Question regarding referrals

Hi,

My point of view: If you already received a McKinsey Solve invitation two days after applying, then you've effectively achieved the main objective of a referral. Referrals are useful for increasing the chances of getting past the initial screening stage, and in your case that already happened.

For Bain, I would follow up one more time with the consultant. If you still don't receive a response, I would assume they're either too busy or no longer interested in referring you, and I'd look for alternative contacts instead.

At this point, I'd focus much more on performing well in Solve and preparing for potential interviews than on chasing additional McKinsey referrals.

In case you need help with McKinsey Solve, feel free to get in touch. I've helped several candidates already.

Best,
Franco

Hi there,

From your description, this situation is actually quite normal and nothing to worry about.

Referrals in consulting are often more of a “soft” support than a guarantee. Many consultants are happy to offer them during a coffee chat, but due to busy schedules, travel, or other priorities, they may delay following up—or even submit the referral internally without letting you know. This does not mean they changed their mind.

The fact that you received a McKinsey SolveGame invitation only two days after applying is a very good sign. It shows your application is being considered seriously and that the process is moving forward, even if you have not heard back from your referrers.

At this stage, the best approach is to focus on what you can control:

1. Prepare for the next steps: Work on SolveGame, study the firm, and practice cases and fit stories. Strong performance here will have far more impact than the referral itself.
2. Continue networking, but without stress: You can keep connecting with consultants and exploring additional referrals, but treat it as a parallel activity rather than urgent. A referral helps, but excellent preparation is what ultimately matters.

In short, trust the process, prioritize your prep, and continue building your network in a steady and professional way.

Good luck!

Best,

Soheil

Hi there, 

It sounds like you've already done significant legwork and were successful in securing referrals. 

For the applications that you've submitted, and especially for the one where you've progressed to the next level, e.g., McKinsey, the referral was either already submitted (and it already helped you) or it's no longer relevant since your application is already being processed. 

In that sense, I encourage you to focus on getting referrals for the other firms you're interested in. Sharing here two guides I wrote on how to approach referrals, hoping that you'll find them helpful:

Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

Best,

Cristian

Congrats on the Solve invite! That's the key thing here. Getting it just 2 days after applying usually means your application already passed the screen. So for McKinsey, the referral did its job, stop worrying about it and focus fully on Solve now.

The silence is totally normal, not a bad sign. Once consultants submit a referral, there's often nothing left to report, so they go quiet. Just send one short friendly thank you note, maybe mention you got the invite, and leave it there. Don't chase them.

Keep networking, but spread it to other firms like BCG instead of stacking referrals at one. Your military and sales background is a real strength, so use it. Good luck!

It’s normal that consultants don’t reply after you apply, they’re busy, and referrals often get submitted quietly without a follow‑up message. Since you already received the McKinsey Solve, your application clearly passed the initial screen, with or without a referral. I wouldn’t assume anything negative. Still, it’s smart to keep building your network and look for additional referrals, especially with a non‑traditional background. For now, focus on the Solve and next steps,  your process is moving.

Alessa