I'm an incoming MBA student at a target school (think T20) for Fall '24, but was wondering if there is any merit to the idea of starting to network for consulting now? I have identified a few alumni (both MBB and T2) with whom I believe I have some common experiences, but have also heard it's better to wait for networking events to start happening on campus.
If it matter, I'm an international student coming to a T20 MBA
Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 457,000 Peers!
Networking Pre-MBA for consulting
Overview of answers
-
Upvotes
-
Date ascending
-
Date descending
Hi there,
if you have time now, it is a good idea to start. Especially since the people you contact might not respond right away so you want to factor in some lead time.
If you are aiming for referrals, it is generally better to do that closer to your actual application but again, you'd need to factor in lead time there as well. You might want to consider reaching out to the contacts you already identified now to get some answers to your general questions about the respective firms and careers in the consulting space. If you have good chemistry with some of them, you could try to circle back with them when your application timeframe is approaching.
In any case, networking won't hurt you and if you have extra time now, go for it.
Best
Hi there,
There is never harm in engaging in networking, no matter the timeline.
If you have the time now, go for it. The more people know you and the more they recommend you the better. On top of that, you might also get interesting insights into the current recruiting landscape and additional insights for your career.
You always want to be ahead of the curve and it never hurts to know more people!
Cheers,
Florian
Hi there,
Q: Was wondering if there is any merit to the idea of starting to network for consulting now
What would be the goal of networking? Without information on that, it is difficult to answer.
If the goal is to get a referral, I would recommend reaching out close to the period when you need it rather than several months in advance. Then, you can try to get the referral during the call/meeting with them.
Good luck!
Francesco
It's not something you have to do, but rather something that you can do.
The advantage of speaking with people who went through the program is to get a sense of their learnings.
What did the find most useful?
How would they do it if they were to start the program again?
What would they focus?
What was their key learning?
And so on.
I think it forms the basis of an interesting conversation, but I would approach it with curiosity not necessarily with the intention of getting something out of it.
Best,
Cristian
Hi there,
First of all, congratulations on the MBA offer!
I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:
- Networking is always beneficial, it just depends on the goal that is being pursued. While you don't have to get in touch with current consultants of the consulting firms you are targeting to get referrals, it might help you to better understand the industry and the individual firms.
If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your future applications, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
Start networking as soon as possible :)
Networking will always pay dividends over time - so feel free to do that. However, do prepare well for the pre-MBA networking - as there is always the risk of appearing over-eager. If your value proposition and motivation is sharp enough then should be fine.
I don't see a problem. It's actually a positive.
If later on they go to campus… you already met each other :)
Related Articles
Consulting Career Path
BCG Case Interview
Consulting Industry Trends in 2023
What Is Management Consulting?
MBB Target Schools in the US
PowerPoint for Consultants
Working Hours in Consulting
M&A Consulting
Roland Berger Consulting Case Interviews
Free Guide to OC&C Consulting Case Interviews
Management Consulting Firms in Singapore
Consulting Lingo
Consulting Recruitment
Work-Life-Balance in Consulting – Everything You Need to Know
Coffee Chat Questions in Consulting
Consulting Survival Guide
Excel for Consultants
The Pros and Cons of Working at a Top Consulting Firm
How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks
Start Your Career in Consulting now
Consulting Salary in Australia
Overcome Your Weaknesses with ChatGPT for Your Consulting Career
What Is Sustainability Consulting?
Consulting Salaries in France
Become a Top Consultant: The Consulting Recruiting Process
Well-Known Tier 2 Consulting Companies
The Role of Diversity and Inclusion in Consulting
The Most Interesting Consulting Firms Besides MBB
What is Automotive Consulting?
Consulting Salaries in the DACH Region 2024
Consultant Salaries in Canada
What Is Change Management Consulting?
The Typical Terms in Case Study Interviews for Consulting Firms
What Is Leadership Consulting?
Remote Consulting: The Change in the Work Life of a Consultant
The Resignation Letter in Consulting
Is Doing an MBA or MiM Worth It For a Consulting Career?
10 Rumors About Management Consultants
Restructuring Consulting – What is it?
16 Personalities Test
Mastering Communication Skills in Consulting
Stay informed and navigate the future of consulting with confidence.
KI revolutioniert die Beratung! McKinsey, BCG, Bain und EY gestalten d
Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Tomorrow: AI in Consulting
What Are Decision-Making Frameworks And Why Are They Important?
Consulting Salaries in the United States 2024
Top Consulting Firms in the US - Best Firms to Work for 2024
Are you ready to embrace the next era of consultancy?
Top Consulting Firms in Germany – Best Firms to Work for in 2024
What Is The Difference Between Sustainability Consulting And ESG?
What Is Public Sector Consulting?
What Is Healthcare Consulting?
Related Cases
Related Case Interview Basics article(s)
The Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
Discover the CMM framework and its extension to the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), focuses on improving processes within an organization.
The Role of the Hypothesis in Consulting
Explore how hypotheses serve as guiding lights in the dynamic world of consulting, leading to innovative solutions and transformative outcomes.
The PESTEL Analysis for Consulting
Unlock the potential of PESTEL analysis to drive success and thrive in the dynamic world of consulting.