HR asked me for a call after McK round 1 interviews

Hi there,

I know the waiting is nerve-wracking, but try not to read too much into that email - the wording genuinely doesn't point either way, and there are a few reasons to lean optimistic.

The most useful pattern to know: rejections at this stage are almost always delivered by a short email, not a scheduled call. Firms don't usually book a live conversation just to say no - it's more effort for them and serves no purpose. A call is far more often used for something that needs a conversation: walking you through next steps and second-round scheduling, discussing a logistical or timeline change, or an offer/ advance-to-next-round discussion. The "apologies for the delay" line also reads more like ordinary scheduling friction than anything ominous.

So the realistic interpretations skew neutral-to-positive. Don't over-analyse the brevity! recruiters write these quickly and rarely signal outcomes in a one-line scheduling note.

Two practical things for tomorrow. First, go in calm and constructive, and be ready to talk about both process/ availability and, if it comes up, your continued interest. Have your calendar open in case they want to schedule a next round on the spot. Second, whatever the news, treat it as a normal professional call - if it's an advance, you'll want to sound composed and ready; if it's feedback, you'll want to receive it well, since QuantumBlack/ McKinsey candidates sometimes reapply.

Net: a scheduled call after round one is more commonly a next-steps or logistics conversation than a rejection, which typically arrives by email. Hope you got a good night's sleep and go in open.

Best,

Leo

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with McKinsey thus far!

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

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, rejections are not communicated by email in general, but it depends on the stage in the application process. If you have never met an interviewer, both rejections and passes will be communicated by email; in all other cases, it will always be a phone or video call. Therefore, I would not read anything into it and just wait for the conversation.
• Moreover, I would advise you to go into the call prepared for the positive case, because that is where you can lose something. Have your availability for the next weeks ready and be able to say something about your preferred location and possible start date, if asked. And if it does turn out to be a rejection, use the call to ask directly about the reasons.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming final-round McKinsey interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi,

In general rejections are communicated by email, so I would not interpret the call as a negative sign.

It could also be that HR simply wants to discuss next steps or explain a logistical change in the process. 

In any case, try not to overthink the wording of the email. Go into the call open and constructive, and be ready to discuss both the process and your availability.

Good luck with the call.
Franco

Hi,

To be honest it is difficult to read the situation with certainty. It could be either: a call to confirm you are moving to the next round, or equally a call out of courtesy to tell you the process ends here, which is what good etiquette would suggest.

Fingers crossed in any case!

Federico

An HR call request after Round 1 is actually more often good news than bad.

McKinsey and QuantumBlack recruiters frequently schedule short calls to inform candidates they passed, outline expectations for Round 2, or arrange interview dates. Rejections are usually delivered via email template rather than a pre-scheduled phone call.

Even if they share constructive feedback on the call, it often comes with a invitation to advance or a clear next step. Take the call with confidence, keep your calendar ready for Round 2 scheduling, and ask for specific feedback on your case and technical performance.