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What is the HR guy trying to say?

Interview Scheduling MBB offer
New answer on Mar 04, 2022
9 Answers
1.1 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Feb 27, 2022

Final interview 4 business days ago. At the end of the interview partner said someone will get back to me in the next day or two. But now it's been a week. 

E-mailed HR to follow up. Response was ‘we are aiming to revert to you with an outcome decision by the end of next week’. 

In my head there are a few scenarios:

Base Case - Busy than expected period and there are a few candidates, consensus from partners are taking a while. 

Bull Case - No ding from HR means final round feedback was positive. Taking some time for HR to compile things and move on to next steps. 

Bear Case - They're waiting for someone else to decide on an offer. Or, it was a ding, and they're waiting for next week to send rejections in one go. 

Based on your experiences working in consulting firms, which one might be the more likely? If the partner mentioned to get back quite quickly - what may cause this delay? Would it be more of my suitability as a candidate; or internal workload?

 

PS

Please don't answer with ‘it means what it means’ type answers. Obviously i'm trying to speculate what is going on internally. Just being an impatient brat. 

 

(edited)

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Pedro
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updated an answer on Feb 28, 2022
30% off in April 2024 | Bain | EY-Parthenon | Roland Berger | Market Sizing | DARDEN MBA

Based on your experiences working in consulting firms, which one might be the more likely? 

Of course the base case. 

Bear case just doesn't apply. If you didn't make it, you didn't make it, they don't need to wait for anyone else to know that. Regarding rejections, they rarely process in large batches - could be the case in campus recruiting, but even in that situation the base case is more likely.

Base case - they also don't take days to move the process forward. It could happen that they get the information one day and only move forward the next, but that's the kind of lag we're talking here.

So yep, it's base case. No information means… no decision yet. Of course, if they were super-excited about you… most likely the decision would have been faster.

(edited)

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Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thank you for the insights - really helpful. I’d love to ask a follow up question if that is alright. I see that you have a strong background as a recruiter too - After a final round interview, do the interviewers feedback to HR and let them drive things forward? (I.e. can HR be the rate limiting bottle neck before the next steps?). Or do the partners take things forward? Many thanks.

Pedro on Feb 28, 2022

Usually it's the partners that have to communicate the news with the candidate. So the real bottleneck is the partners making the decision (or making the time to communicate).

Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thank you so much. Really helpful!!

Lucie
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Feb 28, 2022
10+yrs recruiting & BCG Project leader

Hi there, 

I would say you may be the off-wave hire and those can take time. All of the people that interviewed you must provide feedback and someone must put it together, everyone's agenda is packed… No worry, they will come back to you. I would do weekly follow up or ask when to expect the outcome. 

Good luck!

Lucie

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Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thanks - good to hear that off cycle may take a little bit longer.

Moritz
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Content Creator
replied on Feb 27, 2022
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | 90min sessions with FREE exercises & videos

Hey there,

This is obviously frustrating and I get your anxiousness!

Here's some comments on your scenarios:

  • Base Case - Busy than expected period and there are a few candidates, consensus from partners are taking a while. Yep, this seems pretty likely. Getting partners into the same room during a busy recruitment period can be a tough thing. HR might be busy too, which you're only invoking in the Bull Case but applies generally. Wouldn't be surprised if it's just people being busy. Outcome could still be positive or negative.
  • Bull Case - No ding from HR means final round feedback was positive. Taking some time for HR to compile things and move on to next steps. Sure, let's go with that! People have gotten offers anywhere between a couple of minutes and a few weeks after the final interview. This is entirely possible.
  • Bear Case - They're waiting for someone else to decide on an offer. Or, it was a ding, and they're waiting for next week to send rejections in one go. They're not waiting for someone else to take an offer. Either you cleared the bar or you didn't. If you did, you'll get an offer. In case of batch-rejecting people, this depends on the firm. However, this is not typically done unless part of a very synchronized campus recruitment process.

Keeping my fingers crossed! Best of luck!

 

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Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thanks! Good to know that my base case seems sensible to you! Reassuring

Mamoun
Expert
replied on Feb 28, 2022
Prepares you to crack ALL cases | Interviewer with recent cases, 150+ interviews, 6+ years exp (France, MENA)

Hey, 

If you want to speculate, try to get information on what is happening with other candidates at the moment (especially if this was part of a campus recruitment). You can then extrapolate if HR are busy or not, if they batch rejections etc. 

Other than that, I would agree with the other comments, the more you wait the less likely you will get a positive offer (it still happens though). 

Best of luck! 

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Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thank you!

Ian
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Content Creator
replied on Feb 28, 2022
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

The most likely is the Base case and the bear case.

If they're already decided they wanted you, they would have called.

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Anonymous on Feb 28, 2022

Thank you - it makes a lot of sense.

Francesco
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Content Creator
replied on Feb 28, 2022
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

The quick answer is:

  • If they get back same/following day – it is usually a good sign
  • If they get back within a week – no one knows whether it’s good or bad. It could be anything you mentioned
  • If they get back after one week – it is usually a bad sign

Normally the more you wait, the less likely an offer is. However, I helped a few candidates who got an offer after one week, so there are still chances of a positive outcome in your case.

What you can really do in this situation is to “forget” about the final and focus on the other options, if present. Difficult to do, but there is no possible gain for you in trying to guess an outcome you have no control over.

Good luck!

Francesco

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Adi
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Content Creator
replied on Feb 28, 2022
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

You dont want to hear this, but what are you doing in your head and outside of you is a total waste of your time, effort and energy. I hope you gave your best during the interview process and if you did, just relax and wait patiently. Nudge them if you dont hear anything back say within 2-3 weeks. There could be many things going on the backend which you have no control over and no visibility of. Speculation is an utter waste. 

Get on with your life while you wait for the outcome. Your job is to give your best absolute best and then let things happen without getting too hung up on the outcome.

All the best and fingers crossed for you.

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Anonymous B on Feb 28, 2022

Thank you for the wishes, I appreciate it. It took me a minute to ask a question here so I don’t really understand the assumption of me not ‘getting on with life’ lol. Like I said in my question. If you haven’t got any input for the purpose of speculation would be preferable for you to ignore this question. People need insights on this forum not life guidance - maybe that’s just me but just a feedback for you.

Adi on Feb 28, 2022

You are not looking for insights. You are looking for assurance & comfort :). You wouldn't be asking such speculative questions and requesting coaches to speculate for you, if you had clarity of thought. So I felt responsible to remind you that you can speculate/think/worry about the past and future but dont live there. Your life is happening in the present. Thats all. Once you have given your best, move on and let thing happen. And isn't your career part of your life? How can the advice or insights be separated by ignoring one over the other.

Clara
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Mar 01, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I laughed a lot with how you finished the post :)

Most likely, tbh with what you say, base or bull. In MBB at least, the last one wouldn't happen, you only compete against yourself. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

(edited)

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Anonymous replied on Mar 04, 2022

Hi there, I wouldn't overthink it. I do not think the performance of other candidates affects your outcome, as there are no rigid hiring limits in place (even though there are seasonal hiring objectives, of course, with ideal numbers of recruits per role per specialization). Based on my experience in BCG, where there were literally 2 HR people managing ALL recruitment, they are just overwhelmed and behind schedule. So try to stay calm and be patient :)

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Pedro gave the best answer

Pedro

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