Not heard back 2 months after online application

I understand your frustration with not hearing back from McKinsey after applying to their New York and San Francisco offices. In this situation, it would be appropriate to reach out to the McKinsey recruitment team to inquire about the status of your application.

To be more specific, you can try the following steps:

Research the specific contact person: Visit McKinsey's website or LinkedIn to identify the appropriate contact person for recruitment or talent acquisition. Look for someone who is responsible for the region or office you applied to.

Craft a concise and professional email: In your email, introduce yourself briefly and mention the position and offices you applied to. Express your continued interest in the role and your enthusiasm for joining McKinsey. Politely inquire about the status of your application and ask if there is any additional information or documentation they may require.

Here's an example of how you could structure your email:

Subject: Inquiry about Application Status - [Your Name]

Dear [Contact Person's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I applied for the [Position] at McKinsey's New York and San Francisco offices approximately two months ago. I am writing to inquire about the status of my application.

I remain very interested in the opportunity to join McKinsey and contribute to its renowned team. I am eager to learn more about the next steps in the recruitment process and would appreciate any updates you can provide. If there are any additional documents or information that would assist in the evaluation of my application, please let me know, and I will be happy to provide them promptly.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

1. Send the email: Once you have carefully reviewed and edited your email, send it to the identified contact person. Make sure to use a professional email address and double-check the recipient's email address for accuracy.

By following these steps, you will demonstrate your proactive approach and genuine interest in the role while maintaining a professional tone. I wish you the best of luck in your communication with McKinsey and your future career endeavors!

Hi Knut,

Ultimately, they're going to contact you if they want to interview you. An email from you is unlikely to change things - better to contact your referrer or touchpoint at the firm.

As coaches, remember that when we are you coach we can support you with tailored/edited messages and be right there alongside you to optimize your recruiting process. Personally, I'm not going to write your outreach email for you here!

Also, please remember McKinsey is the #1 firm with low acceptance rates. Would you only apply to Harvard? of course not!

So, please, for your own sanity (and career) make sure you're applying to LOTS of firms AND networking a ton with them. Remember, 80% of jobs nowadays are obtained through some form of real-life contact/connectiong. 

This is the best way to succeed.

Hi Knut,

Q: I applied to the New York and San Francisco offices of McKinsey a little over 2 months ago through their online form, but I have still not heard back. Who should I contact and what should I say?

You can follow up as follows:

1. Ask the person who referred you, if present
2. Send an email to HR of your first choice
3. Call HR of your first office

If you contact the person referring you, you can ask if they can check with HR. If you contact HR, you can ask for confirmation that they received your application material. 

Good luck!

Francesco       

Hi there,

Honestly, there's no real course of action here, other than wait. McKinsey recruiting has slowed down and not hearing in 2 months isn't out of the ordinary. 

Chances are you wouldn't hear back even if you wrote the best email to the exact recruiter working on your application because they get 1,000s of applications in those offices in a month (+ all the enquiries about the status of those applications).

Best you can do hang tight. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but that's how it is.

Hope you'll get a positive reply soon! Best of luck!
Moritz

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Hi there,

McKinsey has no fixed deadline to get back to you in this case. Recruiters are quite busy these days so delays in application response are frequent.

I suggest you search on LinkedIn for some local recruiting contacts and send them a message. Don't expect quick responses but this is probably the best way to go.

Keep also working in a broader application with other consulting firms strategy to diversify risks.

Best,

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi!

Yes, do contact them. 

As specific as I can be, write to them that you want an update on the status of your application and that you are in the recruitment process with other firms. 

That's about it. 

Good luck!
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> CodeWave  

Yes contact them with Knut, Raj gave a good sample with ChatGPT beeing a good friend for help. Warm regards, Frederic