Rejected before the interview - McKinsey

Could be a mix of things, honestly. Firms rarely reject on one single factor — it's usually a combination of business needs, profile fit, and application timing.

1. Solve score + CV combo is definitely part of it — if either was borderline, that can tip the scale.
2. PhD timing/position mismatch might also play a role. In some European offices (e.g., DACH), PhDs are hired directly as Consultants or Associates. But in London, PhDs are still typically slotted into BA/AC roles, so that wouldn’t automatically disqualify you.

Also worth considering: sometimes firms are trying to rebalance intake based on client demand (e.g., healthcare-heavy pipeline → more life sciences profiles), or even diversity targets across different dimensions. You may just not have matched what they were optimizing for this round.

As for your CV — don’t discount your PhD experience. But make sure you're framing your research as problem-solving under ambiguity, not just academic depth. Highlight:

• Times you built frameworks or structured an unstructured problem
• Stakeholder management (collaborators, advisors, reviewers)
• Any measurable outcomes or decisions influenced
• Speed of learning and iteration

That said, I'd also strongly encourage gaining real world experience through contracting or freelance so that you can stand out among PhDs 

Final thought: rejections happen even to great candidates. It doesn’t mean your profile isn’t strong — it just means this round, at this firm, you didn’t fit what they were looking for right now. 

Personally I've been rejected dozens of times across various seniority levels by a variety of firms but that certainly didn't mean I couldn't later joined at a more senior level, as I did post-MBA.

Keep refining and reapplying. The door’s not closed. 

If you find it helpful, please upvote thanks!

Hi! Sorry to hear that, but from my understanding of the BA position it is targeted at candidates with just a bachelor's degree (so no master's and certainly no PhD). So I think you probably got rejected because of that. If I were you, I'd reach out to recruiting to confirm, and then apply for their regular Associate position. Good luck!

Hi! I’m redirecting you to an article on the McKinsey website and would highly recommend checking out their blog to read stories of people who might have a similar background and still got into the firm. 
https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/meet-our-people/careers-blog/antoine

Based on the following link, it looks like you are better suited to the Associate position. It doesn’t mention any specific work experience requirement for PhD candidates but if you have any doubts, it is worth speaking with the recruiter. 

https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/students/advanced-professional-degree-candidates/all-schools

Rejection is often a result of lack of fit with the applied role in some way (positive or negative) - so if you are better suited to a more senior position, that could be a reason! 

Hi there,

It's likely to be a mix of reasons, but I highly suggest you reaching out to ask the HR to really get an answer. Everything else is just conjecture that may not be as useful for you to make decisions upon.