When do you hear back from McKinsey first round interviews?

Question

I’ve picked one of the earliest dates for McKinsey’s first round interviews and was wondering how long I’ll have to wait to hear back to see whether I’ve got to the next round? Is it likely that I‘ll have to wait until they’ve finished interviewing everyone (>1 week after my interview) or can I expect to hear back sooner? Do those who are unsuccessful hear back sooner/later than those who are successful?

Answer 1

Hi there,

1) I’ve picked one of the earliest dates for McKinsey’s first round interviews and was wondering how long I’ll have to wait to hear back to see whether I’ve got to the next round?

It might range from a day to a few weeks.

If you don't hear from them within one week after the interview date, it is fine to follow up with HR.

2) Do those who are unsuccessful hear back sooner/later than those who are successful?

Usually you hear back earlier if you are successful, although there are exceptions.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 2

Hi there, congrats for making it among the top 1% already! Candidates are evaluated on a standalone basis hence should not take till the end of first round. Best of luck! Frederic

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with McKinsey thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, the timeline for hearing back after first-round interviews can vary, but typically, McKinsey strives to provide feedback within a few days to a week. This is to ensure a good candidate experience and keep the recruiting process moving efficiently.
Moreover, I would advise you to reach out to the recruiter if you haven't heard back within two weeks. It's entirely appropriate to ask for an update on your application status.
Lastly, there is no hard and fast rule about whether successful or unsuccessful candidates hear back sooner. The timing of the response may depend on a variety of factors including the number of interviews conducted, the availability of the interviewers to debrief, and the internal processes of the McKinsey office you applied to.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 4

Hi there,

Generally a few days to a few weeks.

If you are recruiting through a school channel and on a timeline with a cohort then the process should be quite fast.

1 week is not yet a cause for concern (BUT, never rely on just one firm! Keep the applications coming)

Answer 5

Hey there,

Well done getting to and through the interviews!

Unless you're part of campus recruiting, you won't be ‘processed’ with others. Also, you won't be compared with others since everyone has to clear an absolute bar and gets an offer if they do.

As for your question regarding timeline, this could take anywhere from a day to a month of more. We get this question a lot in this Q&A and it would take a magic crystal ball to predict.

Hang in there, the (hopefully good) news will come eventually!

Best of luck!
Moritz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> Need a senior McKinsey coach? See my profile in a nutshell
>> Need real McKinsey cases? See two real examples with Zero Carbon Mine (hard) & Car Convenience (Intermediate + brand new)

Answer 6

Hi!

There's no set structure.

I know you'd feel better if I told you there was, but there isn't.

Realistically this differs a lot from office to office.

HR is trying to streamline it and make it more predictable, but it's still quite random in some situations.

From my point of view, you should always see the recruitment process like a portfolio of applications that you're trying to advance at the same time. Your objective is to get better everyday regardless of the upcoming deadlines.

So try to make the most of your preparation and when possible, if you don't feel ready, try to push the interviews. That's the only thing that's actually in your control.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 7

Hey there,

Great job making it through those interviews!

When to expect the news? well, it's a bit of a mystery. It could happen in a day, or it might take a month or more. We get that question a lot, but unfortunately, there's no magic crystal ball to give a precise answer.

Also if you're not part of the campus recruiting process, your assessment won't involve comparing you to other candidates. Instead, it's all about meeting a specific performance standard, and if you do, you'll get an offer.

Hang in there, and hopefully, the good news will find its way to you soon!

Cheers,