McKinsey

Question

Hi everyone,

I was going through LinkedIn today and came across a Business Analyst working at McKinsey & Company in the Riyadh office. He’s a Saudi national like me, from a non target undergraduate school, and comes from a non typical background. He worked as a rig foreman at Saudi Aramco for two years.

His profile really caught my attention because he doesn’t seem like the usual MBB candidate, and honestly, neither do I (non-target grad, non-typical experience). So I was thinking of reaching out to him on LinkedIn to ask about how he got in and his experience. What do you think? If you have any tips, I would really appreciate it.

P.S. He is also a CME 1, CME 5, and CFA Level 1 holder, which I do not think matters much for consulting anyway.

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a target profile or usual MBB candidate, especially at the entry level. In fact, his background brings unique sector and industry experience which is genuinely valued by clients these days, especially in the Saudi market where Aramco exposure is a real asset.

Reach out to him on LinkedIn. Several factors likely helped him get his foot in the door including networking with the right people, coffee chats, and being deliberate about positioning his experience. Ask him about that part specifically, it will be more useful than asking generally how he got in.

Once you are in the door, it comes down to cracking interviews through rigorous case practice and the right attitude.

Answer 2

Yes, 100% reach out to him.

Profiles like that are exactly the ones you should be targeting. He’s gone through a similar path, so he’ll likely be more open and more relevant than a “standard” candidate.

A few tips on how to do it well:

Keep it simple and genuine
Mention the similarities (Saudi, non-target, non-traditional background)
Don’t ask for a referral upfront
Ask for a short chat to understand his journey

Something like:
“Hi, I came across your profile and was really interested given your background at Saudi Aramco and your move to McKinsey & Company. I’m also coming from a non-traditional path and would really value hearing about your experience if you have 15 minutes.”

That’s enough.

Then if he replies, try to move to a quick call. On the call:

ask how he positioned his background
what helped him most in recruiting
what he would do differently

And only if the conversation goes well, you can naturally ask for advice on your profile or next steps.

Also, don’t worry too much about things like CFA, CME, etc. — they’re not the main driver. His story and positioning are.

So yes, definitely reach out. That’s exactly the right move.