Hi there,

1) The rest of the 4 candidates should still have some hope or should they believe that they are automatically out of the race? 

The delay might be due to internal recruiting needs. So, it might still be possible that they will consider other candidates.

2) Generally in cases of batch hiring like this, are offers extended first or rejection emails?

In most companies, offers are extended before rejections, however there might be exceptions.

Good luck!

Francesco

In cases of batch hiring like the one you described, it is not uncommon for offers to be extended to selected candidates before rejection emails are sent out. The timing of offers and rejections can vary depending on various factors, including the availability of decision-makers and the complexity of the hiring process.

While it is understandable that the remaining four candidates may be feeling uncertain due to the delay in receiving an offer or rejection, it is important for them to remain hopeful. The fact that the recruiter reached out to all five candidates and requested their salary slips indicates that they are still being considered for the position.

It is possible that the decision-making process is taking longer than anticipated, and the company is carefully evaluating each candidate before making a final decision. I would advise the remaining four candidates to stay patient and continue to demonstrate their interest and enthusiasm for the role.

If they haven't already, it may be helpful for the candidates to reach out to the recruiter for an update on the status of their applications. This can show their proactive approach and genuine interest in the position. The recruiter may be able to provide some insights into the timeline or any additional information that could help alleviate their concerns.

Hi there,

What was the justification for asking for people's payslips? Usually, this is requested as part of the offer stage and not the decision stage for extending the offer. However, the lack of communication and transparency is concerning.

My advice is to follow up and ask for some clarification, which you're absolutely entitled to after providing such sensitive information following their request.

Also, it's not over until it's over! Hang in there and good 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)

Hi there,

You should neither assume you are in the race nor out of it! Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Until you actually hear from them, there is no “out”.

Make sure you're case prepping AND applying to other firms.

This is very strange. I've never heard of pay slips being asked before an offer is extended (could be at the same time or afterwards, never before). 

I know of some companies doing this, but not consulting firms. Consulting firms tend to have fixed salary grades for each rank, so they don't care about how much you made before.

Hi,

It's really hard to tell because you don't know what the firm's quotas are or how many they are willing to accept or even where they are on the process.

My bottomline guiding principle is that as long as the decision hasn't been made, I would not assume that you are out of the race. Wait for it to be written in black and white. 

All the best!

Wow, that's a really interesting and honestly strange process. 

In general, don't give up hope. It doesn't serve much purpose. 

If I were you, I'd just follow-up with the recruiter and ask for an update. Tell that you are in the recuritment process with other firms as well and want to have clarity over the status of your application. 

At the same time, do keep on applying to other roles. It's critical to diversify especially in the current market. Here is a guide that lays out the core principles for doing this:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Super outlier experience, not how it should be!