Application process

Honestly, just don't. Network with them to find out when roles are open for you. Then, apply once they are.

Hi,

This will depend on the firm, but ultimately it is impossible to try and discern the logic of the firm's decisions. 

I know of candidates that have been rejected before interviews (but then you could argue whether these candidates would have made the cut or not even in a non-freeze environment and it is also impossible to tell if the firm had rejected them due to a higher bar or lower quota)

I also know of candidates that are already in the interview process, but have been told that their next round would be delayed or their start date would be delayed till 2024 at the very least.

Hi there,

can second Benjamin's opinion here - it really depends on the firm and I have seen both in the past. 

In any case, even if they reject for this reason, most firms will usually waive / ignore related black out periods once they resume hiring, so effectively, it makes little difference to your candidacy. A good profile is a good profile here.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

Q: What usually happens if you apply to a firm that has a hiring freeze? Do they keep your application on hold or reject you right away?

When McKinsey implemented a hiring freeze this year in some countries, they rejected candidates and advised them to reapply in 6 months. Other companies might act differently though.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

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

• First of all, most likely, most consulting firms would simply reject the application instead of keeping it on hold. Unfortunately for candidates, most consulting firms constantly have more than enough applications to choose from.
• Moreover, as such, I would highly advise you to first reach out to the recruiting department to inquire about the current recruiting situation before applying, in order to avoid being banned for 12-18 months after having your application rejected.

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

Best,

Hagen

My gut feeling is that they will reject you. I say this because the alternative is to not give you an answer for a long period of time, and that is not how they usually operate.

This doesn't mean that a 12 month ban period will apply, as they are not rejecting YOU specifically. They are rejecting every application regardless.

Hello,

This depends on the company. Generally with large firms I would expect that they reject you, but potentially shorten/waive the time period of the reapplication ban. Smaller firms may keep your application on hold.

Hi there,

Almost always they reject it. 

They are spoiled for choice in the sense that they know they will receive more applications and most of those who were rejected will apply again. 

Rejecting it is just a lot easier than figuring out a system of filing applications, then checking in with the past applicants if they're still interested, then bringing them back into the recruitment pipeline months later. 

The assumping is also that the best candidates will find a job rather soon, so if you don't catch them when they apply, then they will be gone. So ‘rejecting’ them is a better move from a reputational perspective for most firms.

For you as the candidate it makes sense then to have a strong application strategy and to apply rather broadly. Sharing with you a guide on how to develop such a strategy:

• Free Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Hi,
it depends on the geography and on the company. If you already applied I recommend to withdraw the application and look for a referral. Otherwise simply work to find a referral (:

Best,
Antonello