Hi Alice,
1) But I'm wondering other than that is there any other reason to do so that would be helpful to a candidate?
Yes. If you get a referral you will increase substantially the probability they will call you for interviews. As simple as that.
2) I also heard that you should network with associates-- specifically in the office that you are applying to - so during interviews they recognize your name in the room. Is that true?
Actually the higher the seniority the stronger the referral, so I would recommend to network from manager and above. Associates can still refer you though.
Yes, it is better if you are referred by someone in the same office. Although also consultants in other offices can refer you.
Associates don’t normally conduct interviews – they are usually conducted from manager and above.
Not sure what you mean by during interviews they recognize your name in the room – consulting companies don’t usually do group interviews. Also, if an interviewer personally knows you well, they can ask to be changed to avoid conflict of interest.
I wrote down some tips below on referrals, hope can be useful.
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To find a referral, you should follow three main steps:
- Identify the people that can help you
- Write them a customized email
- Have a call and indirectly ask for a referral
As general tips:
- Don’t use LinkedIn for your communication – emails work better. You should target 30% conversion for your messages; if you are not achieving that, there is space for improvement
- When sending emails, your goal should be to organize a call, not to ask questions – you can then use the call for the questions
- You need to close the call with an indirect request for a referral – don’t leave that to chances. There are specific ways to phrase it
You should prepare three main things before the call:
- Your own pitch. 3-4 lines should be enough
- 3-4 questions on the personal experiences of the person. Avoid to ask questions about the company
- A closing question for the referral. It should be an indirect request to avoid being too pushy
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You can find more on how to get referrals here:
▶ How to Get an MBB Referral
If you need more help, I also do a 30min session with scripts to use, access to my network and every other info to land one. Please feel free to PM for more info.
Best,
Francesco