McKinsey Riyadh application - apply now or wait for referral?

Hi there, 

Maybe the Middle East offices of McKinsey are indeed different from the rest (McKinsey offices do tend to differ somewhat on certain elements). 

However, in general, McKinsey has a strict rule on an unbiased meritocratic interview process - i.e., a referral from any level (ASC to Sr. Partner) should not have any impact on your chances to receive an offer.

But, as I mentioned above, the ME region might be a bit different on that aspect - hopefully someone xMcK from an ME office will chime in here :)

Sincerely, 

Thor

Do wait for the referral. 

I see no reason why you should rush the application, especially since you're confident that you could get a referral. A referral would make the application stronger, and considering the state of consulting at the moment, passing screening is more critical than ever. 

Re referrals, you might also find the following guides useful:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals
• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

If your application is already strong (target school, strong track record, relevant experience), I’d recommend not delaying too much. In Riyadh and other Middle East offices, referrals do carry weight, but they aren’t mandatory – plenty of candidates get interviews without them. The bigger risk is waiting too long and missing the right cycle or momentum.

Here’s how I’d think about it:

• Timing: If you want to interview before year-end, applying sooner gives you more certainty. Recruiting can slow down later in the year.
• Referral value: A referral can help you stand out and move faster through CV screening, but it doesn’t guarantee an interview. It’s more of a nudge.
• Hybrid approach: Apply now, and in parallel ask your friends to submit referrals. McKinsey can link a referral to an application that’s already been submitted, so you don’t lose the benefit.

So my advice would be apply by your September deadline, and follow up with referrals if you can get them. That way, you’re not slowing yourself down, but still maximize your chances.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.

Best,
Evelina

Hi there,

A referral is just a door opener such that the recruiting team will look through your application more thoroughly. Depending on the seniority, tenure and advocacy of the person referring you, you have a better chance of getting a first round interview. The more senior the person referring you is, the better. The longer the tenure of that person with the firm is, the better.

The reason is that such voices carry more weight than referrals coming from super junior or brand new people. They typically know the HR folks better and have been involved in recruiting activities for a while so it is usually assumed that they have a good grasp of what types of candidates with which sets of qualifications the firm needs. However, any referral is ultimately better than no referral. 

Ideally, you get a referral from someone from the same office (or same country) you are applying to. But again, a referral from someone within the same firm but different office or country organization is still better than no referral.

A direct rejection after the CV screening stage can still happen - even with a referral. In that case the recruiting team usually provides some feedback to the person having given the referral. So you should follow up with them to better understand the rationale in case that happens. On the flipside, you can still get an interview invite when you just apply online without a referral - the probability might just be lower - unless your CV is “stellar” on a standalone basis.

And as always, factors such as economic conditions and headcount/budget planning of the individual firm also matter significantly in these decisions - but they are not within your control.

Best

This questions is basically: should I take the risk and apply without a referral? 

Honestly, I don't know. It really depends on your profile strength. If you are strong in a very obvious way. If you have better grades, better school name, more activities, more leadership and entrepreneurial experiences, and more international experience than the average Mckinsey employee... sure, you don't need the referral, most likely they will invite you to interview.

But if you have a strong profile, but not that evidently superior, and at the same time you are very confident you can get the referral... then you should wait.

All a referral does is put your CV closer to the top of the pile for recruiting. Rest is based on your prep / readiness. Happy to take this discussion offline if you'd like to strategize further for McK in the Middle East.

Hey there,

if your application is already strong, I’d recommend applying now rather than waiting. Referrals in the Middle East do help, but they’re not a prerequisite—your profile will still be reviewed seriously. You can also ask your contacts to submit a referral after you’ve applied, since McKinsey allows linking it to an active application. That way you don’t lose time and still get the potential boost later.

best, Alessa :)

Hi,

If you can realistically get a referral, I’d wait. Referrals won’t change the interview process, but they often help your CV get looked at faster and with more attention .

Best,
Lukas