Bain & Company Y’all, is it even worth applying to Bain lateral recruiting without a referral? I want to be optimistic about it, but don’t have a strong connect to the office I want to apply to, and friends I’ve spoken to at other offices say their referral wouldn’t count bc of the local office model 😭🥲😭 Realistically I don’t think im going to do SO well in interviews that I can bet out someone else who’s roughly as good but has a referral…. ☹️ Bain & Company
FYI, that's not really true about it not mattering when not at the same office. The difference is if it comes from Bain US, that's good enough to check the box to get them to give your app a double take
You're friends likely aren't in the high enough position where a referral really matters enough to sway an interviewer, regardless of it being same office or not.
Real talk, they probably just don't want to give the referral. We have hiring bonuses going on right now for referrals that lead to a hire, and it's not same office specific. Take that for what you will
m1 asking the right question. not a lateral if it’s not from mbb.
i assume referrals don’t matter that much op unless it’s from a senior or vusser himself - unless you’re royalty yourself 🤷♂️
it helps, it’s not necessary though. they’re not going to say no to an amazing candidate just because they don’t know someone at bain
FWIW I’ve always thought / seen that referrals just get you in the doorway, but no further.
We are after talent, we’re not going to favor someone over another because they know someone at Bain and the other doesn’t.
Referral doesn’t factor once you get to interview. Basically ensures your CV give a closer look - otherwise, it’s up to you.
100% agree with b2/b3. Also T2 is definitely more likely to get an interview than M/B unless MB person has a REALLY credible reason why they want to switch.
Referral isn’t necessary if you have a solid resume, but it definitely helps to have someone vouch for you. A referral isn’t actually that helpful though if the person doesn’t really know you - if you just message someone online and chat once and they send your name in, that’s not going to move the needle.
Tons of parthenon / strat& / kearney / LEK laterals in the London office and they're doing pretty well!
OP are you lateraling from another MBB or just consulting in general?
It’s us!
Thank you all, B1/B2/B3/B4! It definitely makes sense what you all are saying, just hard to square with my friends’ assertions that having a referral is super important / at least super helpful.
Maybe it’s a bit of a bias / correlation though - maybe they / their friends got referrals *bc* of their strengths as candidates? Or potentially, if it came down to two equally good candidates, the one with the referral might win out, but just having the referral is not enough, but could help if paired with strong performance?
Thank you for your input - maybe the squaring of the circle is just that it’s super competitive to even get an interview, so the referral is actually helpful to get that foot in the door - and then it’s performance all the way