Recruiting during the ''winter'' season

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the long waiting time. In terms of your questions:

1) Am I still have a chance?

It doesn’t look promising but until you get a formal rejection you may still have a chance. You can try to call HR to get feedback.

2) Should I just give up consulting given the current economy/situation? 

It depends on what it means to give up and what is the opportunity cost. 

In theory if you are rejected you have to wait with most firms for 12-18 months. So if you would apply after that as an alternative, you could well apply now and worst case apply again then. 

At the same time, I would recommend to apply via referrals so that the person in the firm can let you know in advance if they are in a hiring freeze – in that case I would recommend to wait.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi,

hard to answer without other details about your situation (e.g. do you have a constant cash-flow that allows you to wait or are you pressured?) - nevertheless

SCENARIO #1 - you can wait (e.g. no MBA debt …). I would suggest

1)  No regret move #1: keep perfecting case + FIT also via talking with people at your target firms. This will really set you apart vs. other candidates and will maximize your future conversion rate

2) No regret move #2: keep interacting with your referrals/ contacts at target firm to have indications on when best to submit your CV vs. potential “freezes”, not to waste your “shot” at the various target consulting firms  

SCENARIO #2 - you cannot wait (e.g. no job, financials needs…) 

Just follow Benjamins' suggestion

Good luck - rooting for you here

Hello,

It is true that recruiting is a lot slower now, but firms are still hiring. If you have been invited to an interview, it's safe to assume that there is actually a position your are seriously being considered for at the firm - else they wouldn't waste their time and resources interviewing you. So there's no reason to give up on recruiting completely, if you want a consulting job right now.

Regarding your interview outcome, try to follow up with HR by calling a recruiter directly. 2 months is long enough where you can follow up, but there's no reason to assume you've been rejected until you hear from them directly.

Best of luck!

Hi,

So there are 2 key questions you are asking:

1. Do you still have a chance in your interview process

• Unfortunately, this is something that only the firms themselves can tell you, and none of us here can give you the true answer
• We can advise you on certain steps e.g.
  • Continue following up with HR
  • Leverage contacts/network within the firm to help follow-up and get an insider POV on your application status
• There may be multiple reasons why you have not heard back yet, but until the firm has definitively sent you an outcome email (either reject or pass/offer), its all speculation

2. Should I give up consulting given the current situation

• This is something that you can decide by yourself
• While it is harder to recruit at this moment, it does not mean it is impossible
• This is of course a personal decision based on opportunity cost and your level of motivation, but my take on this is - what's the harm in trying until you really expend all opportunities/paths?

All the best!

Hi there,

Honestly, I would not give up. Companies are still hiring, just at a slower pace.

For this MBB firm, I would say your odds are low given what you have described.

Now, you can keep pushing ahead or pause (a few months), but I wouldn't completely give up.

Keep networking, double-check that your resume is strong, and keep your case prep (if you didn't pass 1st round, something is wrong). 

Also, make sure you're applying to lots and lots of firms (I applied to 30+).

Here's some reading to help as you do this (advice for internsip and fulltime is essentially the same):

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-get-a-consulting-internship-tips-and-tricks

Here's some reading for casing (I have a hunch you might not be casing right):

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Hi there, 

No, don't give up. 

These firms are still hiring, even though they're hiring fewer people. 

What you need is just a smart strategy to navigate this period. You can use the steps laid out in the guide below:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Dear candidate, if you are passionate about consulting, don't give up, but find the solutions , such practicing with peers, with coaches or on your own. You can also establish more referrals and practice full interview process from beginning to end and arrive with it. 

Best regards