Mckinsey rejection after first round

Question

Hey there,

3 Months ago; I have interviewed at Mckinsey and got rejected after first round.

They told me to reapply in 12-18 Months. I

I acknowledge that I did a lot of mistakes while preparing for the interview and I didn't perform at my best.

I am currently an IT consultant at a big 4. My goal is to reapply and get in to Mckinsey.

Throughout my masters degree, I wasn't planning to enter specifically Mckinsey but when I went thorugh the process with them, they inspired me and I really liked the culture of the office ( Paris).

My question is: Do you recommend to reapply in 12 -18 months as they suggested or should I wait more? And is focusing on my current job enough while trying to get involved /organise activities within the firm? in order to getting reconsidered the second time I apply?

I don't know what should I do currently other than focusing on my job. I have read that a lot experts here advised people to continue education , extracurricular etc. For me personally , I think the masters I did is very reputbable and I have enough extra'-curricular activities on my CV ( that's why i passed the screening with them the first time..)

Your advice would mean a lot

Thank you in advance !

Answer 1

The majority of people enter MBB the second time they try :) this is due to the fact that people often underestimate the sheer amount of effort and preparation required.

My advice would be to re-apply after 12-18 months indeed, ensuring you have “progressed” your CV e.g. by getting a promotion, getting involved in additional office activities/extracurriculars etc., and that should be enough to get you invited for an interview again.

To ensure that the result will be better this time around - I would recommend to start practicing ideally 6 months before, depending also on how well-prepared for cases you are. It can also help to engage a coach, who can give you specific and actionable feedback on where to focus your preparation

Answer 2

Hi there,

It's really going to depend on what you do in the next 12-18 months and what the market looks like.

All things equal, I would normally advise applying in 12-18 months as you were already invited to interview and therefore have a profile that they find interesting.

If you really want to fix the problem, learn from your mistakes in the 1st round! Invest in coaching and invest in the paid resources that are literally there to help increase your odds.

Network and get a referral. Get your resume as strong as possible. Get dedicated coaching to get your interviewing to the place it needs to be….if you got rejected in the 1st round it means you were nowhere close to being ready - get an expert to show you how.

Answer 3

Hi there,

is your goal to get into strategy consulting or do you want to primarily work only at one specific company, namely McK?

Have you tried applying to BCG, Bain or other reputable Tier 2 companies in your region to check out their culture as well?

If you want to be a strategy consultant, I would try to move into that direction ASAP rather than continuing to be an IT consultant for another 18 months. I would also suggest for you to apply to other strategy consulting firms in the meantime. At least you get interview practice and can test whether you have learned from your initial McK experience. Furthermore, there may be additional cultural fit for you at other companies which you would not be considering by simply going after McK.

It just seems pretty risky to me to just try to get into McK if it means taking on such a long waiting period - unless you are otherwise absolutely content with your current job of course and wouldn't mind staying there if McK does not work out.

Good luck

Answer 4

Hi there,

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

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

First of all, given that you were invited with your current profile, unless your profile weakens in the future, I do not see any need to wait longer than the required 12 months.
However, I would highly advise you to work on your interviewing skills as they have most probably been the aspect that got you rejected. Reflect on the feedback you received from McKinsey, and consider reaching out to a coach to get a neutral perspective on your current interviewing skills.
Lastly, given that you were previously rejected, I would advise you to ensure that you reapply with the best possible application, including polished application files and a strong referral.

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

Best,

Hagen

Answer 5

Hi there,

1) Do you recommend to reapply in 12 -18 months as they suggested or should I wait more?

The period they suggest is fine. In some cases it can also be shortened by a referral if you have achieved something relevant in the meantime. However I agree with Dennis that you could apply to other strategy consulting firms as well before that if not done already.

2) And is focusing on my current job enough while trying to get involved /organise activities within the firm? in order to getting reconsidered the second time I apply?

In terms of experience, it could be fine. It depends if you can show enough growth in the next 12-18 months to match their expectations.

I would also look for a referral for your next application - you can find more on that at the links below:

▶ How to Get a Consulting Interview Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco