I was interviewed for a specialist role in operations for McKinsey on start of April and later I got 2 calls asking details and even on second call they asked me if there is possibility of reducing the notice period. This all happened by mid of April and then it’s been a week with no sign or update?
Is it a rejection?
First of all, take a deep breath, this is definitely not a rejection.
Actually, them asking if you can reduce your notice period is a massive good news. HR and recruiters simply don't waste time discussing notice periods or onboarding logistics for candidates they want to reject. They are actively trying to figure out how quickly they can get you on the team.
So why the delay? You applied for a Specialist role. Unlike standard generalist roles (where the recruiting machine runs on very strict timelines), Specialist hiring is much more ad-hoc. It usually requires specific Partner approvals or final headcount sign-offs to move forward, and as you can imagine, getting Partners to review things can take weeks. A week of silence is totally normal in this scenario
Give it a few more days. If you hit the 10-14 day mark since that last call, just shoot your HR contact a quick, polite email asking for a status update
Hang in there, you are in a really good spot! Best of luck!
From what you describe, I would not read this as a rejection signal.
Actually, the follow-up calls you mentioned are more often a positive sign than a negative one — especially asking about:
That’s usually not the kind of discussion you have around a straightforward rejection.
On timing: yes, processes at McKinsey & Company can sometimes take surprisingly long, especially for specialist / experienced hire roles. Those often involve more internal alignment than generalist recruiting.
And one week of silence after those calls is honestly not much.
If it had been a month after those conversations, I might start reading more into it. But one week? I wouldn’t.
If anything, it sounds like they may be doing internal approvals / package discussions / headcount checks.
So no — based on what you shared, I would not jump to “this is a rejection.”
My advice:
Honestly, I’d take the notice-period question as encouraging. That’s usually not random.
Hi, take a breath. This is not a rejection signal yet.
McKinsey's post-interview process for specialist and experienced hires is genuinely slow, especially for operations roles. A week of silence after a notice period conversation is normal. Candidates often wait two to four weeks at this stage.
The fact that they called you twice and asked about reducing notice period is a strong positive signal. Firms don't have those conversations with candidates they're rejecting. That talk happens when they're working through internal approvals, offer structuring, or staffing alignment.
What's likely happening behind the scenes. Specialist hires need sign-off from multiple stakeholders, practice leader, office head, HR, sometimes a global committee. Each handoff adds days.
What to do now. Wait one more week. If still nothing by end of next week, send a short, polite email to your recruiter. Something like, "Just following up on my mid-April conversation regarding the operations specialist role. Happy to share any additional information. Looking forward to hearing from you."
Don't chase more than once a week. Don't message multiple people. Don't assume the worst.
Specialist hiring often takes six to ten weeks from final interview to offer. You're at week three.
Good luck.
Totally normal to get anxious but it has only been a week, give it more time. The fact that they asked about notice period reduction is actually a positive signal, not a rejection one. There are a lot of reasons firms go quiet. They could be waiting for other candidates in the same pipeline to finish, one of the decision makers might be travelling or off, internal approvals can take time. None of this means a no.
If you do not hear back in another week or so, send a short polite follow up. That is the right move.
I wouldn’t read this as a rejection at all. A week of silence is completely normal.
If anything, the fact they called you twice and asked about reducing your notice period is a strong positive signal, that’s typically something they only explore with candidates they’re seriously considering.
At this stage, it’s more about internal approvals and coordination than your performance. I’d give it another 1–2 weeks before nudging them, but there’s no reason to assume a negative outcome.
Best,
Franco
hey there
A week of silence is completely normal, especially for specialist roles. McKinsey often takes anywhere from one to three weeks to finalize decisions because they need to align interview feedback, staffing needs, and HR approvals. The fact that they called you twice after the interview and even asked about your notice‑period flexibility is actually a positive signal.
It’s not a rejection just because it’s been a week. If you don’t hear anything after another few days, it’s perfectly fine to send a polite follow‑up to your recruiter.
Alessa
Hi there,
No, I wouldn't assume it's a rejection.
I believe they are trying to understand whether your potential start date fits with whatever needs they have.
If you feel like you've been waiting for a very long time for an answer, follow up with a polite email to the recruiter.
I hope you get good news from them.
Best,
Cristian
Hey,
Definitely not! The 'notice period' is a positive sign. However, the demand (and hiring process) for Specialist roles is generally lower and so things might indeed change.
After 10 days, there is no harm in asking for a follow-up!
Best,
Tom
Super positive...I only see good things here.
