Question: If you were in my position, what would you do next (besides continuing to apply elsewhere)? Have you seen a situation like this before, and what does it usually indicate internally?
Background
I applied through the experienced hire track for an Associate position (pre-EM equivalent) at a T2 consulting firm’s Bangkok office.
The recruitment process took about two months and consisted of four interviews, with the final round being with the Bangkok Office Head/Partner.
Overall, I felt the interviews went well.
Timeline after the final interview
- Final interview (June 3): HR told me that the four interviewers would first reach a consensus on the hiring decision. If successful, they would then proceed with the formal approval process before making an offer.
- Week 1: HR said the partner was on leave due to a personal matter, with no confirmed return date.
- Weeks 2–3: I followed up once a week. Each time, I was told they were still waiting for the partner.
- June 29: HR informed me that the partner had returned and said she would follow up internally and provide me with an update that week.
- Last Friday: I sent a polite follow-up after giving them the week. No response.
- Today: I asked whether we could have a brief call. Still no response.
It has now been just over a month since my final interview, with no offer, no rejection, and no update.
My assumption has always been that if the answer were clearly “no,” the process would typically move much faster. That’s why I suspect something else may be happening internally, but I have no visibility into what.
For those who have been interviewers, recruiters, or hiring managers in consulting, how would you interpret this situation? What would you do next if you were in my shoes?
