Hi there,

Make sure you're ready to talk about yourself (naturally! Not overly rehearsed). Learn about the firm. Be ready to talk about why you're interested in consulting.

remember that this is about conversation and connection. Be natural and let conversation flow!

That's a great opportunity!

Lots of things to keep in mind, but the core one is seek to connect, not to impress. 

Trying to impress is quite obvious and rather cringy in these situations.

Instead, what's more appreaciated is your ability to connect with current consultants, seek to understand more about their role and thier work, show enthusiasm and curiosity. 

You can also have a look at this article on how to conduct and prepare for such networking discussions:

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

But overall, take it chill, try to enjoy it. This is meant to be about both you discovering them and then other way around. 

Best,
Cristian

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Hi!

I have written this earlier, but let me repeat it here: 

Do NOT plan on doing anything special! Networking events at MBB are formats for the respective firm to market itself. It is MUCH LESS the time for you to market yourself. In the moment that you are eligible to participate in such an event, the firm has already tagged you as an interesting candidate, and there is very limited headroom for you to wow anyone during the event.

So just be relaxed, observe, and ask yourself what are the 3 or 4 things you really want to find out about the firm and its employees. That's it. Don't try to impress at such an event. The time to impress will be the interviews!

Cheers, Sidi

_______________________

Dr. Sidi Koné 

(🚀 Ex BCG & McKinsey Sr. Project Manager, now helping high potential individuals join the world's top Strategy Consulting firms (McKinsey | BCG | Bain))

Hi there,

Well done on being invited to the event. In terms of your question:

Q: I am currently pursuing my MiM at Imperial and will be attending this event in a few weeks, I am curious, what advice would you give me in terms of preparing for this event?

Events are great opportunities to create a strong connection with current consultants for referrals. To do so, I would recommend the following:

• Prepare good questions (see below some examples).
• Move from the questions to a conversation, trying to connect on a personal level with the consultant.
• Ask the consultants if you could reach out later for further questions.
• Send a thank-you note. If you had a good conversation, chances are you could later transform the connection into a referral at the right moment.

The key things I would recommend preparing in advance are the following:

• Read about the firm and the consulting industry. Try to understand recent developments – this will ensure you can ask relevant questions. You can find more on that here: ▶ 11 New Consulting Trends You Should Know .
• Learn as much as possible about the consultants who will participate in the event, in case that information is available. In this way, you will be able to connect more easily.
• Be prepared for possible questions about your interest in consulting. You won’t be interviewed during these events, but I would still recommend to be ready to answer the following:
  • Why you want to become a consultant
  • Why you want to join that company
  • What you can bring to that company and
  • Have a clear, short pitch of who you are as an introduction
• Prepare your own questions to ask. Relevant questions are a great way to show your interest and get additional points. You can find some examples here.

You can find more about networking and events here:

▶ How to Network to Get an MBB Referral

Good luck!

Francesco