Does HR have any influence on selection process after moving to interviews?

GPA HR
New answer on Jun 14, 2022
10 Answers
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Steve
Skilled
asked on Jun 11, 2022

If you have a non-competitive GPA for example (undergrad recruiting), and manage to move to first-round interviews because of a partner referral, can HR still hold this against you in later rounds? Or is the decision entirely in the hands of consultants based exclusively on fit and casing performance?

In many companies, the way it works is HR may put iffy candidates through interviews, and use interviews as an extra data-point, only to still finally reject them at the end with CV/GPA as the main drawback.

Is this a concern at MBB?

(edited)

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Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 12, 2022
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi Daniel,

Simply put, no. Your GPA is not going to affect whether you get an offer now. This all on you now and based on your interview performance.

The GPA is a part of your resume/application for getting in the door (invited to interview). After this point they evaluate your performance.

Also, in regards to this comment:

“In many companies, the way it works is HR may put iffy candidates through interviews, and use interviews as an extra data-point, only to still finally reject them at the end with CV/GPA as the main drawback.”

^I have never heard this before and it doesn't make any sense. A company is not going to “just see” with candidates. A Partner's time costs over $1,000 an hour…they are not going to waste that time/money just to see. If they say CV/GPA after a final round interview, it's actually because you didn't perform well slash didn't fit (but it's just easier to say if was a CV/GPA issue)

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Kurt
Expert
replied on Jun 14, 2022
Conducted over 100 interviews for grads, interns & experienced hires

Hi Daniel,

I think it will help to understand HR's role in the process and what they are incentivized by. HR is primarily a facilitator of the process and success for them is when a candidate is placed that the business (i.e. partners etc.) is happy with.

The main reason HR would not want to put a borderline candidate through is that they may get negative feedback from the partners who interview them that it was a waste of time and that they should screen harder.

The partner referral will help a lot here and doing a good job on the interview will help as well.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Kurt

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Wayne
Expert
replied on Jun 11, 2022
1st session 30% off| Kearney, ex-Deloitte| Chicago Booth MBA

Speaking from my experience with Kearney's Dubai office, and applying as a Singaporean with no referral. 

No, they are only responsible for communication and acting as the liaison between you and the recruitment team. Once you pass the CV screening process and invited to interviews, only your interview performance will determine your acceptance 

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Pedro
Expert
replied on Jun 11, 2022
30% off in March 2024 | Bain | EY-Parthenon | Roland Berger | Market Sizing | DARDEN MBA

No, once you are in the interviewing process they are not a decision maker. This is unlike most corporate roles, where it works as you mentioned.

Unfortunately you are asking the wrong question. HR may not be there to highlight your poor GPA… but everyone else will. 

Consultants will take into account everything, including your GPA. Of course, it is just a data point. If your analytical performance, and our experience based interview have good outcomes, it will be taken as an outlier. GPA only comes again into play if one of the interviewers has doubts on your analytical capability or work ethic.

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Moritz
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Content Creator
updated an answer on Jun 11, 2022
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | 90min sessions with FREE exercises & videos

Your CV gets you to the interview stage (in addition to referral). As of that moment, all that matters is your interview performance (which HR is not part of aside from administering the process) and your CV does not play into the decision making process. 

Best of luck with your application!

(edited)

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Eishan
Expert
replied on Jun 13, 2022
Helping consulting aspirants crack the case interview and achieve thier dream job. Bain I LBS MBA I Uber I Bloomberg

Short answer is no. Once you are interviewing, at that point the decisions are in the hands of the interviewers. 
 

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Cristian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 12, 2022
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi Daniel, 

HR in consulting firms is only in charge of the application process until the interview rounds. Then the consultants take over. HR picks it up again once there's been a decision on the offer and they need to handle the paperwork and onboarding of the new recruit. So, no, they don't have any influence on the selection process at this point. 

Best of luck with the interviews!
Cristian

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Ken
Expert
replied on Jun 11, 2022
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

I can only speak about McKinsey where they influence the process where they often will facilitate the decision meetings (E.g., challenging the interviewer) but they are not a decision maker.

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Adi
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Jun 11, 2022
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hey,

Once your progress through the stages and HR has vetted/progressed your application in early stages, there is no turning back. Your interview performance is what makes or breaks the deal.

(edited)

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 13, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Not at all. 

Once you have already progressed to interview round, this is not going to come back to bite you in the ass. Now, all it matters is your performance in the interview round, both FIT and case. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

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Ian gave the best answer

Ian

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