Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Sep 01, 2025

These 5 job searching strategies helped me get into Google, KPMG, and BCG. Mastering at least one of them will help you land a gig at top companies.

These 5 job searching strategies helped me get into Google, KPMG, and BCG. Mastering at least one of them will help you land a gig at top companies.

Eugene Hayden lists the pros and cons of using each strategy and shares how to maximize chances of getting into a top tech or consulting firm.

I'll never forget my struggle searching for a meaningful job. I was out of the job market for three years without an offer, and I applied to so many jobs that it made me feel sick, depressed, and desperate.

But hard work pays off. I learned from my job searching experience and I now enjoy helping others find jobs during the pandemic.

The five strategies I list below helped me get my foot in the door at dream companies like Google, KPMG, and Boston Consulting Group. Master one of these strategies or use a combination of them to unlock more opportunities on the job market, each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

1. Apply early and tweak your résumé when using online portals


Online applications are a gamble. It's the easiest way to submit a résumé with the lowest rate of success. But if you tailor your résumé to each job description, apply early, and optimize for résumé keywords, you'll significantly increase your chances at landing an interview.

The time you apply is critical. If you apply early, there's a higher chance that your application will be seen. A résumé should demonstrate relevant experience and skills rather than generic information about your responsibilities.

To maximize your chances, focus on quantifiable achievements, prepare the application in advance, and populate relevant keywords — but don't overcrowd the résumé.

Pros: Applying online is easy and some companies still hire more than 50% of candidates through online channels.

Cons: For highly competitive environments, the rate of success of online channels is less than 1%.

2. Ask your network for referrals


I got my first job at Boston Consulting Group through a referral. My friend posted a short description on social media that his team was looking for a research analyst. I was excited about the opportunity, so I asked him to refer me.

Eight interviews later, I was hired and a senior partner thanked my friend for referring me. Hiring managers value referrals because they help hiring committees minimize risks and accelerate the decision-making process.

To maximize your chances, build strong relationships with people who refer you, so they will advocate for you on different levels within the organization. Referrals from people who know you well are stronger than referral from strangers.

Pros: A referral may be a fast track for some applicants, and companies encourage employees to recommend the best candidates.

Cons: Referrals are very common at top tech companies and consulting firms. A referral doesn't guarantee you anything; however, this strategy still works better than online submissions.

3. Get plugged into professional groups


Online groups and communities have been thriving since the pandemic started. Job seekers from professional networks who didn't have friends at top tech companies or consulting firms can finally find peers and mentors.

Unlike referrals and traditional ways of building networks (e.g. through friends, universities, or companies), professional networks offer career services. Mentors (usually recruiters and hiring managers) teach candidates how to get into their companies, organize free events with top speakers, and help mentees grow their networks. The community plays the role of a filter or lead generator for organizations.

Some popular communities and mentors include Wonsulting, a community organized by two ex-Googlers; Cultivated Culture, led by a former Microsoft Director; and Max Up, managed by an incoming financial analyst at Google. Two other companies that offer professional services are HiCounselor and FAANGPath.

To build up your network, get plugged into these types of professional groups and participate in free events. For example, Wonsulting organized more than 100 free events with top speakers from tech companies last year.

Pros: Members of these communities can easily get access to someone from Google or Microsoft to answer questions, prepare for interviews, and even get a referral.

Cons: Some career services are not free. Resume reviews may cost you $100-$300 and career mentorship up to 10-15% of your future 1-year salary.

4. Send personalized notes to recruiters


Recruiters are amazing people. I got my job at Google thanks to a recruiter who found me and offered the opportunity.

I had four interviews in two consecutive days followed by three rounds with hiring committees. During this period, I was in touch with the recruiter and he supported me at every step.

Instead of sending a transactional message to a recruiter on LinkedIn (e.g. "Here is my résumé, please review it for open roles."), try to be personable, relevant, and build strong relationships. Even if the recruiter doesn't have a role to offer at this moment, it's highly beneficial to stay connected for future opportunities.

Pros: Recruiters are proactive, help candidates with the interview process, and advocate applicant's interests on hiring committees.

Cons: The majority of recruiters are overwhelmed by applicants on LinkedIn or other social networks, especially those who work for top tech companies and consulting firms. Many recruiters I know simply don't have time to answer all your questions or participate in informational interviews until you become a good candidate for them.

5. Stay connected with old colleagues and hiring managers


At BCG I met amazing people with whom I built strong relationships. Three consultants from BCG joined another management consulting firm. The team was led by a partner, director, and manager, all from BCG. I passed the same number of interviews and solved case studies like other candidates. However, my hiring manager was the same person with whom I've been working at BCG for three years.

To maximize your chances, think long-term and stay connected with your previous hiring managers and teams. Ask them to introduce you to people they know in companies of your interest. This introduction may significantly increase your chances to get a dream job or unlock more opportunities.

Pros: Strong personal connections with a hiring manager may unlock hidden opportunities.

Cons: There are no shortcuts. You still have to pass interviews like other candidates.

These five job application strategies may help you get a foot in the door at top tech companies and management consulting firms. Good luck with your job search!

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
Federal Reserve Independence Questioned Amid Trump’s Push to Reshape Central Bank
British Politics Faces Tumultuous Autumn After Summer of Rebellions and Rising Farage Momentum
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
UK Sought Broad Access to Apple Users’ Data, Court Filing Reveals
UK Bank Shares Dive Over Potential Tax on Sector
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
×