Expected Turnaround This Time of The Year?

Question

Few questions.

1) Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I just had my final round last Tuesday. It's been 3 working days not counting the weekend. I'm thinking about poking the recruiter either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Does that sound reasonable or should I just keep waiting?

2) First round went great and final round felt good with the exception of one part...the partner. The final round was with 3 people, 2 managers and a partner. The partner in this scenario was relatively old and zoned out a bit when I interviewed with him. At one point of the case he asked me something about factors or reasons, and I mentioned A, B, C, & D. He straight up rejected B, C, D, telling me not to focus on those so then I gathered my thoughts and said something along the lines of - "ok got it, well we have A, so I'm just trying to brainstorm what other pieces could be missing here". Then he went "A, yes A, you finally hit the main point". I was confused since I already explained A but it seemed like he didn't hear it? Didn't bother telling him since I didn't want to be disrespectful but he seemed to think I was slow to hit the point. Calculations were another issue, my logic was correct but numbers ended up being too large because the %s I used for assumptions were too bold.

TLDR: We ran out of time for the recommendation stage partially due to partner being 7 min late to the interview when we only had 30 minutes. I think he took points off on 3 things, 1) Not hitting the A point (which I find ridiculous, it's consumer preferences, I spent a good 30 seconds to talk about it but he didn't hear it) 2) Bold calculation assumptions 3) Not finishing the case. Besides the partner I'd give myself a 9/10 for both interviews with the managers. Now worried that the partner will have majority say and just cook me.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Pinging them within one week of the interview will not move the needle. They should get back to you automatically and if they have not done so by Tuesday, you will either receive no reply or a standard "we will contact you soon" reply.
As regards your performance, this is always very difficult to say from the outside as there are many factors evaluated that you might not consider (on top of the fit interview parts which you have not mentioned in your situation). Overall sounds okay though. Fingers crossed!

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 2

Hi there,

Congrats on what seems to be a successful interview process so far. It is hard to be flawless in all interviews and elements of the case, so don't beat yourself up. Candidates tend to overanalyze mistakes/omissions -- little or big ones.

Follow-up: it doesn't move the needle, but it won't hurt you either. If it gives you peace of mind, write a short and polite email tomorrow (11/26) reiterating your interest and asking for an update on the timeline .
Case performance: if you structured the case appropriately, navigated the analysis error-free for the most part with few exceptions, and still uncovered driver "A" despite the comments, it seems like an overall solid performance. This partner could have been having a stressful day, this might be his interviewing style, or some other factors have nothing to do with you. On the other hand, this might not have been your best case. In the grand scheme of things, it sounds like you performed well on all the other parts of the interview process. It's a wait and see!

Answer 3

Hey!

It’s completely reasonable to follow up with the recruiter on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Given the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s understandable that there may be delays in communication, but a polite follow-up after 3-4 working days is typically acceptable. Just ensure your message is concise and professional.
It sounds like the partner may have had a few moments of distraction, but that’s not uncommon in interviews, especially when managing multiple candidates. Regarding the feedback you received, while it’s unfortunate that the partner didn’t hear your explanation of the "A" point, sometimes interviewers focus on different aspects or might miss parts of the conversation. It’s important to remember that partners may place more emphasis on how you structure your thoughts, how you handle pressure, and your ability to stay calm during such situations. If the rest of the interview went well and you handled the case with the managers effectively, it's possible the partner’s opinion might not outweigh their positive feedback. Keep in mind that final decisions often come down to the overall fit and how the team views your potential, not just one individual’s perspective. You've done well, so try not to let the partner's feedback overshadow the rest of your performance.

Best, Alessa :)

Answer 4

Decisions often take longer during this time of year due to holidays and internal processes. Following up early next week (Monday or Tuesday) is perfectly reasonable if you haven’t received a response.

As for your final round, its difficult to say. However, the decision is typically a collective one. Interviewers meet to discuss and assess your performance holistically, ensuring a consensus. It’s not just one person’s opinion but a collaborative evaluation. Stay patient and optimistic as you await the outcome.

Answer 5

Hey there,

Here's a general good practice principle: Unless if recruiting gave a specific time that they said they'd give you interview feedback by, generally wait one to two weeks to ask for feedback - otherwise follow up (immediately) after the time they initially stated passes

You're inclination to think that time of year can impact response is correct - plus there may be a host of other reasons. Also, it's difficult to judge your case performance based on that feedback - but hoping it all goes well. Based off how you described it - it looks like the partner may have zoned out, misheard (or didnt hear) you, or many other factors. Really there's no point speculating, but focus on the developmental feedback once you get it (whether the result is good or bad)

All the best!

Answer 6

They likely haven’t replied yet because they probably haven’t had time to gather and make a final decision.

You can learn more about how internal recruiting processes work in consulting here: MBB Hiring Hacks – Behind the Curtain Secrets.

Best,

Alberto