McKinsey screening

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m coming from a target school and previously passed McKinsey’s screening process about four years ago, shortly after graduating. However, I failed interviews.

I have since been working in consulting, but I quit my consulting job about four months ago for personal reasons. I applied to McKinsey's junior associate role, this time with a stronger brand on my CV, about two weeks ago.

What surprised me is that I still haven’t received either a rejection email or an invitation to take the McKinsey Solve/game. I’m not sure how to interpret this.

Should I take the lack of communication as a rejection, or is it normal for the process to take this long?

For context, when I applied four years ago, I was invited to take the game the day after submitting my application, and I received the interview invitation about a week after completing the game.

I would appreciate any insight on this, McKinsey is my target company and I have been working hard on cases to give myself the best chance to try again.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

I would not read the silence as a rejection, since there is no real fixed interval between the application and the Solve invite.
As you are past 10 days, a short note to the recruiting team is appropriate, just ask politely about the status of your application.

Let me know, and good luck.

Best,
Franco

Answer 2

Hey there :)

I wouldn’t interpret two weeks of silence as a rejection yet. McKinsey’s timelines can vary quite a bit depending on the office, hiring needs and application volume, so the fact that you heard back much faster four years ago isn’t necessarily meaningful.

Given your stronger consulting experience and CV, I’d stay patient and keep preparing as you’re doing. If you still haven’t heard anything after another week or two, a short, polite follow up with recruiting is completely reasonable.

Best, Alessa :)

Answer 3

I can recommend to check the timing stated on the website or the confirmation mail. Usually they are very clear on when you can expect to hear back. Maybe your application last time has been closer to a deadline than this time so it might take a longer time.

From my perspective, one more station might not change your whole situation for them. Whats usually important is the full picture of you as a person, development, positioning, outlook etc...

Answer 4

McKinsey is your target company but there's a 99% chance you're not theirs.

You should interpret this as: the most prestigious consulting firm in the world will sometimes invite you to interview, sometimes not...and you should not focus all your energy on just them.

Don't compare this process to four years ago. Processes change.

I would not “assume” rejection just yet. But I would also not assume acceptance.

At two weeks, feel free to reach out to HR for a status update.

Then hold two thoughts in your head:

Always assume that you don't have the interview...because you should be applying to tons of other firms.

Always assume that you do have the interview...because you should be case prepping as if the interview is tomorrow.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

McKinsey can absolutely be your target company. It just can't be your only process.

Answer 5

I wouldn't read into it.

Follow-up politely with recruitment and ask for an update on your application. I wouldn't interpret the temporary silence as feedback on your profile.

Hope you get good news soon!
Cristian