Clinical to Healthcare Consulting - Networking Advice

Question

Hi,

I’m a Senior Clinical Procurement Specialist and currently lead system-level clinical and procurement transformation across three acute NHS trusts (UK based). I have a track record of delivering cost improvement savings in excess of £2 million, leading projects end to end.
I am also studying for an Executive MBA (finishes 2026).

My background is Emergency Nursing, Trust Operations Management, Ward Management and Clinical Procurement, totalling approx 12 years in the NHS, 7 years at a senior level.

I’m excited to hopefully make the move into Healthcare Consulting as an experienced hire once my MBA finishes and I have started exploring potential UK based firms. After reading relevant healthcare topics on the firms website, I’ve reached out for introductory conversations, commenting on their work and my potential move into consulting and politely requesting a short conversation.

Although it’s not been long, I’ve not yet heard back and just looking for reassurance that I’m tackling this in the right way. My university has suggested reaching out on LinkedIn in the first instance and I’m conscious I need a ‘referral’ before placing applications? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much in advance.

Emily

Answer 1

No matter who you are you can network. (And you should)

a) Reach out to people in your network

b) Reach out to people once removed from your network

c) Reach out to people with a similar background to you (i.e. same alma mater, same historically underrepresented demographic i.e. gender, orientation, ethnicity, etc., same career switch, etc.)

d) Tailor a message to them specifically both showing interest in them and their journey and demonstrating that you have done your research and could be a valuable hire

e) Play "tag" across calls you get so that you can work your way towards the company/office/role you want

f) Never directly ask for a referral, but "hint" at needing one (this is nuanced and important...happy to talk through wording)

Applications Course

Answer 2

Hi Emily,

Your approach is correct. I think you are just facing a specific issue: MBB wants to hire profiles like you because they are definitely expanding into healthcare (traditionally, not a top-5 industry in terms of revenues for most firms in Europe) and need deeper expertise, but many firms just don't have a structured process for you to meet them.

I would do a few things:

Try to get a foot in the door through every event that is remotely connected to you (e.g., experienced hire, women in leadership) and tell the Recruiter you'd want a "coffee chat" with them or with a consultant to understand how/if their firm hires folks healthcare experts like you
Broaden the scope of potential connections: I think any healthcare consultant (Manager and above) works is a good fit for a first chat!
If you have NHS experience, try to look into Public Sector / Public Policy positions. McKinsey for example has a dedicated practice called SHaPE (https://www.mckinsey.com/mckinseys-work-for-social-healthcare-and-public-entities) that often has dedicated Recruiters and pipelines to find more experienced candidates

LinkedIn is the right channel, but don’t be discouraged by a low response rate -- the standard is typically a 10-15% success rate. And try to A/B test different message formats (e.g., long vs. short, focus on the work they do vs. their career trajectory).

Hope this helps!

Tom

Answer 3

Hi Emily, your background is genuinely strong for healthcare consulting. NHS transformation, £2m in savings, clinical plus procurement plus operations. That is exactly what firms like KPMG, Deloitte, Carnall Farrar and Axia look for.

You are doing the right things. A few tweaks that will improve your hit rate.

Your LinkedIn message needs to be short and specific. Don't just ask "can we chat." Say something like "would you have 20 minutes for a call in the next few weeks." Specific asks get responses.

Target consultants who came from clinical or NHS backgrounds. They are far more likely to reply because they see themselves in your story. Search McKinsey Health, Deloitte Health, Carnall Farrar on LinkedIn and filter by NHS experience.

Referrals helps but are not mandatory for experienced hires. A strong application with a clear story gets interviews too.

Work on your one line narrative before every conversation. Something like "I have spent 12 years driving transformation inside NHS trusts and now want to scale that impact across the system." Keep it simple and practiced.

Don't wait for your MBA to finish. Start now. Firms plan hiring months ahead.

Give outreach 2 to 3 weeks before following up. No response is not a no.

You are on the right track. Keep going.

Answer 4

hey Emily :)

you’re actually doing a lot of things right already, your NHS leadership + £2m+ impact + EMBA is a very strong experienced hire profile for healthcare consulting, especially at firms like LEK Consulting or strategy arms in Big 4

on networking, not hearing back yet is completely normal, even strong candidates often need 10 to 20 touchpoints before real conversations start, so don’t interpret silence as a negative signal

your approach is correct, but I’d slightly adjust it to be more “low friction”, instead of asking directly for a call, try referencing a specific project they did and ask for a short perspective or insight, this increases reply rates a lot

also LinkedIn is usually more effective than email for first contact, and warm introductions through alumni or EMBA peers are significantly stronger than cold outreach

about referrals, they help but are not always required, especially in healthcare consulting where lived experience like yours already carries weight, but they do increase interview conversion

you are very much on the right track, just expect this to be a volume game at the start, not a reflection of your profile

if you want, happy to help you rewrite one outreach message to make it more “replyable”

best,
Alessa :)