The Most Difficult Company to Get into, Ranked

Choose the company you think is the most difficult!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 9, 2024 06:24
Finding out which company is the toughest to get a job offer from can be quite illuminating. This knowledge not only prepares job seekers for the challenges ahead but also helps them understand the competitive landscape of the job market. As such, there is great benefit in compiling and reviewing collective experiences and opinions to determine which company holds the reputation as the most rigorous in its hiring practices. This ranking provides a dynamic snapshot of audience opinions, gathered through votes, on which companies are the hardest to enter. By participating, you contribute to a broader community insight and also see where others believe the bar is set the highest. Whether you're a current job seeker, a career advisor, or just curious, your votes help paint a clearer picture for everyone.

What Is the Most Difficult Company to Get into?

  1. 1
    40
    votes
    McKinsey & Company
    Kidfly182 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    McKinsey & Company

    James O. McKinsey
    McKinsey is widely considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with an incredibly competitive hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments.
    McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm that provides strategic advice and solutions to major corporations, governments, and non-profit organizations. It is known as one of the most prestigious and difficult companies to get into due to its rigorous hiring process and reputation for hiring top talent.
    • Industry: Management Consulting
    • Founded: 1926
    • Headquarters: New York City, United States
    • Employees: 30,000+
    • Revenue: Over $10 billion
  2. 2
    44
    votes
    Google is one of the most desirable employers in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on technical skills and cultural fit.
    Google is a multinational technology company known for its internet-related services and products. It was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. The company's mission statement is 'to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.' Google offers a wide range of products and services, including search engine, online advertising technologies, cloud computing, software, and hardware.
    • Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
    • Year Founded: 1998
    • Number of Employees: Over 135,000
    • Revenue (2019): US$ 161.8 billion
    • Market Capitalization (2021): Over US$ 1 trillion
  3. 3
    27
    votes
    Goldman Sachs
    Quantumquark · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Goldman Sachs

    Marcus Goldman
    Goldman Sachs is one of the most prestigious investment banks in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on academic achievement and cultural fit.
    Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm. It offers a wide range of financial services to corporations, governments, and individuals worldwide. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is headquartered in New York City, USA.
    • Industry: Financial services
    • Founded: 1869
    • Headquarters: New York, USA
    • Type: Public
    • Exchange: NYSE
  4. 4
    14
    votes
    Apple is one of the most innovative and successful technology companies in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on technical skills and cultural fit.
    Apple is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics, software, and online services. It is widely known for its innovative products and is considered one of the most loved companies in the world.
    • iPhone: Flagship smartphone line
    • MacBook Pro: High-performance laptop
    • iPad: Tablet computer
    • Apple Watch: Smartwatch
    • iMac: All-in-one desktop computer
  5. 5
    22
    votes
    Boston Consulting Group
    Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Boston Consulting Group

    Bruce D. Henderson
    Boston Consulting Group is one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on academic achievement and cultural fit.
    The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a leading global management consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services to clients across various industries. BCG is known for its expertise in business strategy, corporate finance, operations, marketing, and digital transformation. The firm is renowned for its rigorous analytical approach, innovative ideas, and deep industry knowledge, helping clients solve their most complex business challenges.
    • Industry Focus: Diversified across various sectors and industries
    • Global Presence: Operates in over 50 countries
    • Core Services: Strategy consulting, corporate finance, operations, marketing, digital transformation
    • Clientele: Works with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations
    • Business Approach: Data-driven, analytics-based decision-making
  6. 6
    14
    votes
    SpaceX is one of the most innovative and successful space exploration companies in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on technical skills and cultural fit.
    SpaceX is an aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002. It is known for its ambitious goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars.
    • Year Founded: 2002
    • Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
    • Founder: Elon Musk
    • CEO: Elon Musk
    • Industry: Aerospace
  7. 7
    10
    votes
    Facebook is one of the most successful social media companies in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on technical skills and cultural fit.
    Facebook is a social networking platform that allows users to connect with friends, family, and organizations worldwide. It enables users to share photos and videos, send messages, post updates, and engage in various forms of virtual communication.
    • Platform: Android, iOS, Web
    • Version: Varies with device
    • Size: Varies with device
    • Downloads: 5+ billion
    • Rating: 4.2/5
  8. 8
    13
    votes
    J.P. Morgan
    Pach Bros. · Public domain

    J.P. Morgan

    John Pierpont Morgan
    J.P. Morgan is one of the most prestigious investment banks in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on academic achievement and cultural fit.
    J.P. Morgan is a multinational investment bank and financial services company. Established in 1871, it is one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the United States. J.P. Morgan operates in over 100 markets globally, providing a wide range of services including investment banking, asset management, private banking, and treasury services.
    • Founded: 1871
    • Headquarters: New York City, United States
    • Industry: Financial Services
    • Number of Employees: Approximately 255,000
    • Revenue: Approximately $115 billion USD (2019)
    J.P. Morgan in other rankings
  9. 9
    12
    votes
    Amazon is one of the most successful e-commerce companies in the world, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on technical skills and cultural fit.
    Amazon is a multinational technology company that specializes in e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It is one of the world's largest online marketplaces and one of the most valuable companies globally. Amazon offers a wide range of products and services, including retail goods, Amazon Prime subscription, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Alexa voice assistant, Kindle e-readers, and more.
    • Founded: July 5, 1994
    • Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
    • Industry: E-commerce, Cloud computing, Artificial intelligence
    • Revenue: USD 386 billion (2020)
    • Net income: USD 21.3 billion (2020)
  10. 10
    3
    votes

    The Boston Globe

    Charles H. Taylor
    The Boston Globe is one of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States, with a highly selective hiring process that includes multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, as well as a rigorous focus on journalistic skills and cultural fit.
    The Boston Globe is a reputable daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States, known for its comprehensive coverage of local, national, and international news.
    • Founded: 1872
    • Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
    • Type: Daily newspaper
    • Format: Broadsheet
    • Language: English
    The Boston Globe in other rankings

Missing your favorite company?

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Ranking factors for difficult company

  1. Selectivity
    The percentage of applicants who are accepted for a job in the company, i.e. the lower the acceptance rate, the more difficult it is to get into the company.
  2. Reputation
    The overall standing of the company in its industry and how well-known it is for having high standards for employee qualifications and contributions.
  3. Job requirements
    The level of education, training, experience and talent required for available positions in the company. Companies with very specialized or high-skill roles can be harder to get into.
  4. Competition
    The number of applicants applying for a limited number of job positions. The more applicants there are, the harder it is to stand out from the competition and get hired.
  5. Company culture
    Companies with strong cultures and values may be harder to break into if candidates don't align with those values or demonstrate the desired cultural fit during the application process.
  6. Interview process
    The complexity, rigor, and length of the interview process can make a company more difficult to get into. Companies that require multiple rounds of interviews, technical assessments, and case studies are generally harder to get into than those with simple, straightforward interviews.
  7. Networking
    The importance of personal connections and networking in securing a job at the company. It can be more difficult to get into a company if personal connections are crucial to the application process and you don't have the right connections.
  8. Employee retention
    A company with a high employee retention rate may have fewer open positions, making it more challenging to find a job there.
  9. Growth and expansion
    Companies that are rapidly growing and expanding might be easier to get into as they may have more job openings and opportunities for candidates.
  10. Compensation and benefits
    A high level of compensation and benefits can attract more skilled and experienced candidates to apply, increasing the level competition and making it harder to secure a job.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult company to get into. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or company is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 8017 views
  • 168 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each company once every 24 hours. The rank of each company is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult company to get into

Background information: Getting into a top-tier company can be a dream come true for many job seekers. These companies are known for their high salaries, exceptional employee benefits, and prestige in the industry. However, with great rewards come great challenges. The competition to get into these companies is fierce, with thousands of applicants vying for just a handful of positions. So, what makes a company difficult to get into? It could be a combination of factors, including a rigorous hiring process, high standards for candidates, and a limited number of job openings. Some companies are also known for their selective hiring practices, which can make the application process even more challenging. In this article, we will explore some of the most difficult companies to get into and what sets them apart from the rest. From tech giants to consulting firms, these companies have a reputation for being some of the most competitive places to work. So, if you're looking to land a job at one of these companies, be prepared to bring your A-game.

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