Do scholarships count as achievements

Question

Hi all amazing people,

I have a couple of questions regarding my resume and networking:

Should I mention scholarships as achievements on my resume, and do they count as significant accomplishments?
How should I ask for a referral if I only know someone via LinkedIn, but we share the same alma mater?
Can taking part in case competition and substantial winning be seen as a significant achievement?

Context: I completed my degree in Electrical Engineering with a CGPA of 3.75/4.00 on a competitive full government scholarship. Afterward, I worked in a highly technical job in Pakistan for five years. I was then accepted into a Master's program in Renewable Energy in Germany with a fully-funded government scholarship (DAAD) which I am pursuing. Additionally, I am currently working as a Data Analyst in a student job (+ internship) and internship with a leading energy supplier in Europe.

Given my background from non-target schools, what would you suggest if I want to pursue a career in consulting, particularly with MBB?

Thank you for your insights!

Answer 1

Hi there,

1. Yes, definitely!

2. Send them a focused and polite message, e.g, “Hi XYZ, I am Florian, a 3rd year student at ABC. I am currently in the process of applying with your firm and saw that we both share the same alma mater. Would you be available for a short call and provide some guidance on when it would be a good time to apply in the current market? Thank's a lot, Florian” Don't overthink these messages

3. Yes!

Cheers,

Florian