Hi there,

Q: I've been offered a referral by a BCG Project Leader in the Copenhagen office, but I'm applying to the London office. Is the referral still valuable or should I attempt to get a London referral (or multiple)? 

A referral from another office is still valuable, as you can be referred by someone in a different office. If you manage to be referred by someone in the London office who has a higher position that could strengthen your application though.

You can find more details on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, I think the situation is slightly more complex than other coaches have said. Depending on the countries, referrals from one country for an application for another country might not be valid, both from a rule-based and technical perspective. As such, I would highly advise you to clarify with the person who currently wants to provide the referral if he/she can actually do so from both perspectives.
• Moreover, in general, obviously, having a strong referral also includes having one from at least the same country, preferably the same office. Unfortunately, chances are very low that any employee in London would know the person who currently wants to provide the referral. As such, depending on the outcome of your discussion with the person who currently wants to provide the referral, I would advise you to reach out to current consulting staff in London, which is something you should do either way.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Well done - this is great!

Yes, a referral from Copenhagen is still valuable for London. Of course, a UK referral is “better” and, if you have time, you should attempt to get a London referral. However, if you can't, you should be happy with the Copenhagen one.

An international referral is better than no referral, an office based referral is better than an international one. 

Overall though, a referral isn't going to make all that much difference - and in trying to network to get one you run the risk of annoying people. There is nothing more irritating than going to a networking drinks as a consultant and loads of people who you've never met basically trying to get you to refer them. By all means network, but I would focus on getting a really good CV together and being prepared for the interviews, rather than trying to network your way in. 

Good luck!

Hi,

I would try to make sure that the Copenhagen person referring you get in personal touch with the London recruiting team or contact another manager or higher at the London office. If nobody at the London office knows the person who is referring you, then it doesn’t usually carry a lot of weight. Different countries/regions within the same firm often have different requirements in their recruitment process so candidate selection is not necessarily fungible.

Good luck

A referral is always good to have. I would definitely advise to mention it in your cover letter. A local referral is better than an international one, as there is a higher chance ppl. you interview with know the person that refers you.

If you can get a local referral, is better. However, don't stress too much about it, as what is really critical is to have a referral.