MBB Referral

Question

Hi guys, hope everything is well!

I graduated from a non-target school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and I found one alumnus who is currently working at BCG (Riyadh Office). How can I ask him for a referral ?
He's the only alumnus working at an MBB firm. So I thought he could help me get a referral.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

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!