I was told after my rejection on the phone, that I was applicable, due to strong performance, to be admitted in the "keep in touch program" and that after 3 months I would only do interviews again.
Cooldown has passed, I sent email to the recruiter, but no answer as of yet . Do I have to reapply from zero? Does anyone know the process?
My weakness was PEI, so they said they gave me time to improve my preparation and re I reviewed with them?
Hi Niko,
The “keep in touch” outcome is generally positive and usually means you don’t need to restart completely from zero, but the process is still recruiter-led rather than automatic. In most cases, candidates are reactivated by the recruiter once the agreed cooldown or development period has passed, rather than submitting a brand-new application online.
That said, things can move slowly, and recruiters manage many candidates. If you haven’t heard back yet, it doesn’t mean the option is gone. It’s reasonable to send a polite follow-up after a couple of weeks, briefly reiterating that the cooldown has passed, that you’ve worked specifically on your PEI weakness, and that you’re keen to re-enter interviews as discussed.
If you don’t get a response after one or two follow-ups, you may eventually be asked to reapply formally, but even then your previous strong performance and “keep in touch” status are typically visible internally. The interviews would usually focus again on PEI, as that was the identified gap.
The key is to be proactive but patient, and to clearly signal that you’ve addressed the feedback - happy to help!
Best,
Evelina
Hi Nikos,
I was originally turned town for a McK role before I received an offer. Understanding that there are a lot of candidates - I wouldn't hesitate to reach out again in a month if you haven't heard anything. Recruiters have a lot of their plates - and hopefully they will clarify shortly.
In the mean time - PEI practice is something that you may be able to improve rather easily. Many candidates put considerably less time into PEI vs cases, and you should be able to be well prepared for the next round!
Tommy
The Keep in Touch program is real and it's a good sign they offered it to you. It means you were close to the bar and they saw potential.
Typically, how it works is you skip the Solve and go straight back to interviews after the cooldown period. But the exact process varies by office and recruiter. Some offices are more structured about it than others.
On not hearing back, recruiters are often slow to respond, especially if they're busy with current recruiting cycles. Don't assume silence means rejection. Give it a few more days, then follow up again.
This is what I'd recommend:
Send a polite follow-up if it's been more than a week. Keep it short. Something like: "Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my earlier email about the Keep in Touch program. I completed my cooldown period and would love to discuss next steps. Please let me know if there's anything you need from my side."
If you still hear nothing after another week, try reaching out to a different contact at the office. Sometimes emails get lost or recruiters change roles.
Don't reapply from zero unless they tell you to. If you were admitted to the program, you should be in their system. Reapplying fresh might actually complicate things.
On your PEI weakness, use this time well. Prepare 3-4 strong stories covering leadership, influence, conflict, and personal impact. Practice them until they're tight and natural. Get feedback from others. McKinsey PEI digs deep, so make sure you can answer follow-up questions without stumbling.
You were close once. With stronger PEI prep, you have a real shot this time.
Good luck.
Hey Nikos!
That's a positive sign!
Let me know if you want to practice PEI! That is a quick fix!
Alessa
It is completely understandable why you are stressed about the silence after being given that internal lifeline. That "Keep in Touch" designation is genuinely a strong positive signal—it means you were analytically clear, which is the higher hurdle for many candidates. They are telling you that your brain is ready for the work; they just needed to see more evidence of leadership, influence, and resilience (the core PEI markers).
Here is the reality of how these programs function: While your profile is flagged internally for an expedited timeline, you are still relying on a recruiter to manually track and pull you back into a live cycle. Recruiters are typically buried focusing on current, high-volume application waves, meaning those on the "warm bench" sometimes get attention only when the pipeline needs an immediate top-up or when the recruiter finally clears their inbox. Do not take the silence personally; it is an administrative bottleneck, not a rejection.
You generally do not need to start from zero. The goal is simply to force the system to recognize you. If you get no response after one more polite, professional follow-up email (sent 5-7 days after the first one), your best strategy is to re-submit a formal application online. In the cover letter section or wherever appropriate, briefly reference your previous cycle, the recruiter's name, and the specific KIT invitation you received. This action bypasses the recruiter bottleneck and forces the system to flag your existing file, prompting someone to manually review the "warm" status and trigger the promised interview.
Crucially, whether they call you back automatically or you force the application through, your focus must be 100% on the PEI. If they explicitly told you that was the weakness, you must demonstrate real, measurable growth in the intervening months. This isn't just about polishing old stories; it's about developing new, high-stakes examples that directly address influence, team conflict, and personal failure.
Hope this helps clarify the next steps!
Hi Nikos,
I wouldn't reapply from scratch if you have this email from them confirming you can go straight to the interviews.
I would recommend instead that you follow up with the interview, try and find them on LinkedIn and ask, or speak with somebody from McKinsey and ask them to put them in touch with the recruiter.
Sometimes recruiters take a long time to respond to messages because they are inundated with lots of candidate emails. But persevere, and it should all work out fine.
Best,
Cristian
Hi there,
If they've said that they'll keep you in the keep in touch program, then I suggest you waiting for a bit before reaching out to HR again to follow up. You shouldn't have to start from zero again.
KIT is often next year but if you were told to KIT with just 3 months, just apply and let them know which you applied to?
Otherwise, not sure how else you can make it easier on recruiting team
