Networking -- How?

Quick thoughts on this below -- happy to share more over a call: 

1. Craft a compelling story -- how you sell yourself in outreach messages on LinkedIn / emails / etc. matters; you need a strong first impression
2. Have a killer CV ready to go -- don't underestimate the prep here
3. Prioritize firms -- have a good mix of top-tier and others; I would narrow down to 3-5 firms and pursue multiple contacts there  
4. Tap into your connections -- school, industry, friend/family connections will make it more likely that this person will respond  
5. Prep for and run calls effectively -- show up with a clear agenda, lead the meeting, sell yourself but listen more than you talk
6. Make a clear ask -- don't be shy to ask for intros, mock interviews, and if appropriate, a referral; ideally, you make the person offer it by showing how strong of a potential candidate you are 

Reach out to learn more!   

Hey there!

My top tips are: 

1. Target the Right People – Focus on those with influence in recruiting, preferably in your desired office/practice.
2. Leverage Warm Connections – Alumni, mutual contacts, or LinkedIn connections can help with introductions.
3. Engage with Thought Leadership – Comment on their LinkedIn posts or reference their work in outreach.
4. Craft a Strong Outreach Message – Be concise, show genuine interest, and ask for advice rather than a referral upfront.
5. Have a Value-Driven Conversation – Ask about their experience, challenges in their practice, and firm culture.
6. Follow Up & Stay in Touch – Keep them updated on your progress, and if the conversation goes well, ask for a referral naturally.

Referrals from partners are rare but impactful—build relationships first! 😊

Alessa

Practically, in terms of the "how", i would think about networking in terms of degrees of separation/connection. 

i.e. It is easier to network and a referral with someone who you are closer with or have some sort of connection with.

To this end, I would encourage you to think about the possible themes or connections you could draw on to get connected

• School/Alumni
• Friends/Family
• Interest/Hobby
• Etc

Is there more weight from a senior referral? Sure.. of course what a partner says holds more weight than a new associate. But practically - getting your CV in the system is better than not getting your CV in the system as well. Getting a referral from a junior consultant is still better than not getting a referral at all.

Hi there,

Q: How do you network in an impactful and targeted manner, to secure referrals from senior firm leaders (e.g. (Senior) Partner, AP, etc.).

To find a referral, I would recommend three key steps:

1. Identify the people who can help you
2. Write them a customized email
3. Have a call and indirectly ask for a referral

As general tips:

• Don’t use LinkedIn for your communication – you have much more control with emails. You should target 30% conversion for your messages; if you are not achieving that, there is space for improvement.
• When sending emails, your goal should be to organize a call, not to ask questions – you can then use the call for the questions.
• You need to close the call with an indirect request for a referral – don’t leave that to chance. There are specific ways to phrase it.

You should prepare three main things before the call:

• Your own pitch. 3-4 lines should be enough
• 3-4 questions on the personal experiences of the person. Avoid asking questions about the company
• A closing question for the referral. It should be an indirect request to avoid being too pushy

Before the call, you should have your CV and Cover ready – in this way, you can send them right away if the person wants to refer you. 

Following the same process, I managed to get 6 invitations out of 6 applications – including all MBB. I regularly see my mentees getting referrals for MBB with that.

If you need more help, please feel free to PM me, as part of my program, I share the exact scripts for calls/email so that you can optimize all the steps above.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

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

• It is really nothing more than reaching out and talking to people you have identified as potential referrers. They are as human as you and I, so there is no set way of doing this.

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 applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen