Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 448,000 Peers!

Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!

Opportunity to interview?

BCG Coronavirus covid19
New answer on Apr 30, 2020
9 Answers
1.4 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Apr 02, 2020

Hi Team, I was interviewing for round 2 BCG in Canada and I received a call from HR asking me if I would be fine moving the interview to webex becuase covid 19. I agreed and completly understood but two days before the my interview, I get a call from HR saying that they are looking to hold off on my interview. They told me that I was a strong candidate and I wouldn't have to re-enter the process again, so I would get the opporuntiy to interview for round 2 eventually. At the same time, they couldn't give me a date on when they would be interviewing me.

I'm worried that they either just wont mvoe forward with the interview within the next 6 months or if they dont want to hire due to a recession, they just wont bother giving me a chance this year. I'm pretty bummed out about it since it's not easy to make it to final rounds and I would any advice/ insight you might possibly have.

Thanks!

(edited)

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Anonymous replied on Apr 02, 2020

Hey there,

Sorry to hear that. This is just unfortunate. Nobody could have foreseen the COVID situation coming this way and the disruption it brings to the usual business processes.

The interview schedule is out of your control (and to some extend I think probably not what the BCG office had expected either). What is in control for you now, is that you can keep practicing and use the time you have to make sure you are super ready when things resume back to normal and they call you for round 2.

Focus on what you can control now.

Best,

Emily

Was this answer helpful?
7
Jessica on Apr 02, 2020

Thank you for the note. I think things aren't going too well internally across the firms. I have friends in multiple that are confirming some pretty substantial projects were cancelled immediately which gives me some insight into whats happening.

(edited)

Daniel
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 02, 2020
McKinsey / ex-Interviewer at McKinsey / I will coach you to rock those interviews

Hi! I'm sorry to hear about that, I imagine this is very frustrating. I agree with Vlad, the hiring will be reduced now and the bar will be set higher. So, use your time to prepare and remind them of your existance from time to time.

Best,
Daniel

Was this answer helpful?
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 03, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

that’s quite an unfortunate situation; the only thing that could help to speed up things is if you manage to receive an offer from a competitor – then BCG may organize a second round so that they don’t lose you, deferring the starting date later on.

Best,

Francesco

Was this answer helpful?
Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 02, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

Indeed I hear about more and more cases as mentioned in your summary. Currently consulting firms are definitely slowing down recruiting activity and trying to wait a bit until the dust settles and everything gets a bit clearer.

Uncertainty historically always proved to be a disadvantage for the consulting industry - once there is a clear upward or downward trend, situation recovers usually quite fast.

From a candidate's perspective though, the bar will be raising since offer on HR market is still very strong but demand is decreasing at the moment > most firms nowadays can allow themselves to be a bit more picky than usual without risking to leave any money on the table in projects which they could not staff.

This high-level trends are out of your control so there is not that much you can do here, but I'd get into contact with recruiters proactively from time to time to make sure they keep you on their radar more than possibly other candidates.

Hope that helps - if so, please give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

Was this answer helpful?
Vlad
Expert
replied on Apr 02, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Usually, companies don't stop hiring. Unfortunately, they set a very high bar in the recession so that the acceptance rates are much lower.

I recommend you reminding them about yourself in a bit. Nothing you can do, unfortunately. Pls don't bet too much on this opportunity

Best

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous replied on Apr 05, 2020

Hi, I am really sorry to hear that. However, it will be a more common trend across the industry at the moment. Don't worry and I would recommend do these things while waiting for the situation to normalize:

1. Keep practicing on your cases (and mental math)

2. Keep networking with people in other firms (Recruitment will eventually open and you want to be on top of people mind when it did)

3. Related to point 2, get in touch regularly (e.g. monthly) with the BCG HR to ensure once they start recruiting again, you will be the first in line to be scheduled interview

Was this answer helpful?
1
Luca
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 03, 2020
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

It's bad to hear that, but you have to consider that no one can really know about the new hiring targets until the impact of the corona virus on the economy will be clear.
Unfortunately, the only solution is to wait and see what will happen. Have you got other application processes going on?

Best,
Luca

Was this answer helpful?
Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 03, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Oh that is bad luck!

Sorry to hear.

Unfrotunately, I don´t think you can do more than wait at this point.

Make sure you keep in touch with them and, if you have someone known internally who can "push" for you, would be the only way.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Was this answer helpful?
Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Apr 30, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
unfortunately, nobody now is able to predict the precise effects on each business. The 2 true facts today are that interviews are taking place regularly but online instead than face to face, and that many new consulting projects are being paused. Therefore if this lockdown continues for long it can cause a shrinking in new hires.

Best,
​Antonello

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Apr 30, 2020

Appreciate the response but this doesn't necessary help me as I mentioned earlier that my interview is not taking place.

How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely