Thank you for your response. To clarify further, I submitted my CV at the end of November 2023 and completed the solve game test at the end of January 2024. Given that we're now in the first week of March 2024, would you still consider this timeline to be within the typical 5-week range for McKinsey's recruitment process?

Furthermore, I did reach out to the HR department via email regarding the status of my application, but unfortunately, I haven't received a response yet. Given this situation, do you have any further suggestions on how I could proceed or any alternative methods of contacting HR that might be more effective?

Thank you for your response Florian. I appreciate your insights on the common timeframe for hearing back after the test and the acknowledgment of the current hiring slowdown, which is unfortunately leading to extended timelines for some applicants. It's reassuring to know that McKinsey typically does reach out, and the variation in timelines is somewhat expected depending on office/location. Your explanation about the possibility of completing the entire process within 3-4 weeks under normal circumstances is helpful, although the current hiring slowdown is causing delays. I've noticed discussions about this slowdown in McKinsey recruitment in several Q&A sessions, and I'm curious if there's any specific reason behind it. Any insights you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The reason is that firms are re-evaluating their hiring goals and do not have full transparency about the need for new hires over the next couple of months. On the other hand, they also do not want to reject great candidates and keep them in the loop.

Cheers for the crystal-clear explanation! It's great to know that firms are taking the time to re-evaluate their hiring goals. And it's even better to hear that they're keeping great candidates in the loop! Here's to hoping for some positive news soon!

(editiert)

Thank you for your thoughtful response, Cristian. You make a valid point about the impact of holidays on recruitment timelines, which can indeed cause delays, and I totally forgot about that aspect. Indeed, considering the holiday breaks in my target office around 3-4 weeks during the new year and 1 week in February, the effective waiting time for the CV submission - Solve game invitation and waiting from Solve game invitation - now would likely be around one month both, not two. Thank you for reminding me of this aspect. It's reassuring to know that the extended wait may be partly attributed to holiday periods. I appreciate your reminder to follow up with a polite email and not to jump to conclusions until receiving a formal rejection. Your insights have been incredibly helpful. Here's to hoping for a positive outcome soon!