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What exactly is in McKinsey, Bain, and BCG's recruiting databases?

I'm curious exactly what kind of a centralized database exists at all of these firms. What kind of files exist for people who previously interviewed there (what information is there?), and what files (if any) exist for those who simply dropped their resume and were not granted an interview? Are the files at the national level or international level? Any insight would be appreciated, thank you!

Reply 1

rboogie

7

yeah, I have McK's recruitment techniques right here in my back pocket.

Reply 2

Drogue

19

Nobody knows, nor should it matter. They probably keep your application on the computer, but again, it shouldn't make any difference.

Reply 3

fuglyduckling

2

I think they'd check but you may as well apply anyway - what's to lose?

Reply 4

shady lane

16

My application experiences:

Senior in college in US:
McK - rejection without interview
Bain - interview to 2nd round
BCG - interview

MSc student in UK:
McK - interview
Bain - rejection without interview
BCG - rejection without interview

What's the lesson? Hell if I know. Just apply; much of getting an interview is a crapshoot anyway.

Reply 5

simon123

shady lane

My application experiences:

Senior in college in US:
McK - rejection without interview
Bain - interview to 2nd round
BCG - interview

MSc student in UK:
McK - interview
Bain - rejection without interview
BCG - rejection without interview

What's the lesson? Hell if I know. Just apply; much of getting an interview is a crapshoot anyway.

Jesus you got rejected without interview with your academic credientials, do you have to be a super human to get into these strat consulting places!?

Reply 6

shady lane

16

Hmm, I dunno. When I was a senior, I wanted to go into consulting much more than banking. It made a bit more sense to me at the time. But when I was applying this time, I knew that I wanted S&T and just put in consulting apps as back-ups. I did get interview offers with Mercer Oliver Wyman and American Express Strategic Planning Group, but both of those are more finance-oriented consulting positions so maybe that's the reason.

Reply 7

Drogue

19

simon123

Jesus you got rejected without interview with your academic credientials, do you have to be a super human to get into these strat consulting places!?

Yes. Looking at my friends who applied, around 1 in 4 got interviews :s-smilie:

Reply 8

s.e.r.e.n.e

12

Drogue

Yes. Looking at my friends who applied, around 1 in 4 got interviews :s-smilie:

Applied for consulting or investment banking?

Reply 9

simon123

spencer11111

Applied for consulting or investment banking?

Im sure he is talking about consulting, if people think IB is hard to get into strat consulting appears to be on a whole new level.

Reply 10

s.e.r.e.n.e

12

Oh my god...

Reply 11

shady lane

16

It's much, much easier to get an IB interview than consulting. It's easier to get an IB interview than to get an interview at a damn NGO.

Reply 12

s.e.r.e.n.e

12

shady lane

It's much, much easier to get an IB interview than consulting. It's easier to get an IB interview than to get an interview at a damn NGO.

What is so attractive about NGO?

Reply 13

CityMonkey

11

spencer11111

What is so attractive about NGO?

Feel good factor? Makes route into banking/consulting etc easier?

Reply 14

shady lane

16

spencer11111

What is so attractive about NGO?

They're a stepping stone into the policy field. Working at Amnesty International for a few years will look great when you apply to work at UNHCR.

The problem is that they don't have a lot of money, so there are few positions. The people who are at the top tend to take the position of "defending the kingdom;" they don't want to be replaced by an upstart, so they often make it difficult for people with good degrees to get in. It's not about making money, and to be honest most NGOs are totally inefficient and seem to enjoy being so, so that having great academics and references doesn't guarantee anything.

Most of my peers, having spent the past year getting rejected by NGOs, are now looking to work in the private sector. The Big 4 has swooped up an absurd amount of people in the LSE government department this year already. And I've gotten e-mails from people who swore they were going to Uganda to help villagers asking about application tips for my company :rolleyes:

Reply 15

Drogue

19

spencer11111

Applied for consulting or investment banking?

Consulting - it is the topic of this thread :wink:

Reply 16

kstone122

OP

1

fuglyduckling

I think they'd check but you may as well apply anyway - what's to lose?

Thanks for the responses... I am definitely going to apply, there's no question, but as I try to network with these people I was curious as to whether or not they would know that I already applied (and would they know what was said regarding my application)?

Reply 17

sins55

1

Consulting is tough to get an interview. I have an offer from a 'well known firm', however I'm not really happy with it (don't ask why, long story). I'm making my apps to BCG and McKinsey this weekend, but at least I know I have a good salary in the bag as a 'fallback' as such...

But I see what you mean about it being competitive, I know plenty of people who applied and got nowhere. :s-smilie:

Reply 18

kstone122

OP

1

anone_hamster

Well they won't know whether you've applied to one of the others, but if you've already applied (and been rejected) from the same firm, of course they are going to know the details of what happened last time. McK, for example, say on their website, that they won't consider any applications from anyone who has applied to any of their offices worldwide in the previous 12 months...

You pretty much just answered my question. It makes sense that if I applied directly through a firm's website that they'd still have it on record and know about it (even if I didn't get an interview). What's a little more ambiguous for me though is for a firm where I applied through my campus' system, because I doubt that they take down the names of everybody who applied from every single campus. I doubt they're that organized, or am I wrong?

What exactly is in McKinsey, Bain, and BCG's recruiting databases?

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