Recruiter question

Question

Hello everyone I recently met with a partner at the McKinsey office in my city. On Tuesday, he let me know that he forwarded my resume and cover letter to recruiters at the firm. I haven’t heard back yet, so I’m wondering what is the typical timeline for next steps? Also, do recruiters make the decision to move someone forward for interviews, or does that rest with the partner? I’d be considered an experienced hire with about 8–9 years of professional experience, so I’m not sure how the recruitment process works for candidates like me. Any insight would be much appreciated

Answer 1

hello!

For experienced hires, the process can take a bit longer than for entry-level roles. It’s normal not to hear back for a week or even two. The recruiter usually drives the process from here, but the partner’s referral carries a lot of weight. The recruiter will assess fit and capacity before moving you to interviews, often in coordination with the relevant practice.

If you haven’t heard back after about 10 days, it’s totally fine to send a short and polite follow-up to the recruiter (or the partner, if they asked you to stay in touch).

Happy to help if you want help drafting a message!

Best,
Alessa :)

Answer 2

It can take a few weeks - it depends on the need for your expertise in the office you’d be applying to.

Recruiters will largely drive the process, but you can follow up with the Partner in a couple of weeks (Partner can push the recruiters internally if they are being slow).

Answer 3

Hi there,

After a partner referral, it can take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to hear back — sometimes longer depending on the office and pipeline. For experienced hires, the process can be less structured and take a bit more time.

Feel free to follow up with the partner or recruiter if you haven’t heard anything after 1 week. I had experiences with recruiters forgetting to follow up, so it's good to keep reminding them.

Best,
Evelina