MBB Application and Recently Announced Layoffs

Hi there

1) I am currently considering applying to McKinsey. Should I be concerned about the recently announced layoffs in the news and delay my application? Are they still hiring or slowing/freezing recruitment across the company?

It depends on the country. In some countries McKinsey and other MBB are in a hiring freeze so it would not make sense to apply there now. 

The best way to know if you are not sure about your particular country is look for a referral and ask them, which is going to strengthen your application anyway.

You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

2) Does the layoffs predominately impact corporate functions and/or consultants? Are there any specific functions/industries to avoid as they are slowing down project wise?

From what they announced, the layoff should focus on support staff.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

If you have a referral and if they are telling you to apply, you should apply.

This is universally true! And, it's exactly why we network.

Remember that the current market is different across geographies and that MBB still recruit even in downtowns (there is 20% churn they need to replace). 

Please make sure you're networking in order to 1) get a referral and 2) get info on whether it's the right time for you to apply at that particular office.

Hi there,

I joined McKinsey during the financial crisis - and I would totally do it again. Eventually the economic climate will change which gives you the opportunity to see different types of projects - from restructuring to growth related.

Don't worry too much. They keep hiring & quality candidates get in.

Andreas

Hi there,

you won’t really be able to time the market. If you sit on the sidelines and don’t apply waiting for better times, you might end up waiting for a long time. You may as well give it a try and if it doesn’t work out, the resulting ban period would overlap with the economic downturn.

You also might want to apply to a number of consulting firms to increase your odds.

Agree with the others here that you should try to get referrals from consultants working at the respective companies. 

Also keep in mind that once the economy turns around again, consulting firms will have to be hiring on all cylinders to be able to deliver their project pipelines.

Good luck 

I am an ex-McKinsey consultant so am just reflecting what I know.

As announced, the layoffs are only impacting non-consulting staff.

A big part of the McKinsey model is based off ensuring the “pyramid”, which means they have to keep recruiting.  What they'll likely do is slow promotions - and this will in turn also mean that more people leave.

They won't really lay-off by sector - but obviously some sectors will be impacted more than others, and you can probably see which industries are being more impacted by the current climate (e.g,, tech).   This will mean more junior consultants naturally end up on engagements elsewhere.

All to say - I'd carry on like normally if you're applying!

Hi there,

You have nothing to loose.

All firms are still hiring (or hiring again) and I can tell from my coaching activity that the Q1 slowdown is slowly picking up again. It may not be last years' level but there's good activity.

As for yourself, you can always try to get an interview. At that stage, there's a position waiting for you. If unsuccessful at the application stage, you can try again in 6 months time. The famous ‘ban’ is generally for people that actually interviewed.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

If you apply you may get an interview. If you fail you can apply again one year from now (with additional interviewing experience).

If you delay for one year you don't get an interview now, only in one year.

I don't see what you gain from not applying, but it is quite evident that you are wasting one chance to be accepted.

MBB is still hiring - they have learnt through various recessions that if you stop hiring, you will be in a real pickle when the recession ends and you have to train everyone up again from scratch. It is more challenging then in a boom period to get a role for sure, but still entirely possible.