Leveraging interviews to get other interviews - for experienced hires

1st round interview MBB
New answer on Jan 09, 2021
9 Answers
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Jason
Skilled
asked on Jan 05, 2021

Hi - I recently received an interview from BCG scheduled for next month. I have a pending application with Bain, and am wondering if it could be beneficial to mention to (1) the Bain recruiter and (2) a contact at Bain, that I just received a BCG interview.

I know it can help from undergrad/MBA - wondering if as an experienced hire from a T2 consulting firm in this situation it would be a good idea.

I think if I can give this contact at Bain some confidence in my profile I could possibly ask her to give my application a push with the recruiter. Would like some advice for this scenario as well.

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Best answer
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 06, 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Jason,

I agree with the other coaches:

  1. Mentioning you have an interview with BCG won’t bring any benefit
  2. Mentioning you have an offer from BCG will help to speed up the process
  3. The #1 thing that can help you to get an invitation is a referral from your Bain contact

Hope this helps,
Francesco

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Jason on Jan 07, 2021

This contact I chatted with but I heard it was bad form to ask directly for a referral. In undergrad I found people were more willing to share referrals compared to as experienced hire. My other referrals all ended up coming from personal connections even though I tried chatting with numerous individuals as an experienced hire. Is there an effective way to phrase a request for them to support my application & give a little push to the recruiter? I suppose there is nothing to lose now.

Francesco on Jan 08, 2021

Hi Jason, indeed I would not recommend to ask for a referral directly. There are ways to phrase a request in the correct way, please feel free to PM me for more info

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 05, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi Jason,

Please don't do this. There is no way to make this come across the right way. It will only make you look bad (or have no impact).

That said, if you get offers at both, you can absolutely mention them to each other as ways to get leverage in compensation negotiations (normally sign-on bonus), but please don't share this information prior to that (unless they directly ask)

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jan 05, 2021
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

There is absolutely no value in it. Hundreds of candidates get invited to the interviews.

If you have another MBB offer - in this case, you can ask to expedite the process

Why didn't you ask this person at Bain to refer you? It would be much easier to push now through this person. You can still ask him to check what's going on with your resume and to get some feedback from the recruiter

Best

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Jason on Jan 07, 2021

This contact I chatted with but I heard it was bad form to ask directly for a referral. In undergrad I found people were more willing to share referrals compared to as experienced hire. My other referrals all ended up coming from personal connections even though I tried chatting with numerous individuals as an experienced hire. Is there an effective way to phrase a request for them to support my application & give a little push to the recruiter?

Anonymous replied on Jan 05, 2021

If your contact at Bain referred you internally, of course you can mention to them - but in that case you would probably be invited just based on the referral. If it's a distant connection that did not referr you, I doubt they'll even tell HR about it.

And it might come across a bit akward if you call the HR person to just casually mention that you received an invite from BCG

Bottom line: I don't think this will change the decision at Bain.

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Adi
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 05, 2021
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hi Jason,

This wont add any value. Be patient and follow the process.

It might help when you are in advanced interview stages with Firm A and want to use that leverage to nudge Firm B to hurry up their process.

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 06, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,

You can use the scheduled interview to speed up the process or to make leverage when you'll get the offer.

Good luck!

Antonello

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Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 05, 2021
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi Jason,

I honestly don't think it'll make a difference. The idea with a referral is worth thinking through though.

Cheers,

GB

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Jason on Jan 07, 2021

This contact I chatted with but I heard it was bad form to ask directly for a referral. In undergrad I found people were more willing to share referrals compared to as experienced hire. My other referrals all ended up coming from personal connections even though I tried chatting with numerous individuals as an experienced hire. Is there an effective way to phrase a request for them to support my application & give a little push to the recruiter? I suppose there is nothing to lose now.

Anonymous replied on Jan 09, 2021

Hi,

I am not sure it will help much specially when you are still in early stage. Mentioning you got an offer (even verbally) will definitely help.

Can your contact in Bain give you a referral?

Best,
Iman

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 07, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I disagree totally with other responses.

For sure it adds value to let the other MBBs know that you are in the pipeline for the rival. This is going to speed up the process.

Indeed, this is something that they usually ask you as you start the process "are you interviewing with anyone else?"

They want to ensure that talent is not stolen from the pipeline just for a matter of speed and agility.

Hope it helps!

Best,

Clara

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Anonymous on Jan 07, 2021

Hi Clara - Now that you mentioned it - Yes I found during UG recruiting that was always asked. For experienced hire recruiter calls for all 3 MBB though they didn't ask (but that may have been due to how far away the applications would be, months later from our call). Do you have any suggestions on phrasing if I were to check in with the recruiter & mention it?

(edited)

Francesco gave the best answer

Francesco

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