Short answer
Consulting networking means short, prepared conversations with consultants, alumni and recruiters before you apply. It works through four channels: coffee chats, alumni outreach, recruiting events and referrals. Done well, it gives you office-specific knowledge, a named contact for your cover letter and sometimes a referral. It does not replace test and case performance, which still decide the offer.
Key takeaways
- Networking has four channels: coffee chats, alumni outreach, recruiting events and referrals, each with a different effort and payoff.
- A coffee chat is a 20-minute research conversation with three prepared questions and a clear ending, followed by a thank-you within 24 hours.
- Referrals are not required at MBB; prep providers estimate they raise first-round odds, and none of these figures is official.
- In the Netherlands, study associations run in-house days and recruiting weeks, such as the Erasmus Recruitment Days and Delft Career Days, that replace much cold outreach.
- Six focused weeks of networking, finished before the application window, are enough for most candidates.
What is consulting networking?
Consulting networking means short, prepared conversations with people at the firms you target, held before you apply. It runs through four channels: coffee chats, alumni outreach, recruiting events and referrals. Each conversation should produce something concrete: knowledge about an office, a named contact for your application, or practice talking about why you want the job.
Networking improves how your application reads. The online test and the case interviews decide the outcome. Plan your time in that proportion: a few focused weeks of networking, then most of your effort on preparation.
The four channels compared
| Channel | What you get | Effort | Best timing | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee chats | Office-specific detail, a contact to name, fit-story practice | Medium: 30-60 minutes each including preparation | 2-4 months before the deadline | The core channel for most candidates |
| Alumni outreach | Warm introductions through shared background | Low per message, high in volume | Start of your networking period | Reply rates rise with shared ground |
| Recruiting events | Contact with several consultants at once, often a practice case | Low to medium | When firms schedule them, usually in the fall and early in the new year in Europe | Some require a CV and selection |
| Referrals | A careful read of your application | Comes from the other three | Just before you apply | Not required; effects are unofficial estimates |
Recruiting calendars differ by country; the European recruiting timeline lists the windows by firm.
How to run a coffee chat
A coffee chat is a 20-minute research conversation, by video call or in person. The consultant gives you time; you give them a well-prepared conversation that ends on schedule.
- Prepare. Read the consultant's profile, one recent article from their practice and the office's careers page. Write three questions that only a person in that office can answer.
- Open in 60 seconds. Say who you are, what you study or do, and why you asked them specifically.
- Ask your three questions. Good examples: "What kind of projects do first-year analysts in Amsterdam work on most?" "How do staffing decisions work in your office?" "What surprised you in your first six months?" Avoid questions the website answers, such as the application deadline.
- Close on time. At minute 18, thank them and ask one forward question: whether there is a colleague they suggest you speak to, and whether you may mention the conversation in your application.
- Follow up within 24 hours. Send a three-line thank-you that names one thing you learned.
Treat every chat as a light fit interview. Consultants often share impressions with recruiters, so prepare a 60-second introduction the same way you would for the fit interview.
Stephan's note: Having coached students through consulting recruiting, the advice I give most often is to use each conversation as research for your "why this firm" answer. A specific detail from a real conversation makes that answer credible in a way no careers page can.
An outreach message that gets replies
Short messages with shared ground get answered. The template below is for LinkedIn or email; adapt the bracketed parts and keep it under 100 words.
Subject: [University] student, question about [Firm] [Office]
Hi [Name],
I am a [degree] student at [University] and, like you, a member of [study association or program]. I am preparing to apply to [Firm] in [Office] for [start date] and read your [article or post] on [topic].
Would you have 20 minutes in the next two weeks for a call? I have three questions about the work of first-year consultants in [Office]. I will keep to time.
Thank you, [Your name] | [Phone]
If there is no reply after seven days, send one short follow-up and then move on. Track every contact in a simple sheet with name, office, date contacted, date spoken and follow-up sent.
Referrals: how they work and when to ask
A referral is a current employee's recommendation, submitted through the firm's internal system. It is not required: McKinsey, BCG and Bain all accept direct applications. Prep providers estimate that referred candidates reach a first-round interview more often, for example 30-50% against 10-15% at McKinsey, but these are unofficial estimates and should be read as a rough signal.
Ask for a referral only after a real conversation, and only when the consultant has offered help or asked about your application. A referral gets your application a careful read; your resume, test and cases still decide what happens next. Name the contact in your cover letter only with their permission.
The European angle: study associations and recruiting days
In the Netherlands, much of the networking happens through study associations, which organize recruiting weeks and in-house days with consulting firms. Three examples, all from the organizers' own pages:
- Erasmus Recruitment Days (Rotterdam). Run by the study associations EFR and STAR for Erasmus School of Economics and Rotterdam School of Management students. EFR reports about 2,500 participants, more than 100 companies and 150+ recruitment activities, with partners including Strategy&, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, OCC Strategy and Simon-Kucher. The 2027 edition runs 21 January to 7 February.
- In-house days. Study associations select students by CV for a day at a firm's office. FAECTOR, the Erasmus econometrics association, ran an in-house day at Bain Amsterdam on 31 March 2026 for second-year bachelor's students and above.
- Delft Career Days. Nearly 200 companies took part in the 2026 edition, with orientation days in February, coffee dates at the end of March and in-house days from late April into May.
Firms also recruit across borders. BCG's Budapest, Prague and Warsaw offices hold recruiting events in Amsterdam on 5-6 November 2026 for students with the local language, with an application deadline of 25 October. If you speak a second language, check whether offices in that country recruit at your university.
Join the career or consultancy committee of your study association if you can. Organizing an event puts you in direct contact with recruiters and gives you a leadership example for your resume. For office language requirements and local firms, see the guide to consulting jobs in the Netherlands.
A 6-week networking plan
Finish this plan before your application window opens. It assumes 4-6 hours a week alongside your studies or job.
| Week | Goal | Actions | Target output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Map your targets | List 4-6 offices; find 15-20 contacts through alumni lists, study associations and LinkedIn; check event calendars | Contact sheet with 15-20 names |
| 2 | Start outreach | Send 8-10 tailored messages; register for every relevant event or in-house day | 3-4 chats scheduled |
| 3 | First conversations | Hold 2-3 coffee chats; send thank-you notes within 24 hours | Notes on each office's work and culture |
| 4 | Widen and deepen | Follow up non-replies once; ask good contacts for one introduction each; attend one event | 2-3 more chats scheduled |
| 5 | Second conversations | Hold 2-3 chats, now with sharper questions; test your "why this firm" answer | A draft answer per firm |
| 6 | Convert | Write firm-specific cover letters naming contacts (with permission); raise referrals where offered | Applications ready to submit |
From week 3, run case practice in parallel, since the conversations will not carry you past the interviews. A regular case practice partner makes that easier to keep up. The how to get into consulting guide places this plan inside a full 12-month timeline, and Cracking the Case takes you from cover letter to final-round case once the applications are out.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a referral to get into McKinsey, BCG or Bain?
No. All three accept direct applications through their portals. A referral can help a strong application get a careful read, but prep-provider estimates of its effect are unofficial.
How many coffee chats should I do before applying?
Aim for three to five useful conversations per target office. Beyond that, each extra chat adds little, and the time is better spent on case practice.
Is it acceptable to message consultants I do not know on LinkedIn?
Yes, if the message is short, specific and asks for a small amount of time. Shared ground, such as the same university, study association or home town, raises reply rates.
Should I ask for a referral in my first message?
No. Ask for a conversation first. Raise the referral only at the end of a good conversation, and only if the consultant offers to help or the firm's process allows it.
Do consulting firms track networking?
Some offices note event attendance and contacts, but practice varies and firms do not publish it. Assume any conversation can reach the recruiting team and prepare accordingly.