Will MBB etc. recruiters check IF you are on LinkedIn (Xing)

Question

Dear community,

I'd like to know whether recruiters will check IF I use business networks (LinkedIn...) when I send in my resume?
To be clear: I am aware that if I do use them (e.g. LinkedIn profile) they should be well maintained and so on, but if I have not been in need of them before is that a minus? Will the recruiter search for me on LinkedIN and Xing and consider the lack of such a profile a lack of professionality/ career drivenness etc.?
In other words: Should I now go and invest in setting up these professional profiles (inviting contacts will not be a big issue though) ? Or should I just leave at as it is and go in without - they get my CV in any case?

Advice would be highly appreciated, thanks in advance

Answer 1

Here's the sense I got from my experience

1) If you are recruited through your university, they are less likely to. They have more certainty that you are who you say you are.

2) If you are applying directly, they probably check you out a bit more and I'm guessing it would help. Now, if you come highly recommended from a current employee, a lack of a profile won't matter that much. But if you are one in a pool of thousands who apply, it's best not to let a small thing like that prevent an interview.

Overall, a LinkedIn profile is just good to have regardless. And it's good to invest some time into highlighting your accomplishments in a way that makes you memorable. Consulting firms have limited interview spots and they want to be a bit "wowed" by you.

It's unliikely a lack of a profile will be a deciding factor, but it could be one of many factors that prevent an interview, especially if you didn't come recommended from someone or aren't applying through university recruitment. Why take the risk?

Answer 2

Hi Anonymous,

I am not sure whether recruiters will check your LinkedIn profile before the application (probably not in case you apply through a referral, which I would recommended), however, I would still strongly suggest you to build a profile there, for a couple of reasons:

It will make you sound more professional once you start as a consultant (clients will likely look at your profile sooner or later).
It will allow to build a network with your colleagues and keep track of their career progress also once you leave.
It will facilitate to keep track of interesting people you could meet without the need of a business card.
It will make possible to contact people out of your network through a connection.
It will let you benefit from attention of recruiters after you join (not interesting probably at the beginning, but given the few years of turnover in consulting, that may become useful in the near future, and the sooner you start to build your profile, the stronger it will be).

Best,

Francesco