Are referrals necessary for MBB recruiting in Australia?

Hi there,

Referrals hold a ton of weight for recruiting in any country. If you have a valid work authorization, Australia might be less competitive than other countries (e.g., US, UK); however, Australian MBB recruiters still get tons of resumes and need to find a way to filter candidates. 

That said, a referral will impact much more if you are an entry-level candidate than an experienced hire with peculiar experience (in the second case, you might just try to connect with recruiters first). Hard to say if they are truly "necessary", that depends on how unique your resume is.

Typically, you get a referral by networking on Linkedin with Uni Alums, or personal connections, or people that share something with you (e.g., an interest in an industry). You can find more tips here: https://www.preplounge.com/consulting-forum/referral-tips-24730 :)

Hope this helps, and good luck on your journey!

Best,
Tom

Short and clear: referrals help in Australia, but they’re not required. MBB Sydney/Melbourne treat referrals as a nice‑to‑have signal, not a gatekeeper, so you can get interviews purely on CV strength, tests, and story. The easiest way to get one is through light LinkedIn outreach, alumni chats, or campus events,  but you don’t need a referral to be competitive.

Best, Alessa