MBB Partner Call & Advice

Hi there,

1) How do I bring up the topic of a referral provided the call goes well?

You will need to ask indirectly at the end of the call.

You should prepare three main things before the call:

• Your own presentation pitch. 3-4 lines should be enough
• 3-4 questions on the personal experiences of the person. Avoid to ask questions just about the company
• A closing question for the referral. It should be an indirect request to avoid being too pushy. You can hint at the fact you are planning to apply soon.

Before the call, you should have your CV and Cover ready – in this way you can send them right away if the person wants to refer you.

In case you need it for other companies, you can find more on referrals here:

▶ How to Get an MBB Referral 

2) Should I mention that I got rejected last year when I applied before they ask or bring it up in case, they're willing to put in a word for me.

You should let them know you have been rejected before the call ends as they will most likely find out anyway and if you don’t let them know it won’t look good. 

The exact moment depends on how you are going to structure the call. I would personally try to create some connection with the partner first.

3) Do Partner referrals matter given that I have been rejected in the last 12 months?

The call with the partner (and possible referral) could help in two ways in your case: the partner could (i) check if they can accept your application now given the improvements in your CV and refer you or (ii) propose to keep in touch and refer you later when the ban ends if that’s not possible. Both options could be useful.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection 6/7 months ago!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, I would highly advise you to proactively inform the partner about the recent rejection at the beginning of the call, since only then will the partner have the opportunity to change the direction of the call accordingly.
• Moreover, nobody knows for certain whether a partner referral would help in your specific situation, especially given it has only been 6/7 months since your last rejection. As such, I would highly advise you to thoroughly clarify whether reapplying at the moment is meaningful or not, even if not only with the partner. Depending on the application policy, the ban period might be renewed if you reapply unsuccessfully.
• Regarding the referral, in case this will still be a meaningful topic to talk about given your recent rejection, I would advise you to ask indirectly about it towards the end of the call when talking about next steps. If the partner is willing to provide a referral, chances are high he/she will take the initiative to offer you the referral.
• Lastly, I would highly advise you to consider reaching out to an experienced coach about your application files since chances are high you were rejected because of them.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello A,

Congratulations on securing a call with the Partner! Here are my suggestions for your questions:

1. I would suggest that you don't bring up the topic of a referral during the call. If the Partner is interested in referring you, they will likely bring it up themselves. They already know that you are reaching out to them because of your interest in the firm.
2. In my opinion, it's best not to mention your previous rejection unless the Partner asks about it directly. If they do ask, you can briefly explain that you applied before but didn't get an interview, and show that you have understood the reasons behind it and worked to improve your CV. You can then focus the conversation on your current interest in the firm and what you have done to improve your candidacy.
3. Partner referrals can be helpful, especially if they are willing to advocate for you and put in a good word with the recruiting team. 

Overall, come prepared with thoughtful questions and express genuine interest in the firm and the work they do. Try to not ask the standard questions you find online, but ask what you would really like to know about them and step out from the crowd. This is your chance to learn more about the firm and showcase your enthusiasm and potential as a candidate. 

Good luck with your call!

Hi there,

Well done!

1) How do I bring up the topic of a referral provided the call goes well?

You can “hint” at it. Say you're definitely going to apply and ask if they have any advice or guidance for you.

2) Should I mention that I got rejected last year when I applied before they ask or bring it up in case, they're willing to put in a word for me. 

You're within the 1 year mark, so yes I would.

3) Do Partner referrals matter given that I have been rejected in the last 12 months?

I don't love that you're going after this after just 6 months, but sure, shoot your shot!

==========================

Some other advice + Q&As

Ask about them

People love to talk about themselves. Just ask them what they've worked on recently or what their journey at BCG has been like. Importantly, do your research beforehand - find out what they've done and try and pick something from their past that looks interesting to you. Tailor your questions just like they tailor their FIT questions to your resume."So, how did you end up in the Industrial Goods sector?"

Ask insightful questions

Ideally, your questions should also show them that you're insightful, inquisitive, bright, thinking about current topics, etc. For example:

"I saw you worked on a big digital transformation for a financial services company - I experienced one myself and it seemed so hard to move such a big organisation. What did you see as the major challenges and breakthrough moments?"

"I know that x big trend is happening. I also know that y types of companies exhibit z traits. How do you reconcile this difference when ensuring y companies adopt x trends?

Summary: Ask about THEM and ask insightful questions!

You need to:

1. Be ready to explain why you're interested in the firm/role
2. Be ready to give your own background
3. Have researched the company
4. Have good, genuine questions for the consultant
5. Actually have a conversation and ask them follow-up questions, truly talk/connect with them, etc.
6. Be natural/genuine
7. Get more “tag” calls from them (happy to explain this technique in my coaching session)
8. Get a referral by asking in the right way  (happy to explain this technique in my coaching session)

Congratulations on lining up a call! 

Your objective of this conversation should be for the partner to come away with a positive impression of you and for you to feel that you have someone who you can call to  ask for advice. It should not be to get a referral. It drives partners (and other people in consulting) mad when they think that they're speaking with you help you to understand what it's like to be in consulting, and then find out that actually they just wanted you for a referral. 

I recommend that you speak with them about what work they do, what industries and clients they work with, what makes them tick. Get to know them as a person. Be upfront that you applied in the past if they ask, they'll find out anyway but mostly, learn about them and be curious! You'll leave them feeling good and they'll be more likely to advocate for you. 

Good luck!

1) How do I bring up the topic of a referral provided the call goes well?

You don't. They're aware of it. 

2) Should I mention that I got rejected last year when I applied before they ask or bring it up in case, they're willing to put in a word for me. 

Yes, you should mention, but that is not the right request. The right request is to try to understand why you didn't make it through the screening phase (ask them their perspective on this) - if everything is fine with your profile, then the logical answer is to give you a referal (and you don't need to ask for it). 

3) Do Partner referrals matter given that I have been rejected in the last 12 months?

It will matter, but only the ban period is over or close to be over (the 12 months is indicative, not set in stone; but 6 months is not close enought to that 12 month range).

Hi there,

Congratulations on securing a call with a Partner at your target MBB firm! Here are some tips on how to make the most of this opportunity:

When the conversation is wrapping up, you can ask the Partner if they would be willing to refer you for a future application. You can say something like, "I really appreciate our conversation today, and I was wondering if you would be open to referring me for a future application to [MBB firm]?" If the Partner agrees, be sure to follow up with them after the call with your resume and any other relevant materials.

It's okay to mention your previous rejection, especially if the Partner asks about your past application history. You can briefly explain what you learned from that experience and how you've improved since then.

Partner referrals can be helpful, but they are not a guarantee of success. Ultimately, your application will be evaluated on its own merits, so it's important to focus on strengthening your skills and experiences.

In terms of showcasing your growth, you can talk about specific examples of how you've improved since your last application, such as new skills you've learned or projects you've worked on. Be sure to highlight any relevant experiences that align with the firm's values and areas of expertise. 

Good luck with your call!