Cold email to McKinsey partner that worked:

Most networking messages fail for one simple reason: They focus on the sender. The best ones focus on the recipient.

A candidate recently secured a meeting with a McKinsey Partner using a message similar to

the one in this post.

What worked?

1. They referenced a specific publication.

Not:

❌ "I've been following McKinsey's work."

Instead:

✅ "Your article on recalibrating CIO technology budgets for the AI era influenced discussions we had internally on technology investment governance."

Specific beats generic.

2. They showed application, not consumption.

Most candidates tell consultants what they have read. Top candidates explain how they used it. The difference is enormous. One shows interest. The other shows impact.

3. They created relevance.

They didn't ask for a meeting because McKinsey is prestigious. They connected their own experience to the firm's work. The implicit message became: "I already think about the same problems your clients face."

4. They made the ask easy.

No request for a referral. No request for a job. No request for an introduction.

Just: "Would you have 15 minutes to share your perspective?"

Low friction. High response rate.

Most networking messages fail because candidates try to impress. The best networking messages create curiosity.

A consultant should finish reading your message thinking: "This person understands our work better than most candidates."

That's when conversations start. And conversations often lead to opportunities.