BCG final round done, positive signals but no update

Hi,

Waiting for the result is arguably the most annoying part of the interview process, and we've all gone through it, so hang in there. 

Used to be from BCG here, so I can share some perspective

• It is not uncommon to have delays - processes can lapse, people may be busy etc
• You do not know whether or not they are interviewing other people but most of the time, yes competitive positions will interview multiple candidates
• Assume its a rejection when you get an official note or email saying its a rejection

In terms of next steps, I would suggest to wait a few more days and politely follow up again. 

I talk about this and more in my article:

Haven't Heard Back After Your Interview? Here's What To Do!

This is a stressful spot to be in—you performed well, you got the positive signals, and now you’re stuck in the silence. It sucks, especially when you hit the deadline they promised.

Here is the reality behind the curtain: for new functional roles, especially those supporting a global mandate like a Research Manager in a newly formed India team, this level of delay is unfortunately very common. Your timeline anxiety is colliding with bureaucratic reality. The junior HR team likely gave you the Jan 20th date based on an ideal scenario, but the actual decision requires senior budgetary sign-off and internal alignment from several Partners or Managing Directors—people who are notoriously difficult to pin down. The delay is almost certainly due to calendar congestion at the Partner level and securing the final approval for the two headcount slots, not necessarily because they are ranking you against fifty other candidates.

You should not assume rejection yet. If you were a clean rejection, HR would typically send that note quickly to close the loop. The fact that they are consistently postponing your update suggests they are waiting on a critical internal input. They are likely down to their final ranked slate of candidates and are just waiting for the executive committee or Partner group to officially rubber-stamp the offer letters.

For your next steps, give them one full week (until the end of next week) without contact. After that, send a single, extremely professional follow-up email to the senior recruiter. Do not ask for the decision; simply ask for confirmation of the updated process timeline, something like: "I appreciate you managing this process. I was hoping you could clarify the expected decision timeline for the Research Manager role, given the new team setup, so I can plan accordingly." In the meantime, the best thing you can do for your sanity and leverage is to mentally pivot and move forward aggressively on your other pipelines.

All the best.

Hi!

First of all, congratulations on going through the multiple rounds of interviews. Understand the anxiety while waiting for the final decision/ offer; we've all been through it. From what you shared, it sounds positive! Here are some thoughts on your questions:

• Delay is not uncommon, and based on the timeline, it's only been slightly more than a week; sometimes the approver/hiring team is away, or things get busy
• Internal approvals or interviewing other candidates are plausible, and they might also be interviewing candidates for different roles and positions they are trying to fill. All these processes need deliberation, and it takes time
• I would not assume a rejection until you've been officially notified of a rejection
• I would suggest following up again if you haven't heard anything by Friday noon

All the best! 

Don't assume a rejection and don't despair, though I know how difficult this must feel. Sometimes, basically, it just takes a while until they decide. 

Most often, it's because somebody who is involved in the decision-making process is missing, sick, on PTO, etc. 

But they will get back to you. And it sounds like they know they are owing you a decision.

Best,
Cristian 

hey there :)

Yes, delays like this are normal, especially for new team setups, internal approvals or budget discussions often take longer than expected. Positive signals usually mean you’re still in the running, so wait a bit longer before following up again, but also keep exploring other options in parallel.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

They said they would get back to you on Jan 20, and it's only been 1-2 days past the deadline, so it's not excruciatingly long yet. My suggestion is to stay patient - you are not the only task on their long list of priorities. Reach out again in 1-2 weeks.