Expanding my network

Hi Mohamed,

Everyone has a network, it’s just about learning how to leverage it effectively. Here’s how you can start:

1. Tap into Alumni and Past Colleagues: look for people from your university or previous workplaces on LinkedIn who’ve moved into consulting or related roles. Reach out with a personalized message
2. Use LinkedIn Strategically: connect with consultants in firms you’re targeting, especially those with oil and gas expertise
3. Engage in Events: attend industry webinars or networking events where you can meet people in consulting and strike up relevant conversations

If you’d like to dive deeper into networking strategies or crafting messages, feel free to book a session, I’d be happy to help!

Best,
Oumar

Hi Mohamed,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, securing a strong referral is a fairly easy task that does not require a huge professional network. In fact, I would argue that most referrals to candidates come from consultants who have spoken to them 1-3 times at most.
• Moreover, I would therefore highly advise you to simply reach out to experienced consultants at your target consulting firms via LinkedIn or other forms of communication to have (virtual) coffee chats and eventually secure a referral.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Good idea!

A couple of ideas:

1. Start with who you know: Use LinkedIn to identify people you already know who work at your target firms. They could be former classmates, acquaintances, or even distant connections.
2. Leverage 3rd-party connections: If you don’t have direct connections, check for 2nd-degree connections on LinkedIn; people who are connected to your existing network. Reach out to your mutual contact and ask for an introduction.
3. Cold outreach: If the above options don’t work, send cold messages via LinkedIn. Look for commonalities to personalize your message and get the conversation going. This could be the same school, past employer, industry, or even country. Make sure to keep it short and polite.
4. Attend networking events: Many firms host events for young professionals throughout the year. These are great opportunities to meet alumni and employees face-to-face. Check the career or events section on the firm’s website for upcoming opportunities in your region.

Building a network takes time so approach it with patience and consistency. 

All the best,

Florian

Three main ways:

• Ask for second-degree connections by reaching out to your network for introductions.

• Attend alumni networking events.

• Do cold outreach. Most firms have an alumni portal where you can connect with alumni. Look for something in common, such as interests, city, or university.

Best,

Alberto

Hey there

Some ideas you could follow: 

• Reach-out to targeted individuals on LinkedIn
• Attend Industry events and conferences
• Join Professional Associations and Groups
• Participate in Online Communities or Forums
• Leverage your own personal network

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to speak more on the actual implementation on it

All the best