Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the recent rejection from McKinsey!

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

• First of all, I would highly advise you to clarify with the McKinsey recruiter directly whether you are still within the ban period. Since you only applied 5-6 months ago, there is a good chance that you will not be able to apply to McKinsey, even if it is for a different position.
• Moreover, as you have built up a network this time, I would advise you to rely on your own judgment and possibly that of the people you have networked with. Without knowing you in detail, it is very difficult to give you clear advice on whether you should apply for this position or not.
• Lastly, regarding how to ask for a referral indirectly, I would advise you to approach the consultant with whom you've networked by expressing your interest in the position and asking for insights or advice about applying. This can naturally lead to them offering a referral without a direct ask from your side.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

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

Best,

Hagen

You can find the DACH consulting salaries report 2024 here!

(edited)

You were rejected only 5-6 months ago, so as per policy, you cannot apply right away.

Unless you discuss this with the recruiter, explain how much you've progressed in the meantime, why you should be interviewed again, and they agree to make an exception. 

Then, yes, a referral would definitely help. Here's how to ask for them in a more ‘elegant’ / indirect way:

• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

Also, make sure that you discuss with the recruiter what the role actually looks like. To me, it sounds like a non-client-facing role, but rather part of the internal research/knowledge team. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

You are probably in the ban period due to being rejected during interviews. You typically need to wait 12-18 month to apply again to any position.

Double check with your previous recruiting contact if that is the case.

Best,

Alberto

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