Any advice much appreciated. A week ago I had an MC interview. The Partner told me at the end of it that he will take my candidature further and said that somebody will contact me to schedule 2nd round. But nobody has contacted me. So either the Partner has changed his mind or they forgot about me... Anyway, since the Partner gave me his business card, is it appropriate to email him with the question? Or 1 week is too short?

ask Pear for advice. he is the expert on getting jobs in consulting...

Apple - what did I do to deserve the irony? If you have nothing valuable to say, then don't.

Hi,I think 1 week is enough to justify contacting them. I think if you have the email of the partner that interviewed you it's ok to email him. Plus it shows you're keen which is good.You may want to phrase it like as a follow-up 'thank you note' for the opportunity, interview, and how impressed you were with the company, etc with a mention to when you're 2nd round is going to be.

Grad.lon you need to be patient - even senior level applicants are often not the priority for a Partner within an MC firm, let alone grads (I assume from your name you are a grad?). Give it another week and then drop HR a polite email (cc the Partner in) to see whether they are scheduling second stage interviews. Worth bearing in mind that - unless the role is very specialised and/or senior - they will want to complete round 1 with everyone and then move to round 2 once they have finalised their shortlist for that round. If you carry on worrying like this you'll be a bag of nerves! Relax and accept that MC firms have their processes. Usually once things are moving you will find it concludes quite quickly.

By the way, responding to Ned Flanders, I would advise against the 'thank you' note on email - this partner is not your Mother, or the cleaner. Its at best obsequious and at best a little desperate and old fashioned. You are a commodity like everything else, to be traded for salary and so forth. Treat it that way.Okileedokileee?

okilly-dokilly,Point taken on board Mars, I'm in a bit of a pickle over this one. I could agree that thank you notes can be a bit old fashioned and that you're quite right in stating that the company will probably want to end all first rounds before scheduling 2nd rounds. However, by looking at the info provided by the original post I wouldn't expect this to be a massive MC firm if a Partner is doing first rounds graduate interviews. Secondly, the partner left his/her card in the knowledge that they may be contacted. I still think that contacting them is better than not contacting them at all!

Ned I take youe point, but still think grad.lon should not send a thank you note, and wait 2 weeks - then simply make an enquiry around scheduling of the round and underline interest in the firm etc etc.

Was it an interview for EY BAS? I interviewed with them last year, got loads of ooohing and aaahing from them, and a promise that they would bring me back for final interview within the week, and then complete radio silence.The interviewer even gave me his card, but didn't have the courtesy to respond to my e-mail the following week which very politely asked for an update.The fact that a company treats its interviewees so shabbily illustrates what a poor employer they are likely to be, IMHO

Many thanks Guys for advice! (BTW, you see Apple... others can be nice - try it as well).It's a strategy role with boutique investment bank. Don't know why the Partner interviewed me and not some Associate or so. Thanks again for replies.

Guys, 1 more question: when contacting HR is it better to drop them an email or call them?

Ok grad.lon now I think things are a little clearer - I guess we had assumed this was a role with an MC firm; given that it is a boutique IB I would recommend the follow up email to the Partner you met. Not HR though - HR is a process driven function, and to them you are simply a procedural matter, not an emotional one (if you see what I mean - they eat fish but not with the head on it). The culture in a boutique IB is rather different and being "one of us" is paramount, so schmooze!!If you have to contact HR for any reason call an follow up with an email.

Thanks Mars a Day. Will do as you suggested.

Guys, 1 more question: when contacting HR is it better to drop them an email or call them?