Consulting is what I want to do, but recruiters don’t seem to get it

Question

Hello everyone,

I am chemical engineering graduate and with strong entrepreneurial experience. Last year, I applied for McKinsey : made it through the HR screen and the Imbellus game but unfortunately couldn’t make it to the first round interviews. That was my first and biggest disappointment in my journey to get into an MBB, although most of my peers have made it. I do recognize that I wasn’t structured and tried to force some stories during the motivational interview. After 5 months, I applied for BCG, did my best during case prep but couldn’t make it to the final round. I was disappointed again but this time “thankfully”, I got some feedback. For them, I was not suited for the job because I didn’t know what consulting exactly was, nor what consultants do on a daily basis. (I have just asked the same question and got an answer from a consultant of the same office the day before the interview to double check). Plus, I had no business sense although I did practice a lot. The only compliment I got is that I was pretty fluent in English and that I was a pleasant person.

A depression and more cases later, I am now at the first round of interviews with a local firm hoping to land in an offer even if it is really hard to believe in myself after all these fails. All my case partners got an offer from McKinsey which makes it even harder for me to move on because it was my dream company.

Should I keep trying with local firms until I re-apply again, or should I move on and try with other industries? Should I apply for a management degree in a top school? Also, since I have plenty of spare time, what are some online courses that will help me build a solid business sense?

Thank you for your responses.

Best,

A

Answer 1

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this.

So, a few thoughts here:

Would you hire you? If not, why? Change it
Recruiters do seem to get it. You got interviews...they obviously saw potential. So, please don't blame them!
There is clearly a problem with fit here. What is your answer to "Why consulting", "Why x company", and "Resume walkthrough"? You likely need to hire a coach to make sure you aren't saying something bad/eliminatory in these answers/during the behavioral (my guess: You probably are)

I can't answer your questions about what to do next and I need a lot more information to properly advise.

It seems you've been going the "blind leading the blind" approach during this journey. Hire a top-tier coach. Have them assess your innate abilities, skilsets, experience, etc. and help you decide what's best for your career (i.e. are you missing just a few things that can be fixed, or are you not fit for consulting)

Answer 2

Hey,

Few considerations from me having read your questions:

Why is Consulting the right caree for you? Dont get into this for the wrong reasons- peer pressure, money etc. If this is not the right fit, you will never be happy. So answer this for yourself genuinly
McK is not the only option, there are many other good consulting firms out there. So remove this pressure
You friends getting the hired means nothing for you. Your mind is making you feel miserable. You must have a plan for yourself, believe in it and stick to it
Have you assessed weaknesses in your CV & interview preparation? Have you considered hiring a good coach for guidance

Overall, if you are convinced about consulting, dont give up now. Keep practicing & improving and be patient. You will get there eventually.

Answer 3

Hi A,

Sorry to hear about your negative experience.

However, you've already managed to pass the CV screening, the Imbellus, and get to the interview, which means you definitely have what it takes to land a job in consulting.

I suggest you to take some sessions with a professional coach - to identify your weaknesses and to set the right strategy to work on them. You need to practice with somebody who is more experienced than you to provide you useful feedback!

I am sure you can get into McKinsey, it just requires some time, dedication, and the right mindset.

Hit me up if you have any questions. Happy to help.

GB

Answer 4

It's hard to get anywhere if you compare yourself to others performances. If you truly want to do consulting it does not matter where you do it as long as you do work you like. MBB is prestigious but the work isn't very different from other firms.

Work with a coach to assess your strengths, focus on those and you will be fine

All the best,

Udayan

Answer 5

Hi,
aerospace engineering here. Happy to tell you how I usually support experienced-hire candidates in crafting impactful stories and answering motivational questions. Feel free to text me

Best,
Antonello

Answer 6

Hello!

Sorry to hear about the bitter experiences so far.

However, this is honestly part of the game. 2 rejections is something most of us have gone through, this is a resilience game!

Don´t give up, keep interviewing and getting better at it, and eventually you will make it.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 7

From my experience, it would be best if you can apply early if you can already do your case prep. If you start now yo... (read entire answer)

From my experience, it would be best if you can apply early if you can already do your case prep. If you start now you could be ready by the time they invite you to interviews.B... (read entire answer)