Lessons from failure

I just gave my final round interview at McKinsey and want to write to share my experience (and to destress- in no particular order of importance:)) This was my third round at McK after clearing the PST and I owe credit to some failures for helping me reach here.
First, the PST. McKinsey's written test was my second such test. Earlier in the year I wrote a test for another firm and didn't clear that test. I was complacent. I thought,"Heck, I got a 700+ in GMAT and am doing my MBA in Oxford. There is no way I'll fail a math test." Turns out I was wrong. That was a good wake up call and brought me to my senses. The consulting industry is quite competitive. Top that with the current economic climate where firms don't appear to be hiring as many people and an extremely stiff competition for London base roles. You get the picture. It's tough. So when I got a call to write the test for McK I ensured I worked on my maths and verbal skills to ensure I give it my best shot. The effort was rewarded. Of the 40-odd people invited for the test from SBS, about 12 got interview calls.
My first round interview was in London. Just around my McK interview I had a final round with another firm. I didn't clear that and the feedback that I got shook me up a bit. I was told things that were basically nothing like how I am as a person. So I figured one's performance in the interview is as important as the interviewer's perception of the individual. Its something one can't completely control but can certainly influence. I wrote down the feedback and actioned on only things I thought were genuine areas I could focus on/improve. It was hard to ignore feedback but it's also an important skill to develop.
Anyways, after the first round I was the only one from SBS to be invited for a London based role (2 other Canadians were invited for final rounds for Canada based roles too) I was now the only non-UK resident to be invited to the final round at a big firm for their London ops. Many international students coming to SBS are aiming for a London job. With a dismal job offer rate so far (our Careers team informs us this is normal and hiring should pick up in the summer. But with impending visa changes students are more anxious than usual) many
students pinned their hopes of success on me. Some were jokes, of course, but some were real. And so I wanted to do well not just for myself but also keep the hope alive. Big things can happen.
In my 'final' round I met a very senior partner, a Principal and a Associate Principal. All my PEIs went really well. My performance on one case was the equivalent of a home run, another went quite well but the third was very average. The last one didn't go well because I couldn't understand something in the case. I asked for a clarification
but didn't understand the clarification too. I didn't seek further help- when I should have (I was later told by the recruitment team that it won't have been held against me if I had asked again) This was Friday. On the following Monday, at 1:30pm I got a voicemail from the senior partner to discuss the output from Friday and that he'd call me later in the day again. I listened to the message around 1:35pm and couldn't resist being excited. If I hadn't cleared, someone from HR would've called me and not a senior partner, I reasoned. So I stared at my phone for the next few hours expecting the call. It came 5 hours later. The feedback was that I hadn't done as well on the cases though everyone enjoyed meeting me. And they wanted to offer me another chance to prove my
capability on cases- if I was still interested. It felt bad and a sort of step down because here I was expecting a call with an offer and that wasn't the result. But I decided to stay positive and focus on the areas that I didn't do well in. A week later-today- I had 2 interviews and I think I did quite well. I prepared some more cases along side my revision for the subjects-my exams scheduled for next week! I have a couple of other firms lined up for interview but nothing will move for the next 2 weeks. So now it's time to focus on my studies (someone please tell me what have we learnt in Macroeconomics please ?!?) But I feel quite good about today. I don't think I could've done any more/else. So whether I get through or not, I will have a good memory of this time. I worked hard, learnt about
taking feedback and working on it and avoided repeating any mistakes. If this doesn't work out something else will, soon enough. Wish you luck in pursuing your goals and your journey getting them! Keep learning and you'll be there sooner than later.:)

PS: Within a day of writing the above I got a call from McKinsey and I will be made an offer to join the London Operations practice. Yay!