Hi,
I'm a student looking for full-time MBB position. I am at a target/semi-target in the US (think Rice, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Cornell, Duke). Will my application for Bain and BCG be fine without a referral? I think I have some good leadership positions and somewhat good work experience in finance with a 3.92 GPA.
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. Also for candidates who come from target schools, particularly during tight economic conditions such as right now.
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 is just lower - particularly when your CV is not “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
Hi there,
Q: Will my application for Bain and BCG be fine without a referral?
In general, a referral will increase your chances of getting an interview.
Is it possible to get an interview without a referral? Sure. But if you have the opportunity, I would recommend seeking one to improve your chances.
You can find more on referrals below:
▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation
Good luck!
Francesco
Hi there,
I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:
If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your applications, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
(edited)
Think of your referral as some extra points that you can add to your application.
You also get ‘points’ by having a great CV, internship experiences, a well-written cover letter, etc.
The more ‘points’ the better your chances.
So in that sense, yes, get a referral.
Here's how:
Best,
Cristian
Hi there,
Likely yes, but, in this current market you want to get every edge you can. Hence, I'd try to push for referrals for each application.
It can make the difference.
Cheers,
Florian
Hi,
If you are at a target school and meet the formal criteria of your target office, you will not necessarily need a referral. Make sure to show the relevant qualities in your CV and cover letter - this is where things become tricky, since only very few candidates really understand what MBB firms are looking for. In this sense, a referral can help mitigate this risk.
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))
If you can get a referral - then you should get one. It will definitely help.
These days screening-stage rejections are happening even with referrals, and even with past/current consulting experience, let alone target schooling.
Most people get interviews without referrals.
Does a referral help in improving your chances? Yes, it does.
Hi,
Given your background it should be feasible to secure an interview without. However, I would definitely try to get a referral - especially in the somewhat tighter current market conditions.
Best,
Oliver
