McKinsey QB: Still in “calibration” after final decision window — offer or backup?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on going through the entire application process with McKinsey QuantumBlack!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, I would strongly advise you not to read anything into this. They simply informed you that they need more time to evaluate all the candidates. However, this does not mean that you are a backup.
• Moreover, I would advise you to take the offer and join the HR Zoom session. It won’t influence your outcome directly, but it helps build rapport and you might learn more about the timeline or expectations.
• Lastly, I would strongly advise you to keep your options open in the meantime. Until you have a written offer, it’s best to assume nothing is final.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello there,

That’s a genuine message, interviewers have to get a consensus regarding the outcome, and sometimes there are other candidates in the pipeline, which leads to an extended period of evaluation.

Fingers crossed!

Best,

Mari

Hey, 

This kind of message usually means you're in a “maybe” zone, not a rejection, but not a clear yes yet either. It’s not uncommon, especially for competitive programs like QB Immersion, that they wait to finalize offers after seeing how many top choices accept. So yes, it can mean you're being kept warm as a strong backup, but it could also just be genuine alignment delays, especially if the office or team is still calibrating across candidates.

The optional HR chat is actually a good sign, it shows they’re keeping you engaged, which they wouldn’t do if they were closing things out. Just stay warm and curious in any follow-up, it can only help.

Best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

Q: Does this suggest I’m a backup candidate being kept warm, or is the decision genuinely still pending?

This most likely means they have to complete the process with other candidates, not that you are a backup. 

Good luck!

Francesco

No, this just means they are late on their process and are unable to release the decisions.

As other coaches have said, this is a genuine message which means they’re still interviewing / collating feedback. You’ll hear soon.

Best of luck! 

It could mean both, but certainly that the decision is pending. 

It often takes a lot longer than they initially estimated. I know it's frustrating - I also waited for about 10 days after my final interview and they felt endless. 

I hope you'll hear back soon from them!
Best,
Cristian