Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: June 15, 2026

 

A Strategy& referral is an internal recommendation from a current Strategy& or PwC employee that gets your application flagged for a closer review by recruiting, and the surest way to get one is to ask someone in your network at the firm directly, with a polished resume attached. This guide covers the four best ways to land a referral, the exact outreach messages that work, and how to turn that referral into a Strategy& offer.

 

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Key Takeaways

 

A Strategy& referral gets your application a closer look from recruiting, but you earn it through real relationships and convert it through strong interview performance.

 

• A referral flags your resume for review, it does not guarantee an interview or an offer

 

• The easiest referral comes from someone you already know at Strategy& or PwC

 

• LinkedIn outreach, alumni networks, and recruiting events are the next best paths

 

• Send your referrer a polished resume and your target role and office before they submit

 

• Two or three referrals is plenty, asking six people at one office looks desperate

 

What Is a Strategy& Referral and Does It Actually Help?

 

A Strategy& referral is when a current employee submits your name and resume through the firm's internal referral system, vouching that you are worth a look. It does not get you hired or even guarantee an interview. What it does is move your application out of the general pile and onto a recruiter's desk for a real review.

 

That matters more than most candidates think. Strategy& is the global strategy consulting arm of PwC, and top strategy roles draw far more qualified applicants than there are seats. A referral is one of the few levers that nudges a recruiter to read your resume closely instead of skimming it for ten seconds.

 

In my experience interviewing and recruiting at Bain, referred candidates were never waved through. They were simply read with more attention and more goodwill, which at the screening stage is a real edge. The same dynamic holds across strategy firms, including the broader PwC consulting interview process.

 

Keep in mind that a referral is a starting advantage, not a finish line. It works best when paired with a resume that can clear the screen on its own and a serious plan to prepare for the cases and fit questions that follow.

 

What Are the Best Ways to Get a Strategy& Referral?

 

There are four main ways to get a Strategy& referral, listed from easiest to hardest depending on your current network. Work down the list and use whichever paths fit your situation.

 

Path 1: Reach out to someone you already know

 

This is the easiest and most reliable path. If you have a friend, classmate, former colleague, or family connection at Strategy& or anywhere in PwC, message them directly and ask if they would be comfortable referring you. Most candidates overthink this, and a short, direct note works far better than a long, formal one.

 

The strength of this path is the existing relationship. The person already knows your work or character, so their referral carries genuine weight inside the firm.

 

Path 2: Connect with Strategy& employees on LinkedIn

 

If you do not know anyone at the firm, LinkedIn is your next best tool. Search for Strategy& consultants who share something with you, such as the same university, hometown, previous employer, or student club. A warm common thread makes a stranger far more likely to respond and eventually refer you.

 

Do not ask for a referral in your first message. Open by requesting a short informational interview to learn about their experience, then build toward the referral once a real conversation has happened.

 

Polish your own profile before you reach out, since the first thing a Strategy& consultant does is click your name. A clean, credible consulting LinkedIn profile signals that referring you is a safe bet for them.

 

Path 3: Use your school's alumni network

 

Alumni are one of the most underused referral sources for Strategy&. People who attended your school feel a built-in pull to help, and many strategy consultants enjoy paying forward the help they once received. Search your alumni database or LinkedIn for graduates now at Strategy& or PwC.

 

Lead with the shared school connection in your opening line. That single detail lifts your response rate more than any other piece of common ground.

 

Path 4: Attend Strategy& recruiting events

 

Strategy& and PwC run campus events, info sessions, coffee chats, and diversity programs throughout the recruiting cycle. Show up, ask thoughtful questions, and follow up afterward with the consultants you spoke with. A face-to-face impression makes a later referral ask feel natural rather than cold.

 

These events are also where recruiters first notice candidates. A strong, genuine interaction at an event can turn into both a referral and an early advocate inside the office.

 

How Do You Ask for a Strategy& Referral?

 

Ask with a short message that names your connection, states the role and office you want, and makes a direct request. Keep it under five sentences, make it easy to say yes, and never bury the ask. The clearer you are, the easier it is for a busy consultant to help.

 

Here is an example message for someone you already know:

 

"Hi Priya, I hope the new project is going well. I am applying to Strategy& for the Associate role in the New York office and would love your support. Would you be comfortable referring me? I have attached my resume to make it easy, and I am happy to share anything else you need."

 

Here is an example for an alumni or LinkedIn contact you have spoken with once:

 

"Hi David, thanks again for the call last week, your take on the deals strategy work was really helpful. I have decided to apply to Strategy& in Chicago and wanted to ask if you would be open to referring me. No pressure at all, and I have attached my resume in case it is useful."

 

Notice that both messages are warm, specific, and short. If your wider application materials need work, a sharp Strategy& cover letter reinforces the same story your referrer is vouching for.

 

What Should You Send the Person Referring You?

 

Send your referrer everything they need to submit the referral in under two minutes. At minimum, that means a polished resume, the exact role title and office you are applying to, and a one-line summary of why you fit. The less work you create, the faster they act.

 

Make your resume the centerpiece. Strategy& and PwC referrals are submitted through an internal system that asks the employee to attach your resume, so a strong consulting resume is doing the heavy lifting the moment it lands in front of a recruiter.

 

A quick package to send your referrer looks like this:

 

1. Your resume: a clean, one-page PDF tailored to strategy consulting
   
   
2. The role and office: the exact job title and location you are targeting
   
   
3. A short fit line: one sentence on why you are a strong match for the role
   
   
4. The job link: the posting URL if you have already found it

 

If your resume is not yet sharp enough to carry a referral, fix that first. My resume review and editing service gives you unlimited revisions with a 24-hour turnaround so the document your referrer submits actually clears the screen.

 

How Does the Strategy& Interview Process Work After a Referral?

 

Once your referral lands you an interview, the Strategy& process typically runs two rounds with four to five interviews total. Many offices use a "super day" format where first and final rounds happen on the same day, while others space the rounds one to two weeks apart. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round, so timing your referral early in the cycle helps.

 

Each interview pairs a behavioral component with a case. Based on Glassdoor data, the average Strategy& hiring process runs about 37 days, candidates rate interview difficulty around 3.31 out of 5, and roughly 71% report a positive experience.

 

One thing that surprises candidates: Strategy& leans harder on behavioral and fit questions than most strategy firms. Interviewers want to see genuine motivation for the firm and clear, structured stories about your past work, which is why a strong fit interview course is worth as much here as case prep.

 

The cases themselves are candidate-led and built around real strategy problems, often involving growth, market entry, or deals. The fastest way to get comfortable is structured practice, and my case interview course walks you through the exact approach top candidates use. For firm-specific drills, our Strategy& case interview guide breaks down the formats you will face.

 

What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Asking for a Referral?

 

The biggest referral mistakes are easy to avoid once you know them. Steer clear of the five below and your ask will land far better.

 

• Treating it like a transaction: consultants can tell when you only want them for a referral, so show real interest in their work first

 

• Asking too many people at one office: two or three referrals is fine, but six looks desperate and recruiters notice

 

• Relying only on the referral: it gets you read, not hired, so it cannot replace serious case and fit preparation

 

• Sending a weak resume: a referrer who attaches a sloppy resume is staking their name on a document that hurts you

 

• Asking too late: since recruiting is rolling, a referral submitted after most slots are filled carries far less value

 

A Strategy& referral is one of the cleanest advantages you can build in your job search, but it only pays off when you treat it as the opening move rather than the whole game. Earn it through a real relationship, send your referrer a resume that makes them look good, and then put your energy into preparing for the cases and fit questions, because that is what turns a Strategy& referral into an actual offer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do you need a referral to get a Strategy& interview?

 

No, you do not need a referral to get a Strategy& interview. Many candidates get interviews every year by applying directly through the Strategy& or PwC careers site. A referral simply improves your odds by getting your application a closer look from recruiting.

 

How do you ask for a Strategy& referral?

 

Reach out to a current Strategy& or PwC employee with a short, specific message. Mention any shared connection, say which role and office you are targeting, and ask directly if they would be comfortable referring you. Attach a polished resume so they can submit the referral through the firm's internal system.

 

Does a Strategy& referral guarantee an interview?

 

No. A Strategy& referral flags your application and gets it reviewed by recruiting, but it does not guarantee an interview or an offer. You still need a strong resume that clears the screen and strong case and fit performance to pass each round.

 

Who can refer you at Strategy&?

 

Almost any current Strategy& employee can submit a referral, from Associates to Partners. A referral from someone more senior, or from someone in your target office who has actually spoken with you, tends to carry more weight than one from a junior consultant who barely knows you.

 

Is it better to get a referral from Strategy& or PwC?

 

A referral from inside Strategy& is ideal because Strategy& runs its own recruiting track within PwC. A referral from the broader PwC network still helps, especially if that person can route your resume to the right Strategy& recruiter, so do not pass up a strong PwC contact.

 

How many Strategy& referrals should you get?

 

Two or three referrals at Strategy& is plenty. One strong referral from someone who has had a real conversation with you beats five weak ones from people who barely remember your name. Asking five or six employees at the same office can come across as desperate.

 

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