McKinsey Application Process Not Heard Back and the Impact of Current PhD Pursuits

Hi Knut,

To your questions:

Q1: Do they typically send out rejection emails if they don't find a candidate suitable?  I'm curious to know if the competition for these particular offices is so high that, despite my background, I might not be assured even a preliminary interview or an Imbellus assessment.

• McKinsey doesn’t ghost candidates so you’ll get either a positive or negative answer to your application
• You applied to offices with high levels of applicants so it may take a while until a recruiter screens your application and takes a decision
• Networking and asking for referrals are the best way to accelerate the process and increase the chances of being invited to the next step (preferably before applying)

Q2: Could it also be a factor that I've just commenced my PhD and it's likely to span the next 5 years or more?

• My hypothesis is that recruiters will not judge this. Since you apply to McKinsey, you show your interest in joining the firm as your first priority
• I strongly suggest you calibrate how you would work at McKinsey while doing the PhD. Working at McKinsey requires 100% of your time (or more) and it is really difficult to combine with other big initiatives

Happy to keep discussing in private. Just send me a message.

Alberto

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

Sorry to hear you haven't yet received a response. 

It seems to be happening more and more often these days. But I wouldn't read too much into it.

First of all, in almost all cases they give you a response regardless of whether it's a pass or a fail. It's really an exception for them to just not send you even a rejection email. 

Most likely what's happening is that they have a backlog that they've been working through and it's just a busy period for recruitment.

I'd recommend you follow-up with a polite email and ask for an update on your application. Aside from this, make sure that you diversify your risk by applying for other firms as well. Here's how to build an application strategy that takes this into account:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

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Hi Knut,

First of all, I am sorry to hear that you haven’t yet heard back from McKinsey!

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

• First of all, McKinsey almost always sends out rejection e-mails, but sometimes, the response might get delayed due to the large number of applications they receive or other circumstances.
• Moreover, the fact that you just started a PhD which will likely take 5 years or more could certainly raise questions about your immediate availability or commitment to the consulting path.
• Lastly, I would advise you to reach out directly to the recruiter to inquire about the status of your application. Sometimes, a gentle reminder or expressing continued interest can make a difference.

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

Hi Knut,

1) Do they typically send out rejection emails if they don't find a candidate suitable?

Yes, they do normally send rejection emails if you don’t pass the screening. If you applied via referral, you can reach out to your contact to check if they have any information on your application. If that’s not the case, you can reach out to HR after a couple of weeks for an update.

2) Could it also be a factor that I've just commenced my PhD and it's likely to span the next 5 years or more?

Did you apply for an internship compatible with the program and for a position matching your background? If so, that should not be an issue. If not, it might be an issue.

Good luck!

Francesco

I suggest this link for you to get a job in consulting during an economic downturn. I hope that it can help you. https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-get-a-job-in-consulting-bloxd io-during-an-economic-downturn

I referenced it and I found a job for me.

Yes, they will send rejection forms once a decision is made. Sometimes it can take up to a month.

Hi there,

Sorry about that, must be stressful to be in this situation.

Even though I haven’t been in the same exact position as you, I know from experience McKinsey does take a bit of time to get back (probably due to the insane amount of applications they must be receiving) to you with a yes/no on the next round.

Arm yourself with a bit of patience… if you know one of the recruiters or knows someone who know that person, could be helpful. Processes can vary from one country to the other as well.

Best of luck!

Aude Augias

Hi there,

My reactions and questions to the points you raise:

1. Do they typically send out rejection emails if they don't find a candidate suitable? Eventually, yes. However, this can anywhere between a few days and a few months, and sometimes people never hear back. However, the latter is the exception because it's not by design and rather by accident. When did you apply and what does ‘recently submitted' mean’? → In 80% of the time, you should receive a reply within <4 weeks (rough indication based on my experience). 
2. Could it also be a factor that I've just commenced my PhD and it's likely to span the next 5 years or more? So what are you saying - are you applying to this role as an alternative to pursuing your PhD or are you working with a 5-year lead time? → This has to be crystal clear to the recruiter because it's not to me and you need to be able to tell a compelling story.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

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Hi there,

You should receive a rejection if you are indeed rejected. However, note that this does not always happen.

Ultimately, nothing you can do right now except 1) Apply to lots of other firms and 2) Case prep as if you have the interview.

Good luck!

Hi Knut, hang in there! You'll definitely hear back, a 5 year PhD start is indeed not helping here. On the good news, you have 5 more years to try again ;-) Warm regards, Frederic