How to network to get into consulting

The strategy in one line

Networking for consulting is not about cold-blasting senior partners. It's a chain of short, well-targeted conversations that compounds: each person you speak to leads you, warmly, to the next. Done well, you move from a junior consultant you've never met to someone who can flag your application internally — all without ever asking for a job directly.

Step 1 — The LinkedIn message

Keep your outreach short and specific. The goal of the first message is not to land a referral — it's to get a 20-minute call. Target consultants who share at least one genuine commonality with you. The more dimensions you align on, and the rarer those overlaps are, the more likely they are to reply.

Look for people who share any of the following:

• Same university — the single strongest hook. Alumni feel a duty to help.
• Same degree subject — even if different university, a shared academic background gives you something concrete to talk about.
• Same extracurricular or society — debating, a sports club, a student investment fund, a fraternity/sorority. These create instant rapport.
• Same birthplace or native language — especially powerful if you're targeting an office abroad. A consultant in London who grew up in the same town as you will almost always reply.

Keep the message under five sentences. Reference the shared connection explicitly in the first line, say you're exploring consulting and would value 15 minutes of their perspective, and suggest two specific time slots. Don't attach a CV. Don't ask for a referral. You're asking for advice, and people love giving advice.

Step 2 — Make it about them

When you get on the call, resist the urge to pitch yourself. Spend the conversation asking about them — their path, their practice area, what they wish they'd known at your stage, what the office culture is actually like. People walk away from a conversation feeling good when they got to talk about themselves. That goodwill is the asset you're building.

• Prepare 4–5 thoughtful questions in advance. Quality of question signals quality of candidate.
• Listen actively and follow up on their answers — don't just run down a script.
• Talk about yourself only briefly, and only when asked. A one-minute summary of your background is enough.

Step 3 — Ask for the next introduction

In the last two minutes of the call, pivot. You've spent fifteen minutes showing genuine interest in their world — now, having built rapport, make the ask:

"Now that you know a little more about me, is there anybody you'd recommend I speak to — or could possibly put me in touch with?"

Their response will almost always be one of two things:

1. "Yes, let me put you in touch." — They offer to make an introduction directly. Ideal outcome. Thank them, and follow up by email the same day with a short bio paragraph they can forward.
2. "You should speak to [Person X]." — They name someone but stop short of offering an intro. This is the moment most candidates leave value on the table. Don't just say thank you and walk away. Ask:

   "Would it be alright if I mentioned we spoke when I reach out to them?"

   They'll say yes almost every time — because you're asking permission, not a favour, and it costs them nothing. Now your outreach to Person X isn't cold; it comes with a name and a signal that someone they respect thought they were worth speaking to.

Step 4 — Work the warm introduction

Whether you get a direct introduction or a name-drop, your next conversation starts from a position of trust. Spend the first minute of that call talking about the person who connected you. Build rapport by speaking positively about them — what you learned from them, how generous they were with their time, how they spoke warmly of the person you're now talking to.

Then repeat Steps 2 and 3 with this new person. Each link in the chain is warmer than the last, and each conversation moves you closer to someone with the seniority to act on your application.

Can you get a partner referral?

You can use this chaining strategy to try to climb the ladder toward a Partner and secure a referral. Be realistic about what that gets you, though. Partner referrals hold much less weight than they once did, particularly for well-established recruitment pathways like undergraduate and MBA hiring, where the formal process (application → Solve → case interviews) is the primary filter.

• A referral can help you get past the initial CV screen — useful if your profile is borderline.
• It rarely lets you skip stages. You'll still sit the same Solve assessment and case rounds as everyone else.
• Where referrals still matter most: experienced hires and off-cycle roles, where there's no formal campus funnel and hiring is often partner-initiated.

Message templates

Cold LinkedIn outreach (first message)

Hi [Name],

I noticed we both studied [subject] at [university] — I'm currently exploring a move into consulting and would really value hearing about your experience at [firm]. Would you have 15 minutes for a quick call sometime next week? I'm free Tuesday after 3pm or Thursday morning.

Thanks, [You]

Follow-up with a bio (after they offer to introduce you)

Hi [Name],

Thank you again — really appreciated the conversation. As promised, here's a short bio you're welcome to forward:

[2–3 sentences: who you are, what you're doing now, what you're aiming for.]

No pressure at all, and thanks again for your time.

Name-drop outreach (when they said "speak to Person X")

Hi [Person X],

[Name] from [firm] suggested I reach out — we spoke recently and they mentioned you'd be a great person to learn from about [practice area / office]. I'd love to grab 15 minutes if you have the bandwidth. I'm flexible next week.

Best, [You]