BCG referral

Question

Hello experts,

I have been referred by Project Leader for Senior Associate position at BCG in one of their European offices. Next day I got the unique link and I applied via that link.

I had approached couple of people in BCG to get the referral and this project leader referred me.

Next day I got an email from another person and he told me my resume is not good enough and he is unable to understand what I am doing in my current role and asked me to change my CV and make it clear. This person was a consultant and not from any recruiting team. I had approached him for the referral as in I was networking.

I am bit confused as one person has referred me and other person from the same company told me my CV is not good enough.

This CV has got me through the initial screening for Bain, LEK, OC&C and strategy&.

1 - How much does the referral weigh at BCG especially from if you are referred by project leader?

2 - I have do not have any brand names on my CV but have more than 2 years of experience in a small research and consulting firm and 1 year of entrepreneurial experience as I have worked in a startup. I know brand names are super important for MBB. But if you are referred and do not have brand names will they give you a chance as you are referred?

Answer 1

A referral is a referral. It doesn't guarantee an interview and it doesn't guarantee selection. It only helps in giving your CV a priority in the heap of applications that HR receives. To a certain extent, it can also help in making some of the testing stage procedures (such as PSTs) non-evaluatory and only a formality - thereby easing the process for you.

Typically a more senior referral is better, but even from a PL is good enough.

On your second question - more than brand names, MBB looks for spikes and high achievements in the profile. Brand names help make that distinction more easily. Further, different people can have different opinions on CVs

Having said that, wouldn't harm to share your CV with me and we can take a closer look if there is something to tweak.

Answer 2

You are presenting this as two people having different opinions on the same thing.

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they may have their opinion based on different things on your resume (one things your resume is great overall, the other one doesn't like something specific about your resume).

What you should be considering is WHY does the second person think it is not a good resume / is not able to understand what you do. Is the opinion based on solid reasoning or not?

So you should try to understand why does he have that opinion and judge by yourself. Or send me your resume and I'll be happy to give my own opinion on that specific work experience.

Answer 3

Hello,

1. A referral is certainly helpful in getting your resume in front of people, and greatly increases your chances of getting an interview. So congratulations on getting that!

2. People are going to have different opinions on resumes, and there's not one specific thing that you have to have (e.g. big brand names) for a resume to be considered good. The fact that your resume passed the initial screen at several top consulting companies is a great sign, but if the person who emailed you has provided some useful feedback, you could take it on board and make your resume even better.

Answer 4

Hi there,

You have to remember that people are people!

It's rare to have “universal truth” in this world…so accept that some people will like your resume and others won't.

Also, please remember incentives. Most of these individuals are incredibly busy and may just glance at your resume and say it looks good. There are two possible worlds here:

1) Your resume is fantastic and this individual is just “particular”

2) Your resume is good, not amazing, and there are clear areas of improvement

If you are truly concerned, I recommend you get a vested (paid) interest to actually review your resume!

In regards to your question, referrals help a lot, but they are not gaurentees. To maximize your odds, you want the “best” resume possible AND a referral. Even then, many additional, uncontrolable factors play a role!

Answer 5

Hi there,

A referral is always better than applying online only. It won’t guarantee an interview though (even if from a partner)
Totally depends on your CV and how you structured it. If you passed the screening already for Bain that seems promising, although according to the consultant opinion there seem to be possible improvements

Hope this helps,

Francesco