Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the tough times you went through during the pandemic!

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

• First of all, your GPA is strong, and a First-class trajectory is impressive. The work experience you gained, especially at this organization, and your club leadership role are additional pluses.
• Moreover, I would advise you to be open about your gap year and the reasons behind it. It shows resilience and dedication, qualities that are highly regarded in consulting.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

(editiert)

Hello there,

I'm really sorry to hear about the challenging times you've faced. Life can throw us curveballs, and it's admirable how you've managed to gain work experience and maintain your commitment to your studies.

Recruiters usually look at the overall profile, and your GPA is strong. The gap in your education can be explained in your CV, and your work experience and club leadership roles can definitely be assets. They can demonstrate resilience and your ability to balance responsibilities.

If you'd like, I'm more than happy to offer a free coffee chat where I can take a quick look at your application profile and provide more tailored advice. Your dedication is evident, and I believe you can shine despite the challenges you've faced.

Best, Frederic ☕

Hi!

Sorry to hear about the tough context.

In short, it depends on the market. 

In some countries (e.g., Netherlands, I've just recently learned) grades are super important and one of the core differentiators between candidates. In other geographies, recruiters don't even look at them. 

Even so, it sounds like you're overall getting a first and that's what matters the most. Additionally, make sure that you write a good cover letter that gives a bit more background to the personal issues so there's more context to your grades.

Sharing here also a guide on how to build an application strategy to maximise your chances of getting at least one offer:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Good luck!
Cristian

You did not mention what degree you were getting nor the job which you took up during the gap - whether it is related to your degree. 
However, as long as you have a strong story that connects the dots it should be fine. If you took up a job which has some connection to your degree then that would be easier to explain. On the other hand if you were working at a coffee shop or grocery store, then you need to be more prepared with questions around why you picked that.

 
In gist have a strong story around why you did what you did and identify the gaps in your story that you need to address. If your story is genuine and you did the best under the situation, you should not have to worry about the break impacting the outcome of your interview. Rest it is upto to the interviewer which is not in your hand. 

Hi there,

Q: During the covid period I needed to take a gap year. Would the gap and dip in grades be an issue when recruiters go through the transcripts?

You mentioned a 3.79 GPA, which is fine for a consulting application, so I would not worry about it.

In terms of the gap, I don’t think it is going to be a problem, in particular considering you had work experience in that period. Regardless, you cannot change the gap, so I would rather concentrate on how you can improve your chances by working on your CV, cover and referrals. 

You can find some tips for that below:

▶ How to Get a Consulting Interview Invitation

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about your struggles and well done for pushing through! I can already tell that you would have some incredibly powerful stories to tell in a fit interview e.g. McKinsey's PEI.

As for your question, I wouldn't worry to much. Loads of people take gap years for much less important/justified reasons than yours. There's also a way to incorporate that in your CV with confidence, if you're ok with that (happy to look over yours for free, if needed).

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Hi there,

Look, first of all, it is what it is. You cannot control what happened in the past.

However, you can design your resume in a way and network effectively to overcome any weakness.

All this said, I don't see a major problem here, especially with your high GPA.

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-get-a-consulting-internship-tips-and-tricks

(editiert)

No - if anything it shows you were able to sensibly take a step back when you needed to and then came back to do even better over time. This is not something to worry about and if you feel the need to you can address it in 1-2 sentences in your cover letter.