Is this like being on waitlist?

Question

I was in the process for a SM position at an MBB and completed three partner-level rounds, two of which were case interviews. I felt that one case round went well, while the other was average-I know I could have done better there. My last round took place around March 20.

Since then, I’ve been feeling a bit uncertain. However, I did follow up with HR and was initially told to wait a day because they were still discussing things internally. When I followed up again a week later, I was again asked to wait for a day, as they were apparently wrapping up the process and still had a few more candidates to evaluate before aligning internally and confirming the outcome.

It’s now been another week since that last update, so I’m wondering what to make of the situation. Does this usually mean I might be on a waitlist while they see if they find a stronger candidate? My assumption is that if it were a clear rejection, I would likely have been informed by now.

Do you think I should still remain hopeful, or is it better to accept the uncertainty, move on, and not read too much into the delay?

Answer 1

I hear you; it can be very frustrating, especially at that stage

Given your seniority,the dynamic is quite different from more junior roles. For SM positions, they’re usually hiring for one or a very limited number of spots.So instead of having a fixed bar where everyone above it gets an offer,they are actively comparing candidates and selecting the best overall fit.

The fact that they haven’t rejected you yet is definitely a positive signal In most cases, if it were a clear “no,” you would have heard back already. So something is still moving on their side.

My guess is that they have a pool of candidates they want to evaluate before making a final decision, and some of those processes might be slightly delayed for example, interviews being rescheduled or pushed. It’s less likely, but it could also be internal alignment taking longer than expected.

Overall, I don’t think you’re on a waitlist in a negative sense; you’re still actively in the running.If I were you, I’d give it a bit more time and try not to overthink it. You’ve done your part; now the decision is in the hands of the partners, and they will get back to you once they’ve aligned internally

Good luck and keep us posted!
Franco

Answer 2

Hi,

I can imagine the frustration caused by the delay, it can be nerve-wracking and throwing your plans into jeopardy.

Having said that, MBB firms will almost always come back to you with the decision. Most often, the delay is because Partners are travelling or they just got caught up with other urgent priorities etc.

Regarding MBB recruiting in general, the idea is that it is usually always an absolute bar (at least in theory), not a relative bar. That means if 3 candidates all cross the absolute bar, then all three would be made an offer (at least on the generalist tracks etc.). Now of course, one needs to factor for human biases, market conditions etc., but at least on paper that is the recruiting philosophy at MBB.

Hope that gives some perspective. It is perfectly acceptable for you to follow-up with HR, don't feel awkward about it.

Fingers crossed and wishing you the best!

Best,
Jimmy

Answer 3

In my experience, there are a couple of things to consider here:

For senior roles, headcount is usually much more limited and the process works a bit differently than for junior positions. It is possible that they are still progressing with other candidates. At the same time, if they really like more than one profile, firms can sometimes try to hire multiple people, but this usually requires additional internal approvals since those roles may not have been originally planned or approved.
At the senior level, you are typically interviewed by very senior people (APs/Principals/Partners). Their schedules tend to be extremely busy, and coordinating a joint debrief can sometimes be difficult. This is especially true if there are different views on candidates and they need to align internally. For senior hiring, these debrief discussions are quite common.

In my personal experience, I have seen debriefs take more than three weeks simply because it was difficult to align calendars, particularly when partners are travelling frequently for client work. In any case, recruiting usually pushes internally to make sure those conversations happen.

My advice would be to stay in touch with recruiting, but without being overly persistent. A follow-up every two to three weeks is perfectly reasonable.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

hey there :)

this is very typical for senior roles at MBB and your read is directionally right, it often means you are in a “hold” or soft waitlist while they calibrate across candidates and hiring needs rather than a clear no, especially since partners are involved and alignment takes time; if it were a strong reject you would almost always know faster, so overall it’s still a positive signal but I would mentally move on and keep momentum elsewhere while staying politely engaged with HR, that’s the best balance here and you’re definitely still in the game

best,
Alessa :)