How to Network for an MBB Referral?

Hi,

Asking for the referral early is what stops these messages from getting a reply, because a referral for someone you have never spoken to is a commitment almost nobody is willing to take.

Who you write to matters more than what you write. Look for people you share something concrete with: the same university, the same previous employer, the same country, even the same interests. That common ground is what makes someone open a message from a stranger and answer it.

Use the first exchange to ask for advice and nothing else: whether the office is hiring, how they read your profile, what they would do in your position. Then move to your CV and ask them what they would change. Only if that feedback is positive do you ask whether they would be comfortable referring you.

The point of the sequence is that every step asks for a small marginal commitment, small enough that the person can say yes without thinking about it, and by the time the referral comes up they know you well enough for it to be easy.

If you want a pair of external eyes on your specific situation and more tailor made suggestions, feel free to write to me.

Best,

Franco

You don’t need connections. What you need is a systemic way to network quickly and effectively.

Most people write tailored messages to one person at a time. Wrong. You’ll waste days upon days. Other people spam generic messages. Also wrong. You’ll have a low response rate.

There’s a middle ground, but I’m sorry, I can’t share it publicly. If everyone knew the technique, it would break networking!

If you get my 360° Consulting Recruiting Course Bundle, shoot me a message. I’ll happily share the technique with you, in addition to providing a folder of real messages showing what works and what doesn’t.

I think you’re right to be upfront. You don’t need to pretend you’re reaching out purely out of curiosity when you’re hoping to apply. But there’s a difference between saying that and asking someone to refer you in the first message.

Without a shared connection, I’d explain why you picked that person. It could be their career path, the work they do, or something they posted that interested you. Nothing elaborate, just a reason beyond “you work at McKinsey”.

Something like:

“Hi [Name], I’m working in [field] and hoping to apply to [firm]. I saw that you also moved from [field] into consulting, and I’d love to hear how you approached the transition. Would you have 15 minutes for a chat sometime in the next couple of weeks?”

Then have the conversation. Ask things you actually want to know, share a bit about yourself, and see how it goes. You don’t need to stretch it into weeks of messages just to make the referral request feel more natural.

If you’ve discussed your background and the conversation has gone well, you can ask:

“Thanks again, that was really helpful. I’m planning to apply next week - would you feel comfortable referring me? Happy to send over my CV, and no worries at all if not.”

You can be honest about what you want while giving the other person space to decide. And if they offer advice but aren’t comfortable referring you, that can still be a useful conversation.

Best,
Bogdan

Be honest that you are preparing to apply, but do not ask for a referral in the first message. A referral asks someone to put their reputation behind you; a stranger has no basis for doing that yet.

Choose the recipient carefully. Even without a shared school or employer, identify a specific reason: a similar career transition, practice area, office or article they wrote. Keep the message short: who you are, why you chose them, and one low-friction request for a 15-minute conversation.

During the call, ask questions you genuinely need answered and give enough context for them to understand your profile. If the conversation is strong, send a specific thank-you and follow any advice. When you are ready to apply, ask directly but give them an easy exit: “Would you feel comfortable referring me? I can send my CV, and I completely understand if not.” Positive advice is useful even when it does not become a referral.

That's a fair question. 

I've actually written a guide on this here: 

• • Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

In short:

• Expect a low response rate
• Keep your message short
• Don't ask for too much (asking for a 10 min convo is already enough)
• Suggest intervals when they can contact you and consider providing directly your phone number so they can call you directly when they have time

Best,
Cristian 

Hey there :)

I’d be upfront that you’re interested in the firm, but I wouldn’t open with “can you refer me?” A short, personalized message usually works best. Mention why you picked that person specifically, ask one or two genuinely relevant questions, and keep it easy for them to respond.

If the conversation goes well, you can simply say that you’re planning to apply and ask whether they’d feel comfortable referring you. That’s much more natural than pretending the referral was never your goal.

And don’t take non responses personally. Consultants get a lot of these messages, so relevance and brevity matter much more than having a mutual connection.

Best, Alessa :)