McKinsey Application Query

That email is the standard McKinsey HR language when your application lands outside the main recruitment funnel—it’s polite, but it requires decoding.

Here is the reality: When you apply after the campus deadline (Oct 13), those slots for the full-time Business Analyst role are functionally full. The recruitment machine relies heavily on strict headcount planning. Being "screened across all offices" is essentially a blind review process that happens when internal slots unexpectedly open, but the odds of that happening for a generalist BA role in London right now are astronomically low. You are no longer competing for the campus cohort slots; you are competing against the entire general population for attrition backfill, which is a far harder filter.

Given the mandatory 12-month cooldown period for the Solve, you must treat this attempt like gold. Strategically, you absolutely should not complete the Solve now. If you take it today, and the application is subsequently filtered out in January due to the filled headcount, you will have wasted your single best tool on an application with a near-zero success probability.

Preserve that opportunity. Wait until the next primary BA recruitment cycle opens in September 2026, where the firm is actively hiring thousands of people. By then, you will have ample time to prepare specifically for the Solve and associate your high-stakes attempt with an application that is genuinely tied to available headcount.

Hope it helps!

hey there :)

Short answer yes you should still complete the Solve now. The invitation means they see potential and Solve results are valid and can be reused internally, so skipping it would only limit your chances. Even if London BA is closed, strong Solve performance can still get you considered for upcoming roles or other offices, and waiting until September does not give you an advantage. If you prepare properly and feel ready, doing it now is the better move. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat through timing or prep.

best,
Alessa :)

The way I understand this email is that you should complete your application (i.e., do Solve) because even though the London office will not be able to take you, they will forward your application to the next relevant office. 

I don't think you can choose not to do Solve and just do it later, because your application is ongoing. And not completing the application might lead to an automatic rejection which would set off the 1 year ban. 

If I were you, I'd clarify this directly with the recruiter. And if they don't answer, then follow the approach I lined out above. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

Yes, you should still complete the Solve assessment now. McKinsey only invites candidates to Solve if they are still being actively considered, even if the role or timing is uncertain. Your result is typically valid for the current cycle and future reviews within a defined period, so completing it now does not usually disadvantage you for the next application window.

Waiting until September is risky because you may not receive another Solve invite, and declining or ignoring the current one can effectively pause your application. Treat this as part of the screening process already underway and focus on performing well.

Best,
Evelina

Hi there,

You can still fill it out now as the results hold for ~1 year.

They invited you to take the Solve. That means your application is live and being considered. The email says they will screen your profile across all offices and contact you if something fits. That is not a rejection. It is a "let us see what we can do."

The risk of waiting: if you do not complete the assessment, your application goes nowhere. You are essentially withdrawing yourself. And there is no guarantee the next cycle in September will be easier or that your profile will be stronger then.

The risk of taking it now: you use your one attempt for the year. If nothing comes of this cycle, you cannot reapply until next year anyway.

My advice: take it now. You are already in the system. Give yourself the chance. If your profile is strong and you do well on Solve, they might find a spot for you, whether in London or another office. If it does not work out, you will have gone through the process once and will be sharper for the next round.

Waiting for a "perfect" cycle is usually a trap. Take your shot when you have one.