Recruiter Won't tell me Solve results or give feedback McKinsey?

Question

Took the Solve test one month back only to get no results and a vague rejection email?

1. The Solve test link was after CV screening and not sent randomly, also was office specific, for 1 of the 3 I applied to as the coordinator confirmed.

2. I did good enough on the test acc to me, and even if I did not, surely they would not hesitate to tell me that?

Even after much insistance they won't give me any results as to whether I failed or passed? They simply encouraged me to apply again and said they're impressed by my profile? Please help me understand this. At this point I don't even care I did not get the interview I have competing offers ongoing why can't they just tell me the tests result?

Weird much?

Thank you in advance

Answer 1

Hi there,

Totally understood your frustration caused by the unclear results from recruiters. It would be helpful to see the response you received to know whether it was rejected or passed. But from what you mentioned (i.e., "encouraged me to apply again"), my guess is the result was a reject.

The level of subtleness varies for a typical rejection email, example here. If you could share the specific response you got after attempting to clarify, then I can see if more ambiguity there or anything else you could try to confirm.

Best,

Han

Answer 2

Hi there,

I can understand your frustration, but unfortunately, McKinsey (and other consulting firms) often don’t provide detailed feedback on the Solve test or the reasons behind their decisions. Here’s why:

Confidentiality of Assessments: The Solve test is part of McKinsey’s standardized process, and they prefer not to share individual results to maintain the integrity of their evaluation process.
Encouraging Future Applications: They may be impressed with your overall profile but not have seen enough from your Solve test performance to move forward. Sometimes they prefer to encourage candidates to apply again in the future, especially if they see potential.
Lack of Detailed Feedback: Firms like McKinsey typically only provide specific feedback to candidates who progress to interviews, as the volume of applications is too large for them to give detailed feedback at every stage.

While it’s definitely frustrating, try not to take it personally. You’re clearly a strong candidate with competing offers, so keep focusing on your other opportunities and learn from this experience for the future!

Good luck with your ongoing offers – feel free to reach out if you need further advice!

Answer 3

Hey!

It’s frustrating, but McKinsey typically doesn’t share Solve test results or feedback due to their internal policies and confidentiality. Their encouragement to reapply is a positive sign—they likely see potential but might have had stronger candidates this time. Focus on strengthening your application and interview prep for future opportunities. Don’t overthink the rejection—it’s often about fit or competition, not just the test result!

Alessa

Answer 4

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection from McKinsey!

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

First of all, it’s common for McKinsey and other consulting firms not to share detailed feedback or pre-interview assessment results due to standardized procedures.
Moreover, and contrary to what other coaches have said, the wording they used is most likely the standard rejection email and does not mean anything.
Lastly, I would advise you to focus on your competing offers rather than overthinking this outcome.

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