NETWORKING
You find the perfect consultant.
Same master’s program.
Same university.
Now at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or another firm you are targeting.
So you write a thoughtful 250-word message explaining your degree, career goals, consulting interest, and why their background inspired you.
Then nothing.
Your effort may be the problem.
Not because the message is bad.
Because the consultant has to work too hard to understand what you want.
The first five lines have one job... and it is not to impress them
Your opening does not need to prove you are brilliant.
It needs to make the message easy to answer.
A simple structure works:
- who you are
- why you chose this person
- one specific point of connection
- a small request
For example:
“Hi Maya, I’m currently completing the MSc Finance program at X. I noticed you made the move from the same program into consulting and now work at BCG Toronto. I’d love to hear how you approached recruiting from the program. Would you be open to a 15-minute chat sometime next week?”
Nothing dramatic.
Easy to read. Easy to answer.
For more templates and variations, read Cold Email Template to Reach Out to Consulting Professionals.
Personalisation helps... until it starts sounding like research
Students hear “personalise every message.”
So they study the consultant’s LinkedIn profile.
Three promotions. Two industries. University club. Volunteer work. Recent article.
Then the email begins:
“I was incredibly inspired by your remarkable journey...”
Stop.
One real connection is usually stronger than five manufactured ones.
| What you write | What it may sound like | Better turn |
|---|---|---|
| “Your career is inspiring” | Generic praise | Name the specific transition |
| “I want to learn about consulting” | Very broad | Ask about one decision |
| “Can I pick your brain?” | Undefined commitment | Ask for 15 minutes |
| Long autobiography | High reading cost | Give only relevant context |
Specific beats flattering.
The goal is not to prove how much research you did.
It is to show why this conversation makes sense.
Your subject line is doing more work than you think
Imagine two emails.
“Networking Request.”
“Fellow MSc Finance Student Interested in Your BCG Transition.”
The second gives the consultant context before the email opens.
That does not mean every subject line should be long.
It means it should answer one small question:
Why might this message be relevant to me?
For more examples, read Best Subject Lines for Consulting Networking Emails.
What if they do not reply?
Do not rewrite your life story and send it again.
A short follow-up after a reasonable interval is enough.
“Hi Maya, just following up in case this got buried. I’d still really value 15 minutes to hear about your transition from the MSc Finance program into consulting. Completely understand if timing is difficult.”
That is it.
A follow-up is a reminder, not a second pitch.
If there is still no reply, move on.
One consultant not answering is not evidence that networking “does not work.”
It may mean they are busy. Or missed it. Or rarely respond to cold outreach.
You need a process, not emotional interpretation of every inbox.
And here is the strange part: the email is not where networking happens
The email only gets you the conversation.
Once they say yes, your beautifully crafted outreach has finished its job.
Now the consultant will remember something else:
whether you asked interesting questions,
whether you listened,
whether the conversation felt natural,
and whether there was a reason to speak again.
The perfect cold email is not the one that tells your whole story.
It is the one that leaves enough of the story for the call.