When it comes to job hunting, particularly in highly competitive fields like investment banking or management consulting, I often hear students lament about not being at a target school for this company or that.

Now, there’s something to the ease (dare I say laziness?) that a student can have if they are at a target school (I can say that because I went to a target school…right?). Companies come to you — you don’t have to try as hard to get to them. That being said, at the end of the day, companies still want top talent, wherever they can find it.

In my experience over the past seven years working with students interested in management consulting at the David Eccles School of Business (which, in all fairness, is a target school for some firms), those students who really want consulting jobs? They get them.

How? What about being at a target school?

Like I said, being at a target school might be easier, but have you heard the stat that “85% of critical jobs are filled via networking of some sort”? If not, check out this article.

That stat supports what I’ve seen at the Eccles School. Students who are prepared and are performing at the level of candidates at these target schools not only can, but do receive offers from the top firms. I’ve personally worked with students who have landed jobs at Bain, McKinsey, and BCG — all of the “Big 3” consulting firms.

Now, maybe that’s because we have amazing faculty, staff, board members, and alumni at Eccles who have first-hand experience at these firms. But, it’s also because our students act with continuous curiosity and have entrepreneurial grit. They are scrappy and seek out opportunities to get in front of hiring managers and recruiters. They show that they can do the work just as well as anyone.

So, the next time someone tells you it’s impossible to get into the company of your dreams, don’t waste your time arguing with them. Slip on your networking shoes, and get moving. While they are busy focusing on the negative, you’ll be laughing all the way to the interview.