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I had one call with someone at McKinsey and they offered to refer me. Obviously I appreciate it, but does a referral from someone who barely knows you actually help much?
A referral is strongest when the person can credibly explain why they recommend you. A weak connection may still create visibility, but the signal is naturally limited.
Do not exaggerate the relationship. Your application still needs to stand on its own.
If you have time, build the relationship around a real conversation and relevant follow-up rather than pushing for a referral after the first five minutes.
My rule is if they cannot say one specific thing about you, the referral is probably weak.
Still better than lying about how well they know you.
I have a strong referral from someone in one MBB office, but my actual first-choice office is somewhere else. Does it weaken the referral if I apply to a different location? I do not want to pick an office just to match the referrer if I have a much better personal reason for another city.
Apply to the office that genuinely fits you. A referral should support the candidate, not force you into the referrer's location.
I submitted my BCG application and then someone offered to refer me. Is it too late for the referral to matter, or can employees / recruiting attach it afterward?
It may still be possible, depending on the recruiting system and whether your application is already being reviewed.
Someone at Bain offered to refer me and I am not sure what happens after they submit it. Does the referral guarantee a recruiter review, or is it basically just another data point on the application?
A Bain referral can help give your application internal context, but it does not guarantee an interview.