok to just sit around for a bit and lick your wounds. 

If it helps, talk with others. 

Try to take some reflection time and figure out what really matters for you. 

And on a more practical level, talk with others to understand what they struggle with or what they struggled with in the past. If I tell you about the long line of things that I failed at or the stuff that I still fail at, you'd feel a lot better about yourself instantly haha

People who ‘win’, in the end, are those who keep going. Failure is just part of the process, so try not to linger on it too much. When you're ready to start again with consulting, start from here:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Good luck!
Cristian

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

Rejection is often redirection…As cringy as it reads, this is the truth in my life experience of 35 years.

Everytime I failed at something I thought I really wanted, something better came along.

Kudos for giving it a try, now chin up and move forward!

best of luck,

Aude 

Hey,

I understand how you feel, we've all been there.

This fatalist mindset (“An MBB offer or death”) is, unfortunately, very common among those who want to get into Top-Tier management consulting. 

Please understand that your preparation efforts have not been in vain: you can always try other firms or reapply later in your career.

Also, don't think that management consulting is the perfect job with no downsides. It's just not true. A lot of people doing it quit due to various reasons to pursue other things.

Therefore, probably, there exists a better position that currently  suits you better. Just expand your search.

Good luck!
Nick


 

Wow, I'm truly sorry to hear that you're feeling this way, and I understand how disheartening a setback can be, especially when you've invested so much effort and passion into a goal. Even at the firm I had setbacks and it wasn't always easy to see the light at the tunnel although others tell you. It's fine to be disappointed right now and it will go away, just give it some time. When you feel like it ping me for a coffee chat to discuss how we can open a new door for you ;-) Warm regards, Frederic