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I had a really good 30-minute coffee chat with an MBB consultant. Would it be inappropriate to ask whether they would feel comfortable referring me, or is one conversation too little?
One conversation can be enough in some cases, but the key is whether the consultant actually has enough information to recommend you credibly.
A strong consulting referral is about advocacy, not simply obtaining an employee name in the system.
If you ask, make it easy for them to decline: 'If you feel comfortable based on our conversation, would you be open to referring me?' That is much better than assuming the referral is owed because they took the call.
The 'if you feel comfortable' wording is exactly what I used.
If the chat was genuinely good, asking once is fine.
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.
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.