Is it okay to follow up after an early rejection?

Question

Hello, I recently applied to a Tier 2 consulting firm in Riyadh (for a generalist consultant role) and just received a rejection about a month after submitting my application. The rejection came before I progressed to interviews or the psychometric assessment, which surprised me. I have strategy consulting experience, come from a target school, and thought my application (incl. resume + cover letter) was strong.

Because of that, I didn’t seek any referrals. I felt confident my background would speak for itself. I'm currently in contact with a partner at the firm, and now I’m debating whether to reach out to express continued interest and ask for advice on whether there might still be a path forward or whether that might come off as overstepping or not respecting the formal process.

It’s also possible that the rejection was automated and the application didn’t make it through screening? I’d hate to miss a shot if there’s still a way in, but I also want to be respectful of boundaries and not make the wrong impression.

Would you advise reaching out to the partner, or just letting it go?

Answer 1

Hello
I am sorry for this disappointing and frustrating news! The market (esp. in the ME ) right now is getting tougher and so it is important to get those referrals, network and get to the top of the pile.

Having said that, what you could do to proceed is send a note to the partner sharing the update status on your application and ask if it would be possible to gain any insight on areas that you could improve on your profile for the future.

By approaching it like this the partner may investigate (depending on your rapport) which might come back with feedback (helpful), a new path to application (helpful) or nothing (not so helpful). But the key is asking in a way to keep things open and retain a strong professional relationship without seeming like you are trying to overstep the process.

Happy to discuss further on this strategy if that would be helpful.

Answer 2

If you are comfortable discussing this openly with the Partner, I would do it.

It's also possible that they decided to not review additional applications, so they gave an automatic reject to the remaining applications.

But they might've also assessed your applications and there were genuinly even stronger applications that they decided to prioritise.

So it's worth looking into it, as long as you probe respectfully.

And yes, referrals always help. I know it's not easy to get them, but if you want to control all the variables that you can influence, then this is clearly one of them.

Good luck!
Best,
Cristian

Answer 3

Hi there,

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to follow up, as long as you keep the tone polite and professional. A short message to the partner works well, something like:

"I recently received a rejection for the consultant role, which surprised me a bit given my background and interest in the firm. I completely understand if the process is closed, but I wanted to express my continued interest and would really value any quick advice you might have on how to strengthen my application for future opportunities."

This shows professionalism and genuine interest without questioning the decision. Even if the rejection was automated, reaching out thoughtfully can help you stay on their radar for the next cycle.

Answer 4

Hi there,

I think you can reach out to the Partner. It is okay to share openly about your situation, and ask for advice on what you should do next. Don't push for jumping the formal process, though.

If the Partner sees that you actually deserve a shot at interview, he/she might offer to help you check internally. Even if it is not possible, he/she might be able to give you some advice / feedback that could be useful in the future application. Just make sure that you don't ask anything that might put them at an awkward spot, share your situation and see what they have to say.

Best,

Emily

Answer 5

hey there :)

You should definitely reach out. Early rejections are often automated or done very quickly, and strong profiles can slip through the cracks. Since you already have a connection with a partner, a short, polite note expressing continued interest and asking for guidance won’t come off as overstepping. Frame it as seeking advice rather than requesting an override, and you’ll keep it professional while keeping the door open.

best, Alessa :)

Answer 6

Hi there,

It’s completely fine to follow up after an early rejection not to contest, but to provide a brief and respectful note, asking for feedback on where you should focus on strengthening your profile for future applications.

Answer 7

You were rejected... I don't see any negative with following up with the partner:

Best case, you get some insights and a communication channel open for the next time you apply and a possible referral
Worst case, you get no answer.