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How do figure out if the firm has headcounts or not at the moment?

Dear all,

We know that some firms may give interviews even if they don't have any headcount. How can we figure out if a reject is more related to hc or its due to performance? (They may give you reject reasons anyways but may not be helpful to improve)

Thanks

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Top answer
Vlad
Coach
on Jan 23, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Unfortunately, the companies are doing that. It's not that they reject all candidates because they have no headcount. They would rather set the bar very high and will do a lot of hand-picking only taking the best of the best

The only way to know that is to ask your friends who work there. Additionally, If the particular economy is not doing that well, - be sure it's happening

The only solution here is being the best candidate and get accepted despite the high bar

Best

Anonymous A
on Jan 24, 2020
Thank you. You sound like a more reliable "Expert".
Deleted user
on Jan 23, 2020

Hi,

I don't know who gave you this information, but it is absolutely not true.

Why should a company waste their EMs, APs and Partners time to interview someone that they are not going to hire regardless of his/her performance?

I can assure you that if someone receives a rejection it's because he/she was simply not good enough (of course related to that particular performance, not in general).

Sometimes feedbacks are foggy or useless because either the person doesn't like to give that kind of feedback/is not putting too much effort in delivering the feedback or because it's difficult to say it. E.g., sometimes you are rejecting a candidate not because he did something wrong, but simply because he's not good enough compared to the average consultant of that particular firm.

Hope it helps!

1
Anonymous
on Jan 23, 2020
Hi, thank you for your answer. However I don't think you have the legitimacy to pronounce this at a 100% sure. I am currently working in top consulting firm and I have variable trustful sources in top consulting firms, in different countries saying that they do it sometimes just to 1. show that the business is running well but actually not that good 2. they don't want to refuse a referal. Thought I don't have 100% legitimacy to say this neither, I am open for other comments / suggestions.
Vlad
Coach
on Jan 23, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School
I worked at MBB as well and I don't agree that there is no headcount issue. They just set the bar higher and accept less candidates. E.g. if the economy is not doing well
Clara
Coach
on Jan 23, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I fully agree with Giulia, and particularly when it comes to MBB. 

If you don´t get an offer is because you did not meet the bar, period. 

Feedback not being clear can be due to many factors, some as simple as the consultant not having enaugh time to draft it correctly. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Anonymous A
on Jan 23, 2020
I also have reliable sources from MBB (who are currently working there) saying that it depends on headcount. I don't know what makes both of you so sure about it and it makes me doubt your legitimacy to claim to be expert as well.
Vlad
Coach
on Jan 23, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School
I worked at MBB as well and I don't agree that there is no headcount issue. They just set the bar higher and accept less candidates. E.g. if the economy is not doing well
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