The MBA Consulting Network: How to Build Relationships That Actually Move the Ne
About the event
MBA consulting recruiting doesn't start when applications open — it starts months before, in coffee chats and informational calls that most students treat as box-checking exercises. As a former BCG interviewer and Ross consulting peer coach, I've been on both sides: I've watched candidates network their way into consideration and I've watched well-prepared candidates struggle because they started too late or approached it the wrong way. For MBA students, networking carries more weight than most people realize, and it works very differently than it did as an undergrad. This session covers how to build a consulting network that's actually useful. Why MBA Consulting Networking Is Different (And Why It Matters More Than You Think) -How firms track candidate engagement before recruiting officially opens — and what that means for you -Why "just getting a coffee chat" is the wrong goal and what you should actually be optimizing for -What networking can and can't do for you, depending on the firm Finding the Right People and Actually Getting on Their Calendar -How to identify the specific people worth reaching out to — by office, practice area, and background -How to leverage generic coffee chats for more relevant connections What to Do in the Conversation -What to ask, what not to ask, and how to structure a 30-minute call so it's valuable for both people -How to make a genuine impression without being transactional about it -The questions that signal you've done your homework vs. the ones that signal you haven't -Using the coffee chat to learn rather than impress or stump the consultant Staying in Touch Without Being Annoying -How and when to follow up after an informational conversation or coffee chat -How to stay on someone's radar without manufacturing reasons to email them
