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Networking with Bain & Company Zurich office

Hello and Happy New Year!

I am an INSEAD MBA student with over 5 years of experience in a EU country (and EU citizenship). I am very interested in working for Bain & Company Zurich office and I'd like to network with current consultants through Linkedin or coffee chats, learn about their projects and their personal experiences. What are some of the cultural norms to be aware of when contacting Zurich-based consultants through Linkedin? What is the best way to approach? I'd really appreciate any tips/recommendations, or if anyone in this community from Bain Zurich is available to have a chat with me.

Thank you!

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Top answer
on Jan 02, 2025
Ex-BCG Project Leader | Experienced Interviewer | Free 20min Intro Call

Hi Shar, 

Here are a few tips to maximize your chances of landing strong connections in Bain's Zurich office (and potentially lock in a referral -- ideal): 

  1. Target the right people: Start with folks who attended INSEAD MBA (or other programs) or have other things in common (e.g., undergraduate alma mater, previous employer industry focus, home country, etc.)
  2. Be brief and precise: Your outreach message (add note to your connection request or inMail if you have premium) should convey a compelling story about your fit for consulting and ask 1-2 specific questions.
  3. Follow-up: You may not get a response right away, so follow up within 1-2 weeks of the initial outreach! If you don't get a response, weigh the risk of coming across as annoying vs. your need for that connection before a second follow-up attempt. If you're still stuck on getting a connection, it's not a bad idea to keep trying (spacing out the outreach, no more than 3 messages -- that's my usual limit for trying to reach someone).

I can be more specific with more context on your background. Feel free to reach out with your CV and times to chat if you want additional support. 

Cheer,

Vini

Hagen
Coach
edited on Jan 03, 2025
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing and coaching

Hi Shar,

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

  • First of all, I don't think there is anything culturally to worry about as long as you follow the general rules of communication.
  • Moreover, and contrary to what other coaches have said, while it may be a little easier to connect with people you have something in common with, it may be a better strategic move to consider what you want to get out of the conversations. If it is just project and personal experience, you may want to focus on consultants and senior consultants, as that's the path you'll be following for the first 2 years. If it is also a potential referral, you may want to include managers and more senior consulting staff as well, as their referrals tend to carry more weight.
  • Lastly, if you are unable to connect with any Bain consultant in Zurich, I would be happy to put you in touch with former coachees of mine who work in that office.

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

Best,

Hagen

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