Partner Referral

Hey! 

That's a great question.

It's great that you already identified a prospective target. As a first step, you should identify more. It's unlikely that it will work directly with a first. 

Don't aim only for Partners. Aim for consultants who are at least at the same seniority level as the one that you're applying for. The complexity of getting a Partner referral is not worth the marginal benefits of having a referral from a Partner vs one from an Associate. 

Reach out to them with a short message. Aim to personalise it as much as possible. Ask for a short call of 10-15 minutes. Provide you availability up-front. Put your number in the signature. Then repeat the process with all the other target connections.

On the call, focus on their experience and what you can learn from it. Don't ask them questions you could answer yourself on google. Don't try to be smart. Just try to connect. Then at the end, ask them:

‘how critical are referrals in the application process at the moment?’

This is an indirect way of asking for a referral. If they don't offer it at this point, move on. That's as direct as I would be. 

Here is a guide that explains in detail how to conduct these sorts of coffee chats to convert them into a referral:

• Your Guide to Consulting Coffee Chats

And here is a guide to help you develop a strong application strategy for your transition into consulting:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

When asking for a partner referral, it's important to approach it in a professional and respectful manner. Here are some tips on how to ask for a partner referral effectively:

Contact Method: If you've found the relevant partner on LinkedIn, it's generally appropriate to send them a message on the platform. However, if you can find their email through other professional sources, such as the company website or networking events, that can be a more direct method of communication.

Message Structure: Keep your message concise and to the point. Start by expressing your admiration for the partner's work or their expertise in the field. Briefly mention your background and why you're interested in the firm. Then, politely ask if they would be open to a brief conversation to discuss the possibility of a referral.

Call or Meeting: Instead of directly asking for a referral in your first message, it's usually more appropriate to request a short call or meeting. This allows you to establish a personal connection and discuss your interests and qualifications in more detail. During the call, you can mention your desire to explore potential opportunities within the firm and inquire about their experiences and insights.

Preparation: Before reaching out to the partner, make sure to research the company thoroughly. Familiarize yourself with their recent projects, industry trends, and any relevant news. This will demonstrate your genuine interest and enable you to have a more informed conversation.

Remember, when asking for a referral, it's crucial to be professional, respectful, and mindful of the partner's time. Focus on building a relationship and showcasing your enthusiasm for the firm. Good luck with your networking efforts!

Hi there,

good comments were provided already. I would just want to re-emphasize the importance of not making the contact request transactional. A referral will be a by-product of a good interpersonal connection. Ideally find partners who are working in an industry or functional space you would see yourself in - so you have a credible reason to seek out the conversation.

I would personally not contact multiple people at the same firm at the same time. Allow some time for someone to respond and if they don’t, move on to the next.

Best wishes

Hi there,

I agree with Dennis here - it's key that your engagement does not come across as transactional. Few things to keep in mind..

• Show genuine Interest in the firm AND in the person - he/she will be more likely to help
• Only ask indirectly: Don't ever ask someone you don't know directly for a referral - this is exactly what makes such effort feel like a transaction - instead, always come at an angle. Christian's indirect way of asking is a great demonstration on how it can be done more smoothly.
• Expand channels: Don't limit your networking effort to LinkedIn - it's a quite low-conversion channel. Check for recruiting events, your university's alumni network
• Leverage your friends: if you have close friends who work with / have senior consultants in their closer network, they will often be able to help you as a middleman - they can ask directly, while you should not.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

There is a right way to network. And many wrong ways.

I highly recommend getting the expertise of a coach (or my networking mini-course) to do this right.

1. Do not ask for a call directly
2. LinkedIn is best
3. Have a clear, succinct, impactful message
4. The message needs to establish your ethos and also hook them in with why they should accept your message out of the hundreds they get
5. Make sure your grammar is perfect
6. Make sure to make the call count (be ready to talk about yourself, ask questions, have a conversation, etc.)
7. “Hint” at a referral at the right time (timing matters AND wording. So many wrong ways to do this.)

Hi there,

1) How to ask for a partner referral? 

I would ask indirectly during the call.

2) I have found the relevant contact via LinkedIn - should I contact them there or try find their email? 

Emails usually have a better conversion, so I would send an email.

3) How should I structure my first message to them – should I ask for a call directly? What things do I need to prepare for in advance?

I would ask if it is possible to organize a call as you would be interested in his/her experience.

You can find more on referrals and what to prepare here:

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Before you ask for the referral… even before you ask for a meeting… you have to think what would be a positive interaction, or another positive outcome you can get out of that interaction.

What do you want to learn from that conversation.

Until you have that clear you should not ask for a meeting.

A referral is a consequence of a positive interaction. So you have to plan for that interaction and hope for the better. If you center your whole approach around getting the referral, you will not get it.

Regarding how to reach out: do not use their email. They didn't give it to you. You didn't get it from someone you have in common that will introduce you to. So LinkedIn is the legitimate way to connect with them.

Should you ask for a call? Probably yes, but you have to know first why you are asking for that call if it requires a call.

Now finally: you don't know the person at all. The likelyhood of getting 5 mins of a partner is actually quite low. It's not necessarily your best option. I must tell you that the worse interaction I had at a target firm was with a partner I was able to meet. He scheduled a call out of politeness, but was clearly uninterested in having a conversation (maybe had a meeting afterwards?) and answered everything as a “yes” or “no”, and clearly wanted to finish the call. My interactions with consultants and managers were so much better in every sense.