MBB Referral

Hi,

I'd suggest you start off friendly.

• Send him a linkedin request and click "Add a note" - then say you'd like to have a chat with him and ask him his experiences/how he got in/ how is he finding it.
• In the meantime, have a look at his Linkedin and take note of the work he's done - you want to be personable in the call, you want to build a new connection - you're not going to use him.
• Then once he agrees, have the call and towards the end of the call, ask him if he'd feel comfortable to send through a referral.

• There is no loss on his end if you do not get through, so I highly doub he'll say no.

   

Good luck!

Hello there!

You should reach out to him asking for a chat about consulting, do not get straight to the referral request. Some tips follow below:

1. Research the person you're meeting, understand their background and company, and prepare thoughtful questions, things you can’t find on google.

2. Don't just ask for a referral, focus on building a connection and showing genuine interest in their experience and the company.

3. Share your own story - discuss your career goals and how this experience aligns with your aspirations, demonstrating your potential as a candidate. It should sound almost like obvious that consulting is for you.

4 Make an ask (super important) - at the end of the meeting, you can politely ask for a resume review so you can understand if you have chances of getting an interview. Make sure to build a solid CV prior to the meeting (use actual consulting references, you can find those online, or use a professional service).

5. After receiving the feedback, if it is a positive one, follow up asking for a referral.

Good luck, truly hope you can pull that off!!

Mari

Hi,

• Start by sending a polite LinkedIn or email message introducing yourself briefly, mentioning your shared background (same school), and expressing genuine interest in consulting and BCG.
• Instead of directly asking for a referral upfront, ask for a short call to hear about his experience, after a good conversation, you can then naturally ask if he would feel comfortable referring you.

Building a real connection first usually increases your chances!

Great that you're thinking about asking for a referral. 

I explained exactly this process in the following article, specifically on how to indirectly ask for a referral:

• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

Aside from this, make sure that you apply broadly, not only to BCG and that you also try to get referrals for other firms. In case you're looking for additional resources on this, I explained how to optimise the recruitment funnel in the following article:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Hey there 👋
That’s a great step already — finding the right person is half the work! 🙌 When reaching out, keep it short, warm, and respectful. Try something like:

"Hi [Name], I'm a recent graduate from [Your University] and really admire your path to BCG. I'd love to learn more about your experience and would be grateful for any advice or guidance you could offer. If possible, I’d also deeply appreciate a referral."

Be genuine and show curiosity — people love helping those who do their homework 💡

Let’s practice your message together in coaching if you'd like! 💬

Best, Alessa

Build an honest professional relationship with that person.

Ask for a quick call—mention your shared background and your interest in BCG. Say you’d love to learn from their experience.

During the call, focus on genuine curiosity and building rapport. If it goes well, they’ll often offer the referral without you having to ask.

Happy to help you go deeper on this. Just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy