Hi There,
I just heard back from McKinsey after my final rounds interviews. The feedback I was given is great PEI, inconsistent case, fitting profile.
And, as such, the Partner & Managing Partner are going to organize for a 6-month ban and invited reapplication(?).
I understood, from an alumnus, that this means a ticket to final round interviews - but 6 months is highly unusual. Is this true?
Hello,
In my experience this is somewhat unusual. My guess would be that they are interested in hiring you, but for whatever reason they are not able to do so this time round (e.g. perhaps there were too few openings at the office you applied for). I would recommend to seek advice from other alumni and experts to see if anyone has had a similar experience, and then to treat the re-application process as if you were interviewing for the first time (i.e. prepare as much as you can, don't assume that you are guaranteed a final round interview). Even if you think it means a ticket to the final round, you never know what the conditions will be like in the next recruiting cycle (how many other applicants, how qualified they are, etc.), so I would never take this as a given.
Also, if you intend to reapply, be sure to be on top of when your ban ends and when they are supposed to send you this re-application. Consultants have a lot going on, so if it takes them 7+ months to get back to you, I would suggest politely reaching out. Having this set-information in writing (an email from the partner or managing partner) could also be helpful for this.
Best of luck!
Hi there,
Yes, a 6-month ban is uncommon, however I heard that before in MBB if your performance was strong in the final.
I would say is the best “worst” outcome ;) 6 months is not that long.
On the other hand, I agree with Sofia that it makes sense to keep options open. You can use the 6 months to network and apply also to other consulting firms, so that you have a backup option in case the new interview doesn’t work out.
Best,
Francesco
Hey there,
This can happen if you demonstrate excellence across several dimensions in both case and PEI, yet show some weaknesses that you should work on and that the interviewers think can be ironed out in a short amount of time.
This is the best case outcome if you fail the interviews.
Now going forward
All the best,
Florian
Hi there,
This is honestly the best you could ever hope for in terms of a rejection - they think you're good enough to invite back!
I would not say it's a gaurenteed final round…I wouldn't be surprised if you interview again in the first round.
You should absolutely re-apply in 6 months and reach out to them when you do (to ensure you get past the screening).
In the meantime, work on your casing AND find other things to do!
