How to get a referral in the Middle East if I live in the US? what level should I apply for? How to mention an unpaid internship with Kearney??

Question

Hi,

I'm a Research Scientist at a university in the US and have a MSc in Engineering and currently finishing a MSc in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. My CGPA is 4.0 in both MScs and they are both earned from the same university I work at. I currently have about 1.5 yrs of experience in my current position and I write reports to federal agencies, manage students and junior research associates, and prepare lots of excel and ppts (so very similar to consulting).Most of my research is revolved around energy which is very needed in the Middle East. I also have 2 years of graduate research assistant experience, 5 years of online teaching , 1.5 year of military experience , a few internships in (1 multinational (best engineering intern),2 large local companies, a startup, and won a national competition) , and bunch of student org leadership positions. I also speak Arabic (native) and had a remote internship with Kearney and planning to apply next summer. I hope this extensive background is sufficient to get answer for my following questions:

1-My internship with Kearney was done through an international student organization and our only point of contact was a consultant in an office not located in the same country. It was an unpaid internship and I didn't have a company email so I can't get a certificate or anything to prove it other than the experience I gained. I was primarily conducting customer discovery interviews, analyzing data and wrote a final report and was named the best intern out of 10 people were chosen. So Is this something that I should mention or would it raise concerns around my application?

2- How can I get a referral given that I live in the US and my target is the Middle East? Is LinkedIn my only hope? If yes, should I contact partners/principles ( any tricks to get them to reply given their busy schedules?) or should I contact newer people at my target position? Are there other ways of getting referrals?

3- How many years of experience should I claim and what position do I qualify for given my background that I mentioned above ? I checked the websites and It is all over the place from analyst to a consultant level depending on the firm and how many years of experience I counted. I'm thinking that junior associate (Mck), Senior associate (BCG) , Associate Consultant (Bain) are the most realistic options but open to apply for Analyst position just to break in.

***Few important notes to answer this last question:

- My degrees aren't from a target school

- My fulltime experiences are only in university setups ( teaching+ research) so not your typical corporate America experience).

-I have been working and studying both fulltime for the past 10 years and that is why there is a lot of overlap so my CV looks confusing to many people. Would that be an advantage in their eyes( proof that I'm used to long hours?)

I really apologize for this long post and having multiple questions at once but I think they are relevant. Also, consulting is my dream career so your answers will be much appreciated and life changing if I can break in. Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Find below an answer on your 3 key questions:

Yes, I would mention the fact you were the best intern. It shows a third party/company acknowledge your skills.
The best way is reach out via LinkedIn to people with a common background (e.g., university or working experience, in your case Kearney). I suggest to start with people at more junior level as they are mostly more responsive. Another way of getting referrals is by attending events (online or in-person). Note there are always people working in US who did a temporary transfer in US.
I would apply for the role of Associate Consultant (Bain, and similar for the other MBB companies). During the interview, they will help to determine your exact starting level.

Feel free to reach out via chat in case of any other questions.

Mattijs

Answer 2

To your questions:

1. Kearney internship – Include it in your resume and clearly explain your role and impact.

2. Middle East referrals – LinkedIn is not your only option, but it’s your best tool. Target partners for outreach. I have a methodology to secure referrals at any firm—drop me a private message if you need help.

3. Entry position at MBB – I’d need to review your resume, but based on what you described, you most likely qualify for a Business Analyst or Senior Business Analyst role. To qualify for an Associate/Consultant position, you typically need an MBA or 5+ years of experience in a consulting-related role.

Considering you have a non-standard profile, I suggest seeking help from MBB consultants or career coaches to maximize your chances of securing interview invitations. Drop a message if you need help.

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: Sierra Sprints - New Product Launch

Answer 3

hey!

Your Kearney internship is definitely worth mentioning—it highlights your proactive consulting experience and being named best intern adds value, even if it was unpaid and remote; when seeking referrals from the Middle East while based in the US, I recommend leveraging LinkedIn to connect with alumni or professionals working in the region and targeting individuals at junior or mid-level roles who are generally more responsive, while also exploring virtual networking events and direct outreach to recruiting teams;

regarding the appropriate level, with your strong academic record, diverse experiences in research, teaching, military service, and leadership, along with your native Arabic and energy expertise, aiming for roles like a junior associate at McKinsey, Senior Associate at BCG, or Associate Consultant at Bain is realistic, and your 10 years of combined work and study can be framed as a testament to your ability to handle long hours and complex challenges—feel free to reach out if you have any more questions.

Alessa

Answer 4

Hey there,

Absolutely, mention that you were the best intern.
1. No one knows it was an unpaid internship
2. Every award/achievement should be on your resume
3. Kearney is a solid brand in the region.
The best approach is to connect with people through events. If that is not possible, I would move on to LinkedIn and reach out to consultants in your target office who share a common background - whether it’s the same university, past work experience, hometown, or another connection. This will make it easier to get the discussion started.
Given the type of experience, you mentioned (a bit of a lack of a strong consulting narrative), it is likely that most firms would place you at the entry level. This is something that can be talked about with HR in the region to get an understanding of how they see it.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 5

Hi Mohamed, Everyone has a network, it’s just about learning how to leverage it effectively. Here’s how you can start... (read entire answer)

Hi Mohamed, Everyone has a network, it’s just about learning how to leverage it effectively. Here’s how you can start: Tap into Alumni and Past Colleagues: look for people from... (read entire answer)

Answer 6

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from sele... (read entire answer)

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from select universities and schools (Target Schools), and their Midd... (read entire answer)