Withdraw application MBB after few hours

Question

Hi,

I recently graduated and today I submitted an application for a Strategy & Corporate Finance role at McKinsey (Europe) after seeing the position reposted on LinkedIn. I applied mostly out of curiosity, as I’m currently preparing for investment banking roles and thought this could be a great opportunity to explore.

However, after completing the application process, I realized I’m not fully prepared at this stage—despite having a business background and strong academic credentials. About an hour later, I decided to withdraw my application to avoid wasting anyone’s time. I was wondering: will this affect my chances of applying again when I feel more prepared, perhaps in a month? Alternatively, would it have been better to keep the application and, if selected, ask HR to postpone the interview?

I honestly don’t know what to do and would really appreciate your advice—I’d hate to burn an opportunity over such a small mistake.

Thank you in advance for any guidance you can offer.

Answer 1

Typically, if you withdraw at an early stage, the application isn't counted towards a cool-off period, so you should be good to apply at a later stage if you want. Ideally, would be great to make up ypur mind, and only then apply for open roles

Answer 2

Hi there,

You absolutely haven’t burned any bridges—what you did was thoughtful and shows a level of self-awareness that firms like McKinsey actually respect. Withdrawing an application shortly after submitting (especially without interviews scheduled) won’t negatively impact your chances of applying again later.

In fact, it’s often better to wait until you're prepared than to risk going through the process underprepared, which can limit reapplication options if things don’t go well. McKinsey and other firms typically have a reapplication window (around 6–12 months depending on the role), but if you withdrew before being screened or interviewed, you may not even trigger that timeline.

If you’re thinking of reapplying soon, it's worth reaching out to HR with a short, professional note explaining your withdrawal and asking if you'd be eligible to reapply later this cycle. That way, you’ll get clarity and show your continued interest.

If you decide to go for it again, I’m happy to help you prep—feel free to reach out anytime.

Best,

Evelina

Answer 3

Hello there,

I suggest you reach out to HR directly as soon as possible to get their response.

Best,

Mari

Answer 4

Hi there,

Yes, indeed it's better to just ask the recruiter to postpone the interview.

Don't just withdraw applications because it creates a lot of noise in the process. Honestly, it's unclear now whether that means you can't apply within the next year or not. If I were you, I would reach out to the recruiter with a polite email to clarify.

Don't worry. I'm sure it will all get sorted.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 5

Not sure - I imagine it won’t count towards the cool off period but do check with HR, as other coaches have said.