McKinsey application timeline

Question

Hello everyone, I wanted to check in about the McKinsey Riyadh Associate application timeline. I applied in mid-October (without referrals) and haven’t received any updates yet. I also reached out to the recruiting team but haven’t heard back, so I’m trying to understand whether this wait is normal, especially as we approach year-end.

If anyone has any insights into how the process usually works for the Riyadh office or the broader Middle East region, I’d appreciate it. Is it typical to wait over a month before hearing anything or receiving the Solve assessment? And is it still realistic to hear back this year, or do applications submitted around this time usually get reviewed early next year?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi there,

It is not unusual that hearing back from submitting your application can take over a month. This depends heavily on office, and time of year.

The MBB firms receive a lot of application, a lot. Thus, from time to time, the recruiting teams are simply a bit overloaded with reviews. That said, I completely understand that waiting this long can get frustrating and perhaps even make one a bit nervous.

Here is my advice:

1. Try not to worry. It is almost unheard of that McKinsey does not get back to you - they will respond.

2. Depending on when you reached out to the recruiting team, there is nothing wrong with following up. Give it at least 1 week, but if you haven't heard back by then, I'd suggest you send a friendly and polite follow-up where you highlight how excited you are to hopefully initiate your process.

Hope this helps - I'm rooting for you!

PS: If you need any guidance or support once your interview process starts, feel free to reach out.

Sincerely,
Thor

Answer 2

I'm sorry to hear you haven't heard back yet. Great though that you've already contacted the recruiter about an update.

This is absolutely normal. Sometimes it takes longer. Even when you are rejected, you get an email about it, so for now, no news is good news.

Hope you hear back from them soon. In the meantime, focus on developing other applications.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 3

Hi there,

It’s pretty normal for McKinsey Middle East to move slowly, especially toward year-end when hiring teams are juggling budgets and headcount planning. If your profile is a fit, you can still receive the Solve assessment later. For now, I’d expect the next real movement to happen either in December or early January, so you’re still in a reasonable timeline.

Answer 4

hey there :)

Yes, waiting over a month is pretty normal, especially for Middle East offices, they often have fewer slots and slower internal routing. Applications from mid-October can still be reviewed before year-end, but some do spill into early next year. The Solve assessment usually comes only after your resume is screened, so it’s not unusual to have a quiet period. Staying patient and gently following up once more in a few weeks is fine.

best, Alessa :)