mbb consulting cover letters

Consulting Cover Letter: What You Actually Need to Know

The key to effective cover-letters is story-telling. Most people write cover letters like resumes, with cold, hard facts, and that’s the problem.

Cover letters are much more effective if they contain stories capturing the burning spirits of candidates. In this article, I’ll tell you how to install such stories seamlessly into your consulting cover letters, and land a case interview yourself.

Consulting cover letters – The basics

What are cover letters for.

Cover letters are documents accompanying resumes, to provide further insights into the qualities and motivations of a candidate, as well as portray who he/she is as a person .

In consulting cover letters, there are three essential qualities you must always display:

• Leadership skills:  the ability to influence people’s decisions.
• Achieving mindset : the continuous, relentless push for the best results.
• Analytical problem-solving:  the ability to solve problems in a structured, methodical manner.

Regarding motivations, there are two questions you need to answer:

• “Why consulting?”:  Do you really understand the consulting world, and how it fits with your long-term plans? Is there something unique in the consulting track to explain your choice?
• “Why this firm?”:  Out of all the consulting firms, why ours? There should be something uniquely attractive about this firm to you, isn’t there?

And last but not least, don’t forget to show that you have an interesting personality that fits with the firm’s culture.

Cover letters vs Resumes – What’s the difference?

Because so many candidates confuse between the two, then end up writing boring cover letters resembling “paragraph versions” of their resumes, I feed the need to differentiate.

There are four marked differences:

Cover letters go deep, resumes go wide

In cover letters, you should select one or a few most notable achievements, and describe them in detail to reflect your three defining aspects (values, competencies, motivations).

This stands in contrast with resumes, where you cram as many relevant achievements as possible into the space of one or two A4 pages.

Cover letters are “soft” stories, resumes are “hard” bullet lists

The content format of cover letters is much less defined, leaving room for a lot of creativity, unlike resumes which are almost always bullet lists of cold, hard facts.

Your goal as the candidate is to fully utilize that loosely-defined format and make your cover letter as attractive and memorable as possible.

Cover letters describe personality, resumes do not

A crucial role of the cover letter is to portray who you are as a person. Resumes don’t do that, they focus on your achievements.

Your personality does not only come directly through the contents, but also reflected in the style of the letter – so take time to make your cover letter more attractive, and you’ll make a better impression with the screener.

Cover letters touch on future plans, resume concerns mostly the past

In cover letters, you have to answer the motivation questions (why consulting, why this firm). In resumes, that aspect is barely mentioned.

The most credible answers to those questions connect the job with your future plans – as such, the cover letter is not confined to the past like resumes.

Understanding your audience

The vibe inside the screening room.

Busy, tiring, and boring – that’s the vibe inside the screening room.”

Picture this in your mind:

A junior consultant is in the office on a Friday night, going through hundreds of applications. He has to do this as a form of goodwill for the company, on top of his ongoing project.

Everyone’s application looks the same, following one set format; a somewhat extraordinary resume catches his attention, so he checks the cover letter to see if there’s anything interesting, only to be disappointed because the letter is an exact recital of the resume.

If you want to grab the screener’s attention and make memorable impressions, you have to break that negative vibe, using an unordinary cover letter.

Most cover letters are just listings of achievement and cliched motivation statements – they feel like unoriginal walls-of-text that offer nothing new – and that’s the exact reason why many screeners don’t like cover letters. Write an exciting story instead – the screener will love it.

Why they read your cover letter

There are two main reasons why the screener reads your consulting cover letter:

• He wants to know more about your motivations and personality because your resume is both impressive and interesting/unordinary at the same time.
• He wants to clarify some ambiguous points in your resume – this happens if you appear highly competent, but your writing is not clear enough.

In both cases, there’s no excuse to repeat your resume in a paragraph format and disappoint the screener. You have all the reasons in the world to present an attractive, detailed, focused narrative – tell a story and get your interview.

Both the background and the purpose of cover-letter-screening suggest that an innovative story-telling approach is much more beneficial than the common, formulaic, overly-formal cover letters.

Such an approach will definitely make your cover letter stand out from the heap of some 200 other applications. It helps you grab the screener’s attention, and impress him in a memorable way.

Additionally, it makes reading the cover letter easier and more enjoyable. The screener is already tired, so there’s no point in making his life harder.

Whatever the reason, as the cover letter is opened AFTER the resume, the implication is that you need to perfect your consulting resume first!

If you haven’t read it, here’s an A-to-Z guide to writing the perfect consulting resume , from a former McKinsey consultant and resume screener!

Consulting cover letter – Step-by-step guide

All these elements must be presented in a coherent storyline and concise language.

Keep in mind this is a consulting cover letter – as such, your story should be backed up by impactful, specific, verifiable results.

To write impressive, fact-based stories that demonstrate all three necessary aspects of the candidate, I advise you to follow these four steps:

Step 1 – Self-reflect for storylines

Search your memory for events, experiences, ideas… that can serve as a basic storyline – the backbone of your cover letter. For each storyline, consider the following six criteria :

• Uniqueness: The base story should be something unique to you. If it’s something common or universal, you won’t have the screener’s attention.
• Attractiveness: Your story should be attractive and entertaining – only then can you trigger the screener’s curiosity. Usually, it’s something “big” and impactful, but not controversial
• Positiveness: The story should have a positive “vibe” to it. If it’s something sad or negative, don’t include it in your cover letter.
• Qualities: All three consulting qualities (leadership, achieving, analytical problem-solving) should be illustrated in your story. Otherwise, consider that story irrelevant.
• Motivations: Your story should at least help explain why you’re applying, if not providing direct answers to that question. Firms don’t like to hire candidates without clear motivations.
• Personality: Make sure you exhibit a likable personality. On the other hand, if that story suggests negative traits (pessimism, short temper, cynicism, etc.) you have to modify it.

Let’s see if these storylines of my own could match the requirements:

“I escaped from a near-death experience during a paragliding session using my gliding skills.”

This is not something you hear every day, and near-death stories are often quite attractive, so you have those two boxes checked; and for now, there’s no sign of “bad” personality traits.

However, it’s a near-death experience, so it does have a negative vibe. Additionally, it shows neither consulting qualities nor relevant motivations.

=> This story only meets 3 out of 6 criteria. Out!

“I founded an entertainment business which attracted lots of attention, but ultimately failed.”

Not everyone is a startup entrepreneur, so this story does meet the “uniqueness” criterion. It’s relatively easy to draw attention with startup stories, and it’s easy to explain a consulting career choice from a former entrepreneur perspective, too. No negative personality trait is visible.

While being a business owner suggests some leadership and problem-solving experience, as well as an achieving mindset, a failure story like this might raise some questions on the “qualities” aspect; it also creates a negative vibe.

=> Overall, 4.5 to 5 out of 6. Not really the best storyline for a consulting cover letter, but usable with some modifications.

“I broke McKinsey’s code of conduct, convinced a client to pay their long-overdue service fees, and was celebrated for it.”

Is there anyone who doesn’t like those “breaking rules” stories? I’m quite confident this experience is quite unique and attractive. Because this is actual consulting work, it’s undoubtedly easy to point out all the important consulting qualities, as well as to provide a basis for my motivations.

However, this “breaking the rules” story may suggest rebellious tendencies, so if I’m going to use it I’ll again need some modifications.

=> This story scores 5.5 / 6. Quite good but I do need to be careful with it.

Step 2 - Add and classify details

Rack your memory and jot down everything related to your storyline; don’t worry about having too many details, you will be trimming the story later.

Pay special attention to the details best illustrating relevant qualities , motivations , and personality , because you will need to emphasize them.

Step 3 – Structure and enhance

Arrange the details of your story in a logical, intuitive structure; the most common method is:

1. Describe a notable, relevant experience using the problem-action-result structure to impress the interviewer with your qualities first.

2. Try to link it up with the present/future parts of your story (ideas, philosophies, plans) to explain your motivations.

Trim all non-essential and technical details, they do nothing but confuse the reader and bore them to death. Your story should be told in a way even your grandmother can understand.

Then, arrange and enhance the remaining details so that the story feels more dramatic, i.e the uniqueness and difficulty of the problem should be emphasized.

On a related note, consultants dislike lengthy cover letters – in fact, one A4 page is the maximum length – so there’s one more reason to start trimming.

Step 4 – Amplify consulting features

First, make all three key consulting traits stand out from your story – leadership, achieving mindset, and analytical problem-solving.

Then, make subtle references to consulting work using the industry’s terminology and concepts. Most screeners, being consultants themselves, will subconsciously appreciate this. However, avoid buzzwords and slangs found on the Internet, or you’ll appear superficial and unprofessional.

Consulting cover letter – Tips

To write the best cover letter, you must thoroughly understand the industry, its major firms, and even the very office you’re applying into.

To achieve such an understanding, there is quite a bit of research to do – and here are three tips for you to ease that process!

Tip 1: Networking

Successful networking goes a long way in the consulting recruitment process and in cover letters.

Firstly, management consulting firms are relatively publicity-shy, so having a connection within these firms allow you to gain very specific and authentic insights about the firm, the job, as well as the consulting world in general, helping you make better choices and deliver more convincing reasons.

Secondly, you may earn a referral ! The screening stage is harsh – it’s where most candidates are filtered out, both in absolute and proportional terms – and referrals help a great deal with that.

Remember to show your networking efforts by mentioning the names of consultants at the office you’re applying into, as well as their projects. The screener will know you really do care about the job, and you’ve done your homework.

Tip 2: Read consulting news

The websites of major consulting firms all have countless articles on current affairs as well as their own projects – read them frequently and regularly .

For one thing, those articles will deepen your understanding of management consultants and their work, helping you make better choices and explain them more effectively to the screener.

Additionally, reading consulting articles regularly will help you know more about the specific projects of each firm, which you can bring up in cover letters.

Tip 3: Build “cheat sheets”

A few ready-to-use “cheat sheets” containing all the important details on the consulting industry and major firms will significantly ease the writing process.

I recommend making three different groups of sheets – one for the consulting world in general, one for the firms, and the last one about the specific offices you’re applying into.

Be implicit and “smooth” when using these sheets. Make sure to sound as natural and seamless as possible when mentioning your references; avoid putting them at the focus of your sentences, but to use them as supplements to the main idea (e.g: I was awed by the network of experts supporting our project with McKinsey back in 2016).

Consulting cover letter – Visual format

Consulting cover letters are not the place for creative, colorful designs. Format your letters in a conservative, text-dense, black-and-white fashion – that’s how actual consultants do it.

One A4 page is the maximum length for consulting cover letters.

Inside the busy screening room, nobody has the time and energy to read a two-page worth of story, no matter how attractive it is.

If your cover letter exceeds that maximum length, trim away the less important details and shorten your expressions; you can also tweak your font size, spacing, and margins to squeeze the most content into one page.

Use formal, conservative fonts, such as Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, etc.

Keep your font size at 10-12. Larger text tends to feel somewhat “messy”, and they’re space-consuming. Smaller text, on the other hand, feels difficult and tiring to read.

Additionally, the typeface in your cover letter should match that on the resume.

Spacing, margins, and alignment

Use spacings of 1.15 between lines and 1.50-2.00 between paragraphs. Consulting cover letters are quite text-dense, so it’s important to use these white spaces to ease the visual strain.

Always align your text on the left side. Left-aligning is the standard in the United States, where most major consulting firms are based; additionally, left-aligning keeps the horizontal spacing between words even, unlike justified where that spacing varies considerably between each line.

All four margins should be equal at 1 inch. That should keep your letter neat and tidy while maximizing the amount of text on one page.

Other reminders

If you know who’s screening, address them by name. Otherwise, generic salutations are fine.

I’ve come across pages claiming it’s no longer acceptable to write generic salutations (“ To whom it may concern ”); however, in consulting firms where the screening process is assigned to junior consultants on an availability basis, you don’t always know who’s reading your letter, so such salutations are okay.

On the other hand, if you happen to be applying into a small, new office, and your networking efforts are successful, you may know your screener. In that case, refer them by name for a greater impact.

Replacement test

If you can replace the industry and the firm in your letter with something similar and it still makes sense, your tailoring is not enough.

Your motivations should be based on unique and defining descriptions – for example, McKinsey having the largest support network for consultants, or Bain being the frattiest among MBB consulting firms.

Non-unique reasons, such as “prestigious brand name” or “interesting projects” can apply to basically every major consulting firm out there, so they’re not strong bases for your choices.

Maintain formality

Use formal language throughout, and keep standard your heading and salutation.

Show your uniqueness and creativity only through the main content sections. Other “procedural” parts of the cover letter should always remain formulaic – see the sample section.

The language in the main paragraph should also remain formal, i.e no slang, no contraction, no overuse of exclamations.

Avoid short-term motivations

Don’t say you’re in for a 2-year learning experience, or your application will be heading for the bin very, very quickly.

It’s costly to turn fresh graduates into effective consultants, so firms don’t want candidates who will bail out just after they’ve become useful. They want people who will stay in the firm for as long as they can – they want future partners.

You might include long-term plans concerning other industries, but don’t give the impression that you’re bailing out in a few years. If that’s your plan, don’t even mention it.

Proofread and edit

Writing cover letters should be a long process of continuous proofreading, feedback, and editing.

It’s best to find a former/working consultant or at least someone who’s knowledgeable about the industry to help you out. Consulting cover letters differ from normal ones quite considerably, so generic guidelines won’t be of much use.

It’s also very helpful to allow intervals of at least a few days between writing and proofreading sessions; you will find it easier to spot errors if you proofread with a “fresh” mind.

Try to avoid format, spelling, and grammar mistakes at all costs. In consulting cover letters, such mistakes are much less tolerated.

Cover letter file format

Always send your cover letters in the PDF format (most screeners expect you to do so).

This file format will make sure your cover letter appears the same on every computer, and it minimizes the damage that may occur in the file transfer process (by contrast, DOC files are vulnerable to numerous errors).

Depending on the computer, PDFs may look cleaner than DOCs – one possible bonus point for appearance.

Still not sure whether your cover letter is good enough? Book a meeting with former consultants. Our coaches will show you how to make your resume stand out among thousands of candidates. 

Cover letter example

Now that you’ve learned the secrets to the best story-telling cover letter, let’s have a little exercise and help the First President write one to McKinsey, shall we?

(The content in this sample letter is largely fictional for illustration purposes)

George Washington [email protected] Mount Vernon Plantation, Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S.A July 4, 1789

To whom it may concern,

My purpose in life is to liberate the American people and lead them to prosperity. The revolution of the Thirteen Colonies was up against the largest military force in the world – the British Empire – at a four-to-one disadvantage – few if any country had come up against such odds victoriously. And that was the situation I was in, as the leader of the revolution.

Under my lead, the revolutionaries mobilized internal support from 2.4 million soon-to-be American citizens and external support from allies in France. This support allowed us to remain operational even after severe defeats, which would otherwise put an end to the revolution. After six years, the Colonies came out victorious and was recognized as the new United States of America. War is over, so my new task is to steer the newfound States towards economic prosperity – and consulting experience at McKinsey will help a great deal with that.

I happen to also run a plantation business – Mount Vernon by name – which was McKinsey’s client during our expansion project in 1785. I was extremely impressed by the highly structured and data-based approach that McKinsey consultants took to deliver their solutions, and even more impressed by the incredible network of experts that was backing our project.

Through Ms. E.M – the Engagement Manager for our project from McKinsey’s DC Office – I came to be aware of the firm’s expertise in the public sector – which was recognized as being the overall best among major consulting firms.

And for that reason, I realized a consultant position at McKinsey DC will give me invaluable exposure in the public sector, both from its projects and its vicinity to the country’s capital.

I will be looking forward to speaking with you in person, about how I can put my experience as a former head-of-state and an entrepreneur to work at McKinsey.

Sincerely yours, George Washington

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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Consulting Cover Letter: a comprehensive guide

• Understanding Consulting Cover Letters
• Practicalities of Writing Your Cover Letter
• Section-by-Section Breakdown
• Quality Control

A stellar cover letter is going to be a basic pre-requisite if you want to land a top-tier consulting job at the likes of the MBB’s, Kearney, LEK, Deloitte etc.

More than half of consulting candidates are rejected based on their applications alone , before they ever make it to interview. This means that, for all the emphasis on case interview prep, your resume and cover letter, together with networking , are the single greatest determinant as to whether you land your dream MBB job or not .

Candidates typically have some realisation of the importance of applications, but make the mistake of devoting all their time to the resume alone as they assume it is the "important one". They assume that the accompanying cover letters are always fairly generic and/or are merely a formality that don't actually get read.

However, the idea that your cover letter is any less important than your resume is a hugely damaging misconception.

In fact, speaking to consultants currently involved with recruitment at MBB firms, we are told that cover letters have been becoming more and more important recently. This is for a couple of reasons:

• More and more resumes are coming in basically perfect (the proliferation of material like our excellent free resume guide has a part to play here). This means that cover letters are increasingly being focussed on as a way to differentiate top candidates.
• Cover letters are more indicative of your soft skills and personal fit with the office culture than a resume. Since firms are having particular difficulty finding candidates with the right social skills (especially post-Covid), cover letters become more and more salient in the filtering process.

To up the ante even more, add to this the fact that applications are increasingly read by AI tools as well. Whilst a human reader working in a hurry and skimming a document in a hurry might have simply missed an error, you can be sure the computer will pick up on any mistakes you make.

So, how do you get things right?

Putting together a decent consulting cover letter can be tricky and will probably take longer than you think. The demands are different and quite a bit more rigorous than for cover letters you might have written for other industries.

Luckily though, the strict demands on consulting cover letters mean that there is an equally strict set of rules to follow when writing them - as long as you follow these and put the time in to do things properly, you can reliably turn out an excellent document.

This guide will help you understand what it is recruiters want to see in a good cover letter and take you through the steps to draft your best possible offering. To make things as clear as possible, we discuss a template cover letter section-by-section.

Help is at hand!

Writing applications can be pretty daunting, especially with a dream job on the line.

Before we dive into all the complex nitty-gritty of how to turn out your cover letter, we should let you know that we have an editing service where a 5+ year experienced MBB consultant helps you draft your best possible resume and/or cover letter. You can read more here:

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This isn't obligatory, but is a great option for those who feel overwhelmed and want some help to get things right, as well as for those who want the inside track in terms of optimising something that is already close to the mark.

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1. Understanding Consulting Cover Letters

To write a good one we will first need to understand the demands it must meet. That is to say, we need to understand the function of the cover letter and precisely how it will be assessed.

Let's start by going through some important points:

1.1. Function of a Consulting Cover Letter

The basic function of a consulting cover letter is to tell recruiters three things:

• Why you are worth employing
• Why consulting is a perfect fit for you
• Why you are interested in the target firm in particular

As we will see later, a standard management consulting cover letter is broken down into three paragraphs, addressing each of these issues more-or-less separately.

In many ways, the demands of your cover letter sit between your resume ) and your fit interview (which you will be invited to only if your resume and cover letter make the cut).

A consulting cover letter helps demonstrate the same skillset as your resume and you will effectively be selecting a few of the key points from your resume to amplify in the cover letter.

However, the objective of this document is not simply restating the facts on your resume, but rather creating a persuasive link between your personal story and the job you are applying for. In effect, the main purpose of your cover letter is to show that you are a great fit for the job you are applying for across the board. As such, you need to convey your personality and your motivation to do the job - things that are not readily assessed via your resume alone.

These are exactly the qualities that are also assessed in your fit interview. Indeed, just as with the Additional Information section of your resume, the information in your cover letter is very likely to form the basis of questions in your fit interview - where your personality and motivation are assessed again. Thus, just as with the Additional Information section of your resume, when you are drafting your cover letter you should be keeping half an eye on how you would be able to work the items you select into compelling fit interview answers.

All this means that our article on the fit interview is especially worth a read as you get started on cover letter writing!

1.2. Motivation

Consulting is a tough life and the average consulting recruit only stays in the industry for around two years - which means that many of those applicants who are lucky enough to land jobs will have left within 12 months.

Beyond this, many of those entering consulting only ever intend to stay for a couple of years before bailing out into roles in private equity or internal strategy, becoming a start-up founder, or any of the other typical roles where consulting experience will enhance their career chances.

This constant loss of talent is a big problem for consulting firms, who don't want employees to disappear as soon as they have accrued the training and experience required to be genuinely useful to the company. In effect, firms want to ensure they get a positive return on investment on training you.

As such, recruiters will be trying to identify candidates who are genuinely in it for the long haul - who want to make partner someday and who have the necessary motivation to push them through the years of long hours and tight deadlines en route.

Of course, we realise that you the reader might well be one of the candidates who only really plan to stick with consulting for two years before parachuting out into another industry. Realistically, this is a perfectly sensible career trajectory and we're certainly not going to tell you not to do so.

However , if this is the case, your application and subsequent interview are really not the time to discuss it. If you have ever had any inkling that you might consider sticking around and making a long-term career in consulting, then this is the inclination to channel during the selection process.

We return to discuss your rationale for entering consulting in our section-by-section breakdown of the letter itself.

1.3. A Test in Itself

Your target firm uses your cover letter to learn more about you in a couple of ways. Obviously, they receive all the information you communicate explicitly - all the achievements and experience and positive character traits you tell them about. However, your cover letter is also used by the target firm as an implicit (but very real) test of your writing skills and other qualities. It is important to realise this dual function and keep it in mind during drafting.

At a basic level, using correct, industry standard formatting etc shows that you have the professionalism and diligence to find out and follow the rules. As we will discuss later, writing a letter specific to the firm you are applying to also demonstrates your commitment to that employer.

More directly, though, your cover letter is used by consulting firms as a test of your writing skills. Writing consulting cover letters is not an easy business - if it were, you wouldn't be reading this guide! Composing a good cover letter requires you to assemble a body of information, synthesise it and present it in a compelling form.

Importantly, this is a set of skills - summarising complex information into compelling prose and extracting key points in data - that consultants use every day. Your cover letter is one of the main ways firms check for your competence here.

Similarly, readers will be very interested in your ability to use your cover letter to market yourself. In effect, consultants must constantly sell themselves, their firm, and their recommendations to clients. Indeed, this is becoming a larger and larger part of the job as more of the analytic side of consulting work is automated. As such, the ability to communicate persuasively is a key management consulting skill.

1.4. The Reader

With any piece of writing, the first thing you need to consider is who the intended reader is. This is especially important for consulting cover letters.

During the application screen, as well as filtering by AI tools and HR staff, your cover letter will be placed with one or two hundred others and passed to a junior consultant (often a recent alum from your university) to assess. Generally, this will be piled on top of that consultant's normal workload and often they will end up with very little time to get through this mound of applications. As such, your reader will be tired, possibly slightly grumpy and in a hurry - probably only skimming what you have written.

Keep this reader in mind at all times and write in a way that makes their life easier. This means making everything as clear, easy to read and precise as possible!

2. PRACTICALITIES OF WRITING A CONSULTING COVER LETTER

So, we have a good idea of the basic job of a cover letter needs to do, what ground it needs to cover, and how it will be assessed. Now it's time to get down to business and actually get the thing written!

To this end, we'll look at a few practical points about how to meet the requirements mentioned above, before focusing one-by-one on the five main segments of a management consulting cover letter.

2.1. FORMAT - DOING THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE

Just as with your resume, formatting a consulting cover letter is really not the time to embrace your creative side. Failing to stick to the standard rules of formatting risks being rejected immediately, without your letter even being read.

The tired junior consultant tasked with plowing through a pile of cover letters is unlikely to be in the mood for a strange font or weird layout and will simply send your application directly to the bin.

As noted above, standard formatting shows that you are professional enough to take the application seriously and that you have bothered to find out what is expected from your cover letter. The best way to understand how you should format this document is simply to take a look at our examples below, which are formatted in a standard "safe" manner.

In particular, though, you should make sure your letter conforms to the following basic standard:

• Standard typeface at a normal size
• No longer than one printable page
• Normal size margins etc - no extreme formatting to pack more words on the page!
• Name, contact information, and date at the top, in the manner of a traditional letter - you can include a postal address if you like, but an email address is perfectly sufficient nowadays - and will save space
• Standard structure explained below - opening, three main paragraphs, closing

2.2. Content - Being Unique!

You might have to keep the format strictly in line with everyone else, but it is absolutely crucial that the actual content of your letter is unique!

Always remember that your cover letter will be part of a stack of 1-200 deep. The content needs to really impress the reader if you are going to stand out from the pack and earn yourself an invitation to interview.

To achieve this, you are going to have to draw on your most impressive achievements and experiences and then portray them in the best possible fashion, to really make your reader pause and take note, rather than toss your letter towards the bin with the others.

Content that is unusual is also helpful in making your application memorable and might prompt interview questions where you can be well prepared to shine. During an application process with so many competitors, it pays to have something unique to you - a USP - to differentiate you from your peers.

However, this will only add value if it is relevant to management consulting!

In our discussion below on how to introduce yourself and your abilities, we'll discuss how you can emphasize your personal "spikes" - which help make your cover letter more unique.

2.3. Be Specific!

Your letter needs not only to be unique, but also highly specific .

Many candidates think that they can save a bit of time by just writing a one really "good" cover letter and using that for all their applications without any modifications. This might be true (or almost true) of a good resume. However, if you think that the cover letter you wrote for McKinsey will be able to be used without any changes to for Bain and BCG as well, we can tell you now that that letter wasn't good enough to get you a job with any of those firms!

As noted previously, a major function of your cover letter is to gauge your motivation to stick with the company if you are lucky enough to be hired. Your recruiter wants to make sure that you are genuinely keen to work for their specific firm for the foreseeable future. Any suggestion that your cover letter is just a generic chunk of text sent out to everyone in scattergun fashion obviously makes this idea pretty difficult to maintain - and will see your application heading towards that bin in short order.

To avoid this, then, take the time to write a separate letter for each firm you apply to. In these letters, you should include content that is specific to your particular target firm. What is more, this specific content should not be something generic or some kind of empty platitude.

If the best you can come up with is an obvious truth - or even worse, a common misconception - you will betray only a very shallow level of engagement, and will only succeed in vexing your reader.

Instead, you should be able to make specific remarks which show genuine insight. This will clearly demonstrate both your commitment to and knowledge of the firm.

These points will be particularly relevant to the section of the cover letter where you explain your decision to apply to your target firm, and we will pick up this discussion again later in this guide. However, there is room for material specific to your target firm in all sections of your cover letter.

3. Section-by-Section Breakdown

Let's go through the different sections of a standard management consulting cover letter one-by-one.

We will give examples as to how you might approach each section - however, it is imperative that you don't simply copy from specimens that we or anyone else have written. The examples here are only a guide as to how you should approach the different elements of a cover letter, not components to be lifted as-is.

Your own cover letter needs to stand out from a very strong field. Think about it - how can you possibly stand out by copying others? Beyond this, though, any hint that you are just copying from another source will see your whole application rejected immediately.

On a similar note here, we strongly advise against using an AI chatbot like ChatGPT to write your cover letter. Aside from that tool not knowing enough about your own life experiences, interests etc to say something with the correct degree of specificity, you run the risk of sending in a cover with the same writing style - or possibly even the same turns of phrase - as everyone else who did the same thing. Indeed, recruiters across many industries are already getting used to spotting AI-generated applications .

As we noted earlier, there are three main questions your cover letter must answer - why you, why consulting and why that firm in particular. The three main paragraphs of your cover letter will answer these three questions in sequence.

Provided you are careful to link everything together properly, there is actually some flexibility to vary the ordering of these paragraphs. You will always introduce yourself first, of course, but you can then state why you are interested in the specific firm before you explain what drew you to consulting, or deal with these in the reverse order.

In the interests of simplicity here, though, we will just deal with why-consulting-in-general first, followed by why-that-firm-in-particular.

The following examples are taken from an entry-level cover letter from an applicant to Bain London - and the detailed content is obviously tailored to that office.

In contrast to the relative ease with which a resume can be repurposed, you will have to significantly change the specifics of your cover letter as you apply for different offices and firms. Obviously, our candidate below can't just send this off to Bain New York without changing quite a lot of content. Similarly, this won't work as a cover letter for the London offices of McKinsey, BCG or Deloitte a wholesale rewrite.

With all this said, what is crucial is that the overall structure and format is maintained. This will be the case whether you are a recent graduate, Ph.D. or MBA. Even experienced hire cover letters will maintain the same fundamental format - though there will be (even) more expectation on the quality of the content.

3.1. OPENING YOUR CONSULTING COVER LETTER

The opening to your cover letter is very straightforward and is pretty much impossible to mess up if you follow basic rules.

First, you should record your name, email address, and the date of sending. You can include a postal address if you like, though this is no longer a strict requirement and takes up a lot of space. Your first sentence should state the specific position to which you are applying at the relevant office and firm.

The only issue that should give you any cause for concern here is to Whom the letter is addressed. Where possible, you should be addressing the letter to a named person - usually the recruiting manager of the office to which you are applying. However, where you cannot find a name to address your cover letter to, it is perfectly acceptable to begin "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam".

Jane Wu [email protected] 05/05/2019

Dear Ms Douglas,

I am writing to apply for the Associate Consultant position at Bain and Company's London office.

3.2. Introducing Yourself

After this brief opening, proceed straight to introducing yourself. Don't be shy - this is not the time for understatement or modesty! Top consulting firms are looking for exceptional individuals. Here, you need to leave the reader in no doubt that you are just such an exceptional individual!

To do this, looking at all the information you assembled for your resume, ideally, you should recount the three most impressive achievements in your life so far.

Of course, do this with an eye to achievements that are particularly relevant to consulting (your golf handicap might be good, but nobody in the workplace cares). Also, realise that the things we are most proud of personally might not actually be the ones that are most impressive to others (your golfing probably isn't great anyway). Try to look at your resume as if you are reading one from someone else. Alternatively, ask a friend what stands out to them.

It's your resume's job to paint a balanced picture of you as a well-rounded candidate with all the skills required to excel in consulting. However, in your cover letter, it can be beneficial to emphasise one or two particular strong suits, where you are exceptionally gifted. These are what consultants call "spikes". What recruiters are really looking for is well-rounded, generally capable candidates with a few "spikes" that might be especially useful.

I have recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first-class BA/MSci in Physics. At Cambridge, I was consistently near the top of my year academically and won a number of competitive scholarships and prizes; including the award for the best final year research project. During my third year, I was selected as the best of a very large field of applicants to take part in a prestigious summer research project at MIT. I was also elected as a Student Representative for two consecutive years.

3.3. Why Consulting is a Good Fit

Your job here is to provide a strong narrative demonstrating why consulting is a good fit for you and why it makes sense at this point in your career as a natural progression from what you have done before.

This is much the same as what is required from your answers in any subsequent fit interviews you receive. As such, our article on the fit interview , as well as our more comprehensive fit interview course and/or lessons in the MCC Academy , are highly relevant here.

Now, as we noted above, it is important to remember that there are some reasons to get into consulting that your target firm will be happy to hear about and others that will very definitely not impress.

We're not here to judge your reasons, whatever they are, for wanting a consulting job. However, there are certain reasons that you should probably not highlight if you would like to actually get that job.

Some candidates are not sure what career they actually want yet and think consulting would make a good first step, exposing them to different industries and keeping their options open for the future. The worry, from a firm's point of view, is that these individuals will not be sufficiently motivated to actually stick with consulting when they come up against the stress and high workload that come with the job.

Alternatively, some applicants are fully intent, right from the start, on bailing out into another industry after two years - when a sufficiently long stint in consulting has given them transferable skills and boosted their opportunities elsewhere.

Many candidates actually state these kinds of intentions - though they will certainly not be hired! As we noted above, firms want to retain staff and are looking for candidates who are committed to consulting for the long term.

3.3.1. Proving You Know What You are Getting Into

Given how many recruits drop out, firms want to be sure that you know exactly what you are getting into when you apply . When you explain why you have decided that consulting is a great fit for you, you obviously need it to be clear that you are doing so with a real understanding of what the job entails.

Ideally, you will have done an internship in consulting or a closely related industry. Alternatively, you might be moving sideways from a parallel sector, such as finance or tech, having worked alongside consultants in past roles and observed what they do first hand. In either such case, it is clear that you understand the demands of the job.

However, many of you will fall into neither of these camps and won't yet have any first hand experience of the consulting world. If this describes you, be aware that there is a particular onus on you to demonstrate that you know what is required of a working consultant - and that you have what it takes to meet those requirements.

Don't dismay, though, as this is definitely possible - it just requires a bit more thought from you. Really, you are limited to a strategy of identifying key consulting skills and showing that you have already had significant past experience (and ideally achievements) demonstrating that you are capable and comfortable in these areas - and, importantly, that you enjoy this kind of work!

This is similar in principle to some of what you should have already done in bullet point form in your resume. Our resume guide is useful here in listing the relevant consulting skills and giving examples that demonstrate them. However, your cover letter differs from the resume here in that the focus will be less on technical skills and more on personal character. You also can't be so schematic as in your resume, but must weave everything into a compelling narrative that leaves your reader in no doubt that you are well suited to, and prepared for, the job.

3.3.2. Finding Things to Say

Some candidates feel the need to embroider their accounts when they explain why they want to be a consultant. Maybe they genuinely think that the only reason they have chosen consulting is for the high salary and exit opportunities. Since they can't include either of these (as discussed below), they then cobble together an insincere-sounding road-to-Damascus story about how they had an epiphany that they should work at BCG or Bain.

However, introspection on the reasons that informed your own decision making can actually be a great source of material here. You might not be able to explicitly state them just now, but there are probably better reasons than you think for your choices.

Think about what exactly it was that led you to believe that you could do a consulting job and why have chosen to apply to jobs in that sector, rather than going into something else. If you want to be totally pragmatic, remember - it's a lot easier to answer interview questions on something approximating the truth than a tissue of lies!

I believe that I would be particularly well suited to the Associate Consultant position as consulting would provide real intellectual challenges, but placed within contexts allowing me to make use of my strong interpersonal skills. As a student representative, I instigated "Student Week" in the Physics department. This was a week where time was given over so that students could organise their own conferences and workshops. In order to make this initiative a success, I faced two main challenges: creating a committed team and getting the academic staff's support. I began by offering all students a stake in shaping the week and created teams in charge of all aspects of an organisation, delegating responsibilities to team leaders. Most of all, this experience taught me how to motivate people, leveraging their potential impact and the rewards to be gained from positive results. In the end, the teams were able to invite an outstanding line-up of speakers. Presenting the week as a chance to promote the school in the media enabled us to gain the final approval of academic staff. Understanding the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and identifying what they really cared about enabled me to transform an ambitious plan into reality. I loved this experience and would look forward to employing a similar skillset as an Associate Consultant.

3.4. Why that Firm?

Now finally, you need to show that you are committed to the particular firm to which you are applying . This is a crucial part of demonstrating your motivation as well as a way of showing your diligence in doing your research before applying. Needing to address why you want to work at your target firm in particular is why you fundamentally can't just re-use the same letter for all your consulting applications.

So, how should you do this?

In practice, there are three main ways to generate firm-specific content:

3.4.1. Contacts and networking

Whilst you might not have seen consultants at work first hand, there is nothing to prevent you from meeting them at career fairs, networking events, and the like.

You can also reach out to consultants in your target office via LinkedIn and potentially even schedule calls with them. You can do this from anywhere in the world. An experienced consultant can also guide you in this process within one of our mentoring programmes

The very best cover letters will grow out of substantial networking with current or former employees from your target firm - ideally from the specific office to which you are applying.

The individuals you speak to might be in a position to recommend you to recruiters. Otherwise, though, they will definitely be very well placed to tell you what is really unique about the company in general or your target office in particular. This is a surefire way for you to be able to make your cover letter specific in a way that actually rings true to those who read it.#

Also, don't be afraid to drop in the names of your contacts where they are relevant (and where this is appropriate, of course). The recruiter might know the people in question and they will lend credence to your application.

3.4.2. Reading

Of course, this kind of networking will not always be feasible, and certainly not at short notice. If you don't have access to anyone who has worked for your target firm, you should be able to get access to some of their output in the form of reports and similar material. Being able to comment on these demonstrates your enthusiasm to work at the target firm, as well as your diligence and intelligence. Indeed, mentioning report authors is a good way to shoehorn in the names of company employees whom you have not actually met in real life.

3.4.3. Observations

Of course, you would ideally be able to write about the first hand experience of working alongside consultants at a company that was a client of your target firm. Otherwise, if you have done your research, you will be able to discuss a successful project in which you have not been involved, but have taken a particular interest (possibly in an industry in which you have experience). This should convey genuine interest and, at the very least, shows you really have done your homework.

An example of how to approach this paragraph is as follows:

Bain specifically appeals to me for a few reasons. At a more personal level, all of the individuals I have spoken to who have worked at Bain have loved their jobs and seemed like people I would relish working with. Recently, I spoke to Sarah McKinney and Benedict Philips from the London office at a networking event. Both were very helpful and encouraging of my application. In particular, I was very excited to be able to talk to Sarah about Bain's recent work with capacitor technology firm NuCell. This was a project I had become aware of via my physics background and was very impressed with the sophisticated but wonderfully elegant solutions that Bain implemented. This was a significant influence in my decision to move towards consulting in general and Bain in particular.

3.5. Closing You Cover Letter

As with the opening, it is easy to get your cover letter's closing right simply by following a few standard rules.

Closing a consulting cover letter really just follows the same rules as a standard formal letter. Note that technically the form of your sign off depends on whether the letter was addressed to a named recipient or not. If you did manage to address your cover letter to a specific individual at the target firm, you should sign off your letter "Yours Sincerely". However, if you addressed the letter "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern", then you should sign off "Yours faithfully".

Not everyone will pick up on this, but some certainly will!

I very much hope that I can be considered for an interview. If you have any questions about my application or would like to know more, please do not hesitate to be in contact by email or on +44 7933023234. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely, Jane Wu

3.6. An Aside - Blurring Boundaries

For the sake of clarity, we have given quite a schematic picture of how a cover letter is structured. In practice, the separation between the content of the three main paragraphs is often not quite as clear as has been shown so far.

This is something to bear in mind as you are writing. Certainly, it is not a problem that the content of the three main paragraphs somewhat bleed into one another. Indeed, it might well be that the optimal version of your letter gives you more bang for your buck in including points with more than one positive function.

For example, you might make mention of people or reports from your specific target firm in explaining why you chose to enter consulting in general. Simultaneously you will likely be able to include some impressive achievements, relevant to your initial description of yourself, in that same explanation as to why consulting was for you.

4. Quality Control

By now, you should have a completed document in front of you. However, this doesn't mean that you're finished!

Just as with the resume, quality control should be taken very seriously when you are writing your cover letter, and will almost certainly take longer than did writing your initial draft.

First, you should make sure you have followed all the rules we set out for formatting and structuring a consulting cover letter. This is the easy bit, after all, and you shouldn't be making mistakes here when it's something you can easily control for yourself.

The following checklist is useful to make sure that the major elements are in order. Thus, you must make sure that any management consulting cover letter:

• Does not exceed one page
• Is formatted sensibly
• Contains no spelling mistakes (double check names of the company, position, HR manager and your contact information)
• Mentions skills that are relevant to the job
• Has relevant examples to back up those skills
• Reinforces skills that are not adequately explained in your resume
• Explains how your skill set relates to the job you are applying for
• Is tailored to the target firm

Of course, to hammer the point home, it should go without saying that spelling, punctuation, and grammar should be perfect throughout - especially these days, where AIs will be reading applications thoroughly, besides harried humans skimming them.

In particular, though, you should triple-check spelling around the opening where you list your own contact information and state the name of the target firm and specific role. Imagine making the cut to for interview only to have your invitation dispatched to the wrong email address!

You wouldn't believe how many candidates we see making mistakes here - indeed, outside consulting, the former Graduate Recruitment Manager at City law firm Mayer Brown found that 20% of applicants got the firm’s name wrong. If so many high-end, detail-oriented lawyers can make that kind of mistake, so can you - check!

4.2. Feedback

As with any important piece of writing, you will want another set of eyes on your cover letter. However, a consulting cover letter is not quite the same as for a more "normal" job, and there is only so much that your classmate, your buddy or your mum is going to be able to tell you . These people might be able to help you with spelling, punctuation, and grammar, but not a great deal else.

If you have access to a careers adviser, they will certainly be more knowledgeable and be able to give you more specific feedback. That said, the very particular demands of consulting and how cover letters are assessed means there is no real replacement for someone with actual consulting experience .

As always though, real consultants are incredibly busy people and their time has a high price tag. You might be lucky enough to have access to a consultant who will help you out - perhaps a friend or relative or maybe one of your networking contacts who likes you enough to take the time to look at your application.

However, for those who aren't so lucky, there are still ways to get top quality feedback. MyConsultingCoach offers cover letter review and feedback , both alone on its own and in a package with resume review.

With this service, a deeply experienced MBB consultant mentor, with a minimum of five years at McKinsey, Bain or BCG, will provide the kind of granular, nuanced feedback you simply can't find elsewhere. You can read more here:

Explore Application Review

You can also have the same kind of 5+ year experienced MBB consultant do this kind of editing for you as part of a wider personal mentoring programme. Find out more here:

Mentoring Programmes

Of course, none of these services are strictly necessary, and this guide is here to help everyone. However, professional editing will help you close the gap with your competitors who have the advantage of pre-existing inside contacts.

4.3. Iterate

It is easy to become attached to what you have written. Especially after pouring time and energy into a document, constructive criticism can end up being taken personally and ignored. However, if you actually want to get a job in consulting, you need to swallow your pride and be prepared to make substantial changes if they are advised .

Once you have re-drafted the document, you need to cycle through the same stages of quality control again, always making sure that everything is formatted correctly with no typos and then getting decent feedback on what you have produced. To get the whole thing just right will likely take at least a couple of these iterations. Indeed, this is precisely why MyConsultingCoach's review packages all include three rounds of feedback as standard .

Finally, then, you will have completed your cover letter and be ready to submit your application. You can give yourself a pat on the back for getting everything so far done. However, you still have a lot more work ahead of you if you are serious about making it into consulting!

If you are interested in getting an interview at the likes of the MBBs, Kearney, LEK, Deloitte, or any high-end consulting firm, it is absolutely crucial that your cover letter is the very best that it can be .

To this end, we have given a detailed guide on how to optimise a cover letter, breaking down all the relevant sections. Examples were provided from a sample cover letter for a Bain London application, though it was explained that you should never simply copy from such example cover letters.

We encourage you to read further - starting with our resume guide - and to consider editing from one of our ex-MBB consultant coaches. However, what we have given you here is a very good starting point for you to carve out a great draft cover letter.

If you have followed this guide and ideally found someone to provide decent feedback, you should have every chance of being invited to interview. However, nobody is going to do well if they prepare for a consulting interview the way they would for a more "normal" job.

Management consulting interviews are a very different beast to what you might be accustomed to elsewhere. Suffice to say, though, that a large volume of preparation is both necessary to so well and explicitly expected by the firms themselves . Putting together your consulting resume or cover letter might have seemed arduous or time-consuming, but what was just the tip of the iceberg!

In particular, you will need to learn how to solve case studies. You can start with our intro to case interviews , which links to other useful resources.

It's important to learn to tackle case studies the right way if you want to perform in the more demanding interviews at higher-end firms. The old-fashioned frameworks you will often find promoted online can be dysfunctional in more complex case studies. By contrast, we recommend the slightly more demanding, but much more capable, from-first-principles method used in real consulting work. You can find out more in the followng video:

To make your preparation as effective and time efficient as possible MyConsultingCoach has developed a comprehensive consulting interview prep course . This teaches everything you need to give your best possible showing in an interview. Included are all the mental maths, business and finance theory and logical principles needed not only to solve cases but to do so in a way that will impress the interviewer - the way a real consultant would . Also included is a set of lessons on how to address "fit" questions about your character and motivation to enter consulting.

Find out about our resume editing services

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• All-in-One Case Interview Preparation
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How to Write the Perfect Consulting Cover Letter (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)

Last Updated on March 26, 2024

Crafting an exceptional consulting cover letter can significantly elevate your application in the highly competitive consulting industry. Statistics reveal a startling reality: only about 1-3% of applicants secure an offer from top-tier consulting firms like McKinsey , BCG , and Bain . This underscores the crucial role of a solid consulting job application strategy, particularly the cover letter and resume, in surpassing the initial screening phase, which is a great hurdle where up to 75% of hopefuls are filtered out.

Your journey through the rigorous consulting application process typically begins with networking and securing a referral. However, what truly sets your application apart is a well-structured, compelling consulting cover letter. This initial impression can be a decisive factor in advancing to the next stages, including aptitude tests and interviews.

How can you make sure to belong to the 25% that progress to the aptitude tests and interviews?

In this consulting firm application guide, we delve into the intricacies of crafting a cover letter that resonates with top consulting firms. We cover exactly that and answer all your questions related to:

• Why you should not underestimate the importance of the cover letter (but also not overestimate it)
• Structuring your cover letter for consulting firms
• Guidelines on what to include in a consulting firm application for a standout cover letter
• How you should design the cover letter
• What pitfalls and common mistakes you should avoid

The Purpose of Your Consulting Cover Letter

First things first. The cover letter is important but most sources overestimate its importance. If you were to rank it in order of importance for an interview invitation it would look like this:

• Resume . This is your gateway to the consulting world. Crafting a consulting resume showcasing your experiences and skills is essential for opening doors at prestigious firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. It’s the first touchpoint that narrates your professional journey.
• Referrals . Networking for consulting jobs and leveraging referrals can significantly enhance your application. A robust network , comprising varied sources and higher-ups, lends credibility and warrants a more attentive review of your application. In certain cases, strong referrals can even balance out minor gaps in your resume.
• Cover letter. If recruiters spend 20 seconds per resume, how much time do you think they will spend on a 1-page wall of text? You guessed it…yet that is exactly the reason why you should put effort into the creation of it. You need to make sure that your story transpires within a short amount of time. Doubts from the resume can be eliminated, and stories and skills that are especially relevant can be highlighted.

Understanding the essential components of a consulting job application is crucial for success.

While the resume is a chronological display of your experience and skills, the cover letter tells a more personal story to answer three core questions:

• Personal Fit (Why are you a good candidate?): Highlight why you’re an ideal candidate, weaving in stories and skills that align with the consulting ethos.
• Passion for Consulting (Why do you want to work in consulting?): Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the field and articulate your understanding of its dynamics.
• Firm-Specific Aspirations (Why do you want to work for this firm?): Detail why you’re choosing a particular firm, aligning your career goals with their values and culture.

Lastly, the cover letter is your chance to demonstrate two meta-skills. It is more than just a narrative. It’s a testament to your ability to:

• Draft Professional Documents : Showcasing your skill in creating well-structured, formal documents.
• Communicate Effectively : The ability to convey your thoughts concisely and compellingly, in a manner that resonates with the consulting world’s preference for clarity and brevity.

Crafting a compelling consulting resume and cover letter is key. Get the help you need to transform your consulting application into a success.

Crafting the Ideal Structure and Content

How to stand out in the consulting job application process?

A standout consulting cover letter is a crucial component of your application, particularly for coveted roles at MBB ). In general, a cover letter needs to consist of three parts:

Introduction: A Compelling Opening (1 short paragraph)

• Purpose : Kickstart your cover letter with an engaging introduction that grabs the attention of recruiters or consultants.
• Key Elements : Clearly state the consulting role you’re targeting, the preferred office location, and any crucial networking references. This opening serves as a crucial first impression, setting the tone for your application.

Body: Demonstrating Fit and Passion (3 paragraphs)

• Your Candidacy : This is where you shine, linking your unique experiences and skills to the role’s requirements. Adopt a storytelling approach, sharing 2-4 impactful narratives that encompass both your educational and professional journeys. Focus on moments that define you as an outstanding candidate, like leading significant initiatives or unique personal achievements. This is the core of the cover letter and should link your personal experience and skills with the demands of the role. Move into storytelling mode and describe how different experiences prepared you for the role you are applying for. It is especially important in this highlight-reel to celebrate and quantify your successes. You need to make sure to incorporate stories that make you a memorable character (”Ah Sarah, she was the one biking through South America with a tent, raising money for charity.”).
• Your Drive for Consulting : Second, discuss why consulting is the best industry for you to work in. Connect your past experiences to the core competencies of consulting. Link your experience and skills to the type of work and qualities needed in consulting. This could include leadership roles, analytical projects, or impactful community work. Emphasize how these experiences align with the demanding yet rewarding nature of consulting, including aspects like diverse project work, talented and exceptional colleagues, steep learning curves, and early-career impact.
• Your Desire for MBB : Third, discuss why you want to work for the respective consulting firm. Tailor this section to the specific firm and highlight 2-4 aspects of the firm that resonate with you, such as their project diversity, professional development opportunities, or their esteemed reputation. Personalize this part by referencing any interactions or insights about the firm from your network or research.

Conclusion: A Strong Closure (1 short paragraph)

• Summarization : Conclude with a concise summary of your motivation and suitability for the role. Reaffirm your enthusiasm and readiness to contribute to the firm, keeping the tone professional and earnest.

Creating the Content for Your Cover Letter

When structuring your consulting cover letter, a strategic approach is to directly align it with the specific characteristics that your target firm values in candidates.

For instance, if you’re aiming for McKinsey, visit the values and purpose statement on their website to understand precisely what they seek in prospective consultants. McKinsey, like every consulting firm, has a set of core values driving their recruitment process, such as problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, a track record of delivering innovation, and a passion for the work.

In crafting your cover letter, it’s essential to weave the key attributes sought by your target consulting firm intelligently throughout the narrative. For instance, incorporating McKinsey cover letter tips can significantly improve your chances. Applying BCG application advice and tips for a successful BCG consulting application, each paragraph should be centered around a specific characteristic valued by Boston Consulting Group. Finally, adhering to the Bain cover letter structure and the best practices for Bain consulting cover letters is essential for crafting a standout consulting cover letter that grabs attention.

Identify moments from both your professional and personal life that vividly demonstrate these attributes, selecting the most compelling instance if you have several to choose from.

This table provides a more detailed overview of what each top consulting firm looks for in cover letters, along with tailored tips for success that reflect their unique values and expectations.

For each attribute, construct a narrative that outlines the context of the experience, your specific actions, and the measurable outcomes, ensuring to quantify these achievements when possible. This strategic approach seamlessly integrates the reasons why you are an ideal candidate for firms like McKinsey, Bain, or BCG, thereby eliminating the need for an explicit statement. Your stories will implicitly convey your suitability for the role. When addressing the question of “Why consulting?”, a brief mention suffices as your examples will have already demonstrated your comprehension of the consulting industry’s requisites.

This technique is particularly advantageous for those with unique backgrounds or for experienced professionals, as it distinctly showcases how their experiences align with the firm’s values and expectations.

Example of a Consulting Cover Letter

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the [specific consulting role] at McKinsey & Company in the [city] office. Having been referred by [Referral’s Name], a [Position] at your firm, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the innovative work McKinsey is known for.

My journey in consulting began unconventionally, as a leader in a non-profit organization, where I spearheaded a project to increase educational access in underprivileged areas. This experience, combined with my MBA from [University Name], has equipped me with a unique blend of grassroots-level impact understanding and strategic business acumen. Notably, leading a team to develop a sustainable funding model, we enhanced educational outreach by 150% within two years, demonstrating my ability to drive significant results in challenging environments. In my recent role at [Your Current/Previous Company], I navigated complex stakeholder environments to deliver a pivotal market expansion strategy, leading to a 30% increase in market share. This experience honed my analytical skills and ability to deliver actionable insights under pressure, qualities I understand are paramount at McKinsey.

The dynamic nature of consulting, with its diverse project work and intellectually stimulating environment, deeply resonates with me. The prospect of working alongside and learning from some of the brightest minds is particularly appealing, as is the opportunity to have a tangible impact early in my career. My experiences have prepared me to thrive in such a setting, where every day presents a new challenge and learning opportunity.

McKinsey’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions and its unparalleled professional development programs are key factors that draw me to your firm. The firm’s global impact and leadership in tackling complex business and societal challenges align perfectly with my professional goals and values.

In conclusion, I am excited about the possibility of joining McKinsey & Company and am confident in my ability to make a meaningful contribution. My background in leading impactful initiatives and delivering results in complex environments, coupled with my passion for continuous learning and growth, make me a well-suited candidate for the [specific role]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experiences and skills align with McKinsey’s needs and ambitions.

[Your Name]

Formatting Your Consulting Cover Letter: A Professional Blueprint

A well-formatted cover letter not only reflects your professionalism but also your attention to detail – key traits in the consulting world. Here’s how to structure your letter to meet the industry’s standard formatting requirements:

• Header with Personal Information : At the top, include your name and address. This can be aligned to the left, right, or centered for a balanced look.
• Recipient’s Address : Directly below your information, list the recipient’s details on the left-hand side. This should include the name and address of the consulting firm or the specific individual you’re addressing.
• Date : Place the date on the right-hand side of the page. Remember to spell out the month for clarity (e.g., “1 April 2024” in the UK format or “April 1, 2024” in the US format).
• Reference Number (if applicable) : If your application has a specific reference number, include it on the left-hand side, such as “Ref: Job Application XYZ123”.
• Salutation : Begin your letter with a proper salutation, addressing the recipient respectfully.
• Closing : Conclude your letter with a formal sign-off like “Yours sincerely” (UK) or “Best regards”, “Sincerely”, or “Sincerely yours” (US).
• Signature : Below the closing, leave space for your handwritten signature, followed by your typed name.
• Enclosures : If you’re including additional documents, list them under “Enclosures:” at the bottom of the letter.
• Typography and Margins : Use a standard font size (12) and a professional font like Times New Roman. Maintain standard margins and avoid overcrowding the page to enhance readability.

Following these formatting guidelines, your cover letter will not only look professional but also demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in a business environment, a critical skill in consulting. The cover letter is not the time for experiments and by sticking to the generally agreed upon guidelines, you will facilitate the work of the recruiters.

Essential Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Consulting Cover Letter

Crafting an impactful cover letter for a consulting role involves not just highlighting your strengths but also avoiding common mistakes. Here’s a checklist highlighting cover letter mistakes to avoid in consulting, ensuring you steer clear of common pitfalls:

• Avoid Introducing Unfamiliar Information : Ensure that every degree, job, or skill mentioned in your cover letter is also present in your resume. Consistency is key.
• Eliminate Redundant Information : Your cover letter should not merely repeat what’s in your resume. Instead, it should complement and expand upon it.
• Adhere to the One-Page Rule : A concise, one-page cover letter is a standard in the industry. Exceeding this length can diminish the impact of your message.
• Foster a Personal Connection : Strive to establish a personal link with the firm or the recruiter. Mention referrals or specific interactions with the firm or individuals to make your application more relatable.
• Back Up Your Claims : Any skill or achievement you mention should be substantiated with a relevant story or example. This adds credibility to your assertions.
• Relevance is Crucial : Focus on experiences and skills that are directly relevant to the consulting role. Irrelevant emphasis can dilute the strength of your application.
• Incorporate Storytelling : Use storytelling to vividly bring out your experiences and skills. This makes your application memorable and engaging.
• Customize for the Firm : Tailor your cover letter to reflect your knowledge of and alignment with the firm’s values, culture, and unique selling points (USP).
• Be Cautious with Templates : Avoid the blunder of using incorrect company names or information, a common mistake when using a generic template for multiple applications.
• Prioritize Proofreading : Grammar, spelling, and typographical errors can significantly undermine your professionalism. Meticulous proofreading is essential.

By diligently avoiding these common errors, you can ensure that your consulting cover letter not only showcases your qualifications but also demonstrates your attention to detail and your understanding of what makes a successful consulting application.

Crafting Your Consulting Cover Letter: A Step-by-Step Process

Creating a standout cover letter for a consulting position is a meticulous process that benefits from careful planning and thoughtful revision. Here’s a guide to crafting yours:

• Structure Planning : Begin by organizing the high-level structure of your cover letter. Use the recommended format of introduction, body, and conclusion to ensure a coherent flow.
• Detail Gathering : Compile all the necessary information you wish to include, such as specific names, references, dates, and pertinent anecdotes or experiences.
• Initial Drafting with Bullet Points : Start by writing a first draft in bullet points. This helps in laying out your ideas succinctly and focusing on key points without getting bogged down by details.
• Seek Initial Feedback : Share this bullet-point draft with a friend, mentor, or colleague. Constructive feedback at this early stage can be invaluable in shaping the direction and content of your cover letter.
• Expand to Full Paragraphs : Transform your bullet points into well-crafted paragraphs. This is where you begin to add depth to your narrative, ensuring each section flows logically into the next.
• Further Feedback and Refinement : Seek additional feedback on this more developed version. Use the insights gained to fine-tune your message, ensuring it aligns with the principles of effective, concise consulting communication.
• Consistency Check with Resume : Ensure that your cover letter complements your resume. It should add to, not repeat, what is in your resume, providing a fuller picture of your qualifications and fit for the role.
• Concise and Clear Writing : “Trim the fat” by eliminating unnecessary words or phrases. Aim for clarity and brevity in your sentences, ensuring each word adds value to your message.
• Formatting Adjustments : Fine-tune the formatting to adhere to professional standards – one page, legible font (like Times New Roman), appropriate font size (typically 12), and correct formalities (such as your name and address).
• Meticulous Proofreading : Use tools like MS Word for an initial grammar and spell check. Then, carefully proofread your cover letter multiple times. It’s also wise to have someone else review it, providing a fresh perspective on both content and form.

With this process, you can develop a compelling and polished consulting cover letter that effectively communicates your strengths and fit for the consulting role you are aspiring to.

Does McKinsey Require a Cover Letter?

How to write a cover letter for a McKinsey consulting position is one of the most common questions I receive.

When it comes to McKinsey & Company, the requirement for a cover letter in your application may not be as stringent as you might think. In most McKinsey offices worldwide, submitting a cover letter is an optional part of the application process. This means that including one does not significantly influence the overall assessment of your application.

However, this doesn’t imply that a cover letter is without merit. If you’ve already crafted a compelling cover letter for applications to other firms, it’s advisable to tailor it specifically for McKinsey. Adjust key details such as the referral source, the targeted office location, the role you’re applying for, and the company’s name. This personalized touch demonstrates your genuine interest in McKinsey and your attention to detail.

Additionally, it boils down to how well your resume speaks for itself. If your resume already paints a clear picture of you as a prime candidate for a firm like McKinsey, then a cover letter might not be necessary. Here are some key indicators that your resume is doing the talking for you:

• Outstanding Academic Record : A high GPA always catches the eye.
• Core School Credentials : Graduating from or attending a school regularly visited by the firm ( a target school ) for recruitment gives you an edge.
• Relevant Educational Background : Degrees like an undergrad in business or economics, or an MBA, align well with what consulting firms look for.
• Solid Evidence of Key Skills : If your resume vividly showcases your leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities through work and volunteer experiences, you’re on the right track.

However, if you feel your resume might leave some room for doubt about your suitability for the consulting world, or the firm specifically, then adding a cover letter can bolster your application. This is your chance to fill in any gaps and directly communicate why you’re a great fit for both the industry and the firm. Think of the cover letter as your personal advocate, underlining your potential and passion for the role.

It’s important to note, though, that the cover letter might not be a focal point during the interview stages. The consultants conducting your case interviews and Personal Experience Interviews (PEIs) typically do not review cover letters as part of their interview preparation. Therefore, while including a well-tailored cover letter can add a polished edge to your application, it’s unlikely to be a discussion point in your interviews.

Elevate Your Consulting Application with Our Expertise

Are you aiming for a breakthrough in your consulting career with firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain or any other consulting firm? Our specialized cover letter and resume services are here to guide you through this critical phase. With our team’s background as former consultants and application screeners at McKinsey, we bring insider knowledge to your application process. We’ve scrutinized hundreds of applications, granting us unique insights into what truly makes a candidate stand out.

Tailored Guidance for Standout Applications

• Comprehensive Resources : Dive into our extensive guides and templates specifically designed for crafting the ideal consulting resume and cover letter. These resources are tailored to meet the expectations of the top consulting firms.
• In-Depth Exploration : We delve deeply into every facet of crafting a winning consulting resume and cover letter. Our materials provide you with the essential stories, phrases, and keywords that capture the attention of consulting recruiters.
• Efficiency in Preparation : Our ready-to-use samples and templates are designed not just for effectiveness but also to streamline your preparation process significantly.

Personalized Document Writing and Review

• Hand-Crafted Excellence : In addition to our guides and templates, we offer a personalized screening service. Here, we write, review, and fine-tune your resume and cover letter, ensuring they are tailored to perfection for your dream consulting role.
• Editing Services : Benefit from our editing services, where we refine your documents to align with the high standards of firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. We focus on enhancing your story, ensuring your skills and experiences resonate with consulting recruiters.

Let us help you create application documents that not only meet the high standards of top consulting firms but also reflect your unique strengths and aspirations.

Consulting Cover Letter FAQ

Navigating the consulting application process can be daunting, especially when it comes to creating a cover letter that stands out to prestigious firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. A well-crafted cover letter can significantly elevate your application, making you a memorable candidate. To help you on this journey, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions with concise answers to guide you in crafting an effective consulting cover letter.

What makes a consulting cover letter stand out to firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain? A cover letter that tells a compelling narrative, demonstrates your unique value, aligns with the firm’s values, and showcases your problem-solving and leadership abilities will stand out.

What are common pitfalls to avoid in a consulting cover letter? Avoid being vague, reiterating your resume, typos, and generic statements not tailored to the specific firm.

Can a strong cover letter compensate for gaps in my resume? Yes, a persuasive cover letter can highlight your strengths and contextualize any gaps, demonstrating your potential value to the firm.

How should I structure my cover letter for a consulting firm? Your cover letter should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs that detail your suitability for the role, and a concise conclusion.

What specific skills should I highlight in my consulting cover letter? Emphasize leadership, analytical abilities, problem-solving, teamwork, and any specific skills relevant to the consulting role.

How can I showcase my passion for consulting in my cover letter? Illustrate your enthusiasm through examples of past experiences, explaining why consulting excites you and how you’ve pursued this passion.

Is it necessary to customize my cover letter for each consulting firm? Absolutely, personalizing your cover letter for each firm shows you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in what makes each firm unique. Also, highlight contacts in the target firms you have interacted with.

What are the key differences between a resume and a cover letter for consulting jobs? A resume outlines your qualifications and experiences, while a cover letter provides a narrative that connects your background to the specific consulting role, demonstrating fit and passion.

Crafting a cover letter that addresses these aspects with clarity and confidence can make a significant difference in your application’s success. Your cover letter is not just a formality but a powerful tool to tell your story and express your enthusiasm for the consulting career path.

Join the Conversation

We hope this guide has illuminated the path to crafting your standout consulting cover letter, whether you’re aiming for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or any other prestigious firm.

Do you have any questions about the application process, or would you like to share your own tips and experiences? Please, don’t hesitate to ask questions or leave your comments below.

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Florian spent 5 years with McKinsey as a senior consultant. He is an experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach, having interviewed 100s of candidates in real and mock interviews. He started StrategyCase.com to make top-tier consulting firms more accessible for top talent, using tailored and up-to-date know-how about their recruiting. He ranks as the most successful consulting case and fit interview coach, generating more than 500 offers with MBB, tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms through direct coaching of his clients over the last 3.5 years. His books “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview” and “Consulting Career Secrets” are available via Amazon.

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MBB Consulting Firms: What’s Different About the Big 3

• Last Updated February, 2024

MBB is a shorthand way to refer to the “Big 3” strategy consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company. These firms are the most prestigious consulting firms because they hire top graduates of highly competitive undergraduate and M.B.A. programs, solve the toughest business problems (industry disruption, mergers & acquisitions, new product development & launches), and serve industry-leading clients.

The MBB consulting firms are the toughest in the industry to land jobs with, hiring less than 1% of the people who apply each year. Is it worth the investment of time to apply?

In this article, we’ll discuss :

• What sets MBB consulting firms apart from the rest of the consulting world?
• How the Big Three consulting firms differ from each other: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG
• Top reasons for working at each MBB consulting firm

Let’s get started!

8 Factors that Make the MBB Consulting Firms Stand Out

Other Management Consulting Firms

MBB Comparison: McKinsey vs. Bain vs. BCG

Top 5 Reasons to Aspire for MBB Firms

What Sets MBB Consulting Firms Apart from Competitors

• History: The MBB consulting firms have a rich history of thought leadership and client impact. They have been in the business for a long time, with the oldest being McKinsey, founded in 1926. With their continuous contribution towards learning and impact, they have created an unbeatable and reputable relationship with their clients, usually top executives at Fortune 500 companies. For example, McKinsey Quarterly, started in 1964, has been helping senior management to understand business problems and assist with strategies to face them.
• Diversity of Projects & Clients: The MBB firms serve a diverse set of clients on challenging projects. They’ve helped companies step up their game and manage global disruptions, like the dot com or AI disruption. Their impact is everywhere, but not always seen. If you’ve ever used the Starbucks app to quench your caffeine thirst, you’ve already witnessed the impact created by an MBB firm. BCG has helped Starbucks create its app to improve customer experience, retention, and overall revenue.
• High-Quality Work: Each of the Big 3 have different organizational models, but they all seek to consistently deliver high-quality work. McKinsey feels that it delivers quality by working on-site with their client and solving problems together. BCG’s approach is to deliver unique, bottom-up solutions tailored to every client rather than leveraging solutions that have worked for other clients. Whatever the method, they seek to make a big impact on the client’s business.
• Focus on Individual Development: Strong focus on the personal and professional development of each and every individual is in the DNA of the MBB consulting firms. One can definitely expect to grow immensely while at the MBBs.
• Camaraderie: The MBB consulting firms all interview for strong teamwork skills. As they say at Bain, “a Bainie never lets another Bainie fail,” which shows the culture and the level of support you can expect.
• Competitive Salary: With great work and responsibilities, come higher paychecks. MBB consulting firms pay more than other consulting firms across levels, as they are in a talent war with Wall Street’s investment bank s, venture capitalists, tech firms, and others .
• Brand Value: High-quality work, long-standing client relationships, great work culture, and competitive salary, all come together to create a strong brand value for the MBB firms.
• Excellent Exit Opportunities: MBB consultants, with their diverse experiences, have a plethora of exit opportunities in operations, strategy, finance, sales, and leadership roles. Additionally, the alumni network is extremely strong, which can open doors to top firms across industries.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Overview of Different Types of Consulting Firms

The global management consulting industry is huge, with annual global revenue almost reaching $1 trillion in 2022. It’s expected to continue to grow at ~10% annua lly . There are many more firms than the MBB in the industry. The “Big 4” and various boutique consulting firms play a vital role in driving strategic business decisions and creating a global impact.

Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG, are collectively called the Big 4 of Accounting, and with their consulting arms, they play a major role in driving global consulting projects, especially around implementation and transformation.

Boutique firms are newer, specialized, or localized consulting firms dealing within a particular sector, function, or region. Usually, boutique consulting firms are smaller with a focus on specialized and customized offerings. With smaller team sizes, they usually work closely with their clients throughout the life cycle of the project.

MBB Firms vs. the Big 4 & Boutique Consulting Firms

Let’s dig into how the MBB firms compare with the Big 4 and other boutique firms. This will help you make a more informed decision when choosing between firms.

• Clientele: Consultants in the MBBs deal with upper management of Fortune 500 companies, while in Big 4, clients are usually from the middle-management and IT leadership. With boutique firms, this can vary.
• Projects: MBBs work more often on strategic projects with a lot of room for getting creative and crafting a unique solution. The Big 4 firms more frequently focus on operations and transformation. Among boutique firms, the type of projects might vary and can be strategic vs. operational, based on the firm and the client.
• Recruitment: As mentioned above, the bar for getting an offer from an MBB firm is quite high, and less than 1% of applicants get offers. Contrary to this, recruitment in the Big 4 or boutique firms is easier, though still not easy.
• Compensation: The MBB firms offer high salaries compared to the Big 4 and other boutique consulting firms. Though, it is worth noting that some boutique firms pay more than MBB. Read our Management Consulting Salary Report for more information.
• Prestige : Having an MBB consulting firm on your resume shows prospective recruiters that you have passed a rigorous selection process and a stamp of approval as top talent. It elevates your professional brand at first glance.
• Work-Life Balance: The life of a consultant at MBB firms involves long hours but with strongly unstructured work. On the flip side, work at Big 4 is more structured and balanced, which allows some breathing space and enough time to maintain a work-life balance.
• Training and Development: MBBs have specialized training sessions on problem-solving and execution which helps in driving strategy projects and translates to an intense learning experience for anyone working at MBB firms. In the Big 4 firms, the training, although extensive, is focused more on process and technology management which aligns more with the type of projects undertaken. Training at boutique firms varies, relying more on interaction with senior consultants and subject-matter experts.
• Working Culture: MBB firms have a flat hierarchy with the whole team responsible for problem-solving and delivery. Big 4 firms, on the other hand, have hierarchical structures with responsibilities divided among various team members. Boutique firms with their smaller size tend to have highly entrepreneurial and ownership-driven cultures.
• Exit Opportunities: The brand value and the diverse experience that one gets while working at MBBs provide an open field of opportunities when exiting the consulting industry. The jobs MBB consultants leave consulting for include private equity firms, venture funds, start-ups, and strategy or management positions in Fortune 500 companies. For anyone working in Big 4 or boutique consulting firms, the exit opportunities are still lucrative but may be more focused on the function or sector they worked in.

Now we understand why MBB consulting firms are considered the Big Three strategy consulting firms compared to the Big 4 and the boutique consulting firms. Let’s dive into how the MBB firms compare against each other and how to know which one is the best for you.

The MBB consulting firms can seem very similar to those new to the consulting industry, but the cultures and approaches to client work are different . Each firm looks for recruits who understand their firm’s uniqueness and fit their firm best.

Knowing what sets the Big Three consulting firms apart from each other will help you strengthen your chances of landing your dream job.

McKinsey & Company

McKinsey, the oldest and most prestigious of the Big 3, was founded in 1926 by James O. McKinsey, a professor at the University of Chicago.

McKinsey has evolved over time but it also has kept its culture intact. The obligation to dissent runs deep in McKinsey’s culture and was shaped under the leadership of Marvin Bower, managing partner from 1950 to 1967. He believed that each and every individual in the firm should actively analyze ideas that are different than their own and also iterate on others’ ideas, especially if they felt that their team’s problem-solving was flawed or the recommendation they were giving was not the best for the client.

McKinsey has been quick to adapt to changing times. They were early adopters of the concept of functional practices to deal with the increased complexity of the problems faced by their clients. They built with deep functional knowledge in sales & marketing, data analytics and coding, and operational excellence. More recently, McKinsey has gotten into the digital realm of technology and artificial intelligence-driven transformations.

McKinsey propagates the culture of collaboration and encourages knowledge sharing across geographies and functional practices. This helps the firm to “bring the best of McKinsey” to each client by utilizing its internal expertise to help solve customer problems in a quick and effective manner.

McKinsey’s recruitment follows the same process as that of BCG or Bain, with some nuances in the way initial screening or interviews are conducted, as discussed below.

• Interviewer-Led Cases: McKinsey case interviews are interviewer-led rather than candidate-led. This means that your interviewer will lead you through a series of problems to solve rather than letting you decide where and how to start solving the case. This format of the interview doesn’t change the difficulty level. If you follow the same 4-step process of opening -> structuring -> analyzing -> recommendation, you can ace the case.
• Fit Assessment: McKinsey assesses a candidate’s fit in all interviews. Bain and BCG conduct fit interviews separately from case interviews. McKinsey’s behavioral questions are asked either at the beginning or towards the end of the interview, with the rest of the interview focused on the case.
• Fit Traits Tests: Apart from the common traits of problem-solving and leadership, McKinsey tests the personal impact and entrepreneurial drive of the candidates.
• Use of Digital Assessments: McKinsey, for a long time, recruited on campus at core schools and hired most of its new analysts and associates from these schools. With a broadened focus on hiring the best talent irrespective of geography, McKinsey has started using online assessments, specifically the McKinsey Problem Solving Game, to effectively gauge the problem-solving skills of individuals.

Some notable McKinsey alumni are :

• Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook
• Andrew T. Kearney, Founder of A.T. Kearney
• Jonathan Schwartz, CEO of SunMicrosystems
• Jane Fraser, CEO of Citi
• Kevin Sharer, CEO of Amgen

Does McKinsey’s culture excite you? Learn more about the McKinsey Case Interview and “ Why McKinsey” to increase your chances of getting a McKinsey offer.

Boston Consulting Group

BCG was founded by Bruce Henderson in 1963 with a vision of being a pioneer in bold, new approaches to running a company and helping organizations become “ready to win.” Henderson always believed in breaking the status quo, and that has become a part of the BCG DNA.

BCG is all about its people, and it does everything possible to provide a great working experience. BCG invests a considerable amount of time and money on the development of people across levels. It is common to have senior partners mentoring associates from their start at the firm.

BCG is the forerunner of thought leadership in the consulting world. BCGers (as they call themselves) strive to break the status quo and are highly academically driven. BCG, like other top consulting firms, have functional groups, but they also believe in tailoring solutions to the client’s unique requirements. This leads to heavy brainstorming and requires thinking out of the box while crafting the recommendations.

To drive the never-ending innovation, people at BCG take pride in staying up to date with the changes in public policy, financial markets, and disruptions in global business. It is common to see people having a healthy debate about current affairs and business, and pushing others to broaden their perceptual horizons.

BCG believes in contributing back to society. Throughout the year, on various days, BCG runs community service drives where people come together and contribute to charities in their community. This brings BCGers together outside work and helps in building stronger bonds.

The BCG recruitment process has many similarities with that of McKinsey and Bain, but there are certain aspects that matter more for the BCG recruitment process when compared to the other two.

• Interviewee-led cases: BCG interviews are candidate-led. The ability to drive the case forward while letting the interviewer know the reasoning behind your steps is important to passing your interview.
• Tailored case structures and solutions: BCG is the “nerdy” MBB and that shows up as BCG tends to solve every client’s problem in a tailored way. When applying to BCG, your case structure must be tailored to the business problem at hand.
• Show your cultural fit throughout your interview: BCG is all about its people and culture. When interviewing at BCG, being personable, coachable, and having a go-getter mindset needs to be showcased.
• Fit traits tested: In the behavioral interview, BCG focuses on leadership skills, resilience, influence, and impact.

People from BCG continue to create an impact even after leaving the firm. Below are a few prominent examples.

• Bill Bain, Founder of Bain & Co
• Roland Berger, Founder of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
• Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi
• Enrique Ramirez, CFO of Pizza Hut, Inc.
• Sally Blount, Dean of Kellogg School of Management

Did BCG’s culture resonate with you? You can read more about how to crack the BCG Case Interview or learn more about “Why BCG” can be the right fit for you.

Bain & Company

Bain, the smallest and youngest of the MBB consulting firms, was founded by Bill Bain, after he left Boston Consulting Group in 1973.

Bain is all about their customers and the “results” their projects deliver. This is one key reason why Bain is among the Big 3.

Bain has its project’s financial incentives aligned with its client’s success. Thus, the overall objective is always to make the client “win.” This mindset is evident in the success rates of their publicly-listed clients, who outperform S&P 4:1.

Bainies live by the motto of “work hard, play hard” and they believe in developing strong professional and personal relationships. Bainies can be seen having a drink after a long workday or going out together on weekends.

“A Bainie Never Lets Another Bainie Fail” – explains a lot about what to expect at Bain.

The strong bonding helps in making the long work hours manageable. One can expect a Bainie just a text or phone call away. The culture takes pride in helping people out of the weeds, picking them up during their low times, and setting them up for success.

Almost all consulting firms have the same career progression with slight differences in position names. The MBB firms all have “up-or-out” policies where individuals must earn promotions within a certain time frame or they’ll be asked to leave the organization. But Bain has the highest retention rate among the MBB firms. Bainies have an edge in how they shape their progression. They get an opportunity to customize their professional journey. At Bain, it is called “choose-your-own-adventure” and gives them a chance to move across global offices, take an externship, attend business school, or take up social impact work. The input Bainies get into their careers might be what helps them to be successful.

• Interviewee-Led Cases: Like BCG, Bain uses interviewee-led cases. Bain cases focus on understanding when the data is enough to make recommendations and not “boiling the ocean.” If you feel ready to make your recommendation on a Bain case, don’t hesitate. Walk your interviewer through why you think you are ready to make your recommendation and proceed with it. They will appreciate your confidence and ability to drive the problem-solving to its conclusion.
• Fit Traits Tested: Bain primarily focuses on the traits of entrepreneurship, the ability to lead, and teamwork.
• Bain Experience Interview: Bain’s behavioral interview is known as the Bain Experience Interview, which is similar to any fit interview with an emphasis on getting to know the interviewee in detail. The interviewer can sometimes ask follow-up questions to better understand the examples and how well you fit into the Bain culture.

Bain is the youngest of the MBB consulting firms but still has notable alumni as below.

• Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
• Scott Cook, Founder and CEO of Intuit
• Mark Pincus, Founder and CEO of Zynga
• John Donahoe, CEO of Nike
• Kevin Rollins, CEO of Dell

Do you think Bain is the right fit for you? Learn more about “Why Bain?” , the Bain Case Interview , and the Bain Experience Interview to improve your chances of joining Bain.

Top 5 Reasons to Aspire to Work for MBB Firms

Now you know what makes MBB firms stand out from other top consulting firms and how they stand against each other. Which one is the right fit for you? We’ve listed down the Top 5 reasons to join each of these firms.

Why join McKinsey & Company?

• Most prestigious among the MBB firms
• Values functional and industry expertise
• Collaborative & supportive environment
• Great exit opportunities
• Extensive travel

Why join Boston Consulting Group?

• Forerunner on thought leadership
• People-centric
• Effective mentoring
• Intellectually stimulating work environment
• Contributes back to society

Why join Bain & Company?

• Customer-centric
• Strong camaraderie
• Carving out your own professional journey
• Exposure to Private Equity
• Entrepreneurial drive

  – – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• What makes the MBB consulting firms the Big 3?
• How do the Big 3 compare against each other?
• Top 5 reasons to join each of the MBB firms

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the culture at MBB consulting firms and which one could be the best fit for you, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s coaches will answer them.

Other people, like you, who are aspiring to land jobs at the top consulting firms found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• Consulting Cover Letters
• Why McKinsey vs. Why BCG vs. Why Bain
• Big 4 Consulting Firms
• Boutique Consulting Firms

Help With Landing Your Dream Job!

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer to know more about the MBB consulting firms. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be our next success story.

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3 Things Consulting Firms Actually Look for in Your Application

We are sharing our powerful strategies to get your foot in the door, even if you have a low GPA, have little to no business experience, or study a non-business-related major.

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Writing your MBB cover letter

Updated: Sep 17, 2020

MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) usually require a cover letter. They’ll read it immediately after reading your CV, provided your CV has captured the recruiter’s attention. Whether you are writing a BCG, Bain or McKinsey cover letter, these tips all apply!

One page, font 11 minimum, 3-5 paragraphes.

Cover letters require some work. The single question that they should answer is: What makes you a good candidate for management consulting? Your job is to link your experience, passions and drive with what consulting firms are looking for in a candidate.

Depending on your profile, they’ll be looking for slightly different things:

The fresh-out-of-school candidate (undergrad and grad)

If you just graduated and don’t have at least 6 months of work experience yet, you won’t have much business experience to share. Still, there are a few things you can do to make your cover letter stand out to management consulting HR:

Show that you’re a team player: talk about projects, especially those where you had a leadership role. Summarize context, challenges, actions and impact of the 1-2 most impressive projects.

Tip: It’s best to structure your answers in a STAR framework. Learn more about the STAR framework and other in-depth interview tips in the ZeroToMBB book.

Show that you’re passionate and driven: demonstrate your ability to start and see personal projects through. Talk about your motivations, the challenges you faced and how you have overcome them. Nobody wants to work with a boring teammate, so this is the place to really talk about what excites you!

Show that you’re a problem solver: take examples of technical or team-related challenges that you faced and describe the strategies you put in place to solve them.

Show that you’re willing to learn and be flexible: management consultants can work for very diverse industries and functional sectors. They work hard, and they are always on the road. If you’ve specialized in a technical topic, talk about your learning journey and mention any awards and recognitions. Give examples of your ability to handle a high workload.

Why you want to work in consulting: if you don’t come from business school, it might be less obvious why you want to switch to consulting. Typical reasons include: broadening your horizons, working with diverse people, or exploring the world of business. Offices in different locations serve different industries, so search online for the industries linked to the office you’re applying to, and see if you have relevant experience in it.

The 5-years-of-experience and/or MBA candidate

If you have some work experience and want to move to consulting, or are graduating from your MBA, the bar for the cover letter is high. Here are some of the topics to cover:

Show that you’re a leader: show a track record of leadership positions, with high impact projects and large teams.

Show your expertise in a business topic: management consulting firms are craving candidates with strong industry or functional knowledge. This is your time to tell what you know from your previous work and link it to how this will be useful as a consultant. Look at what industries your office is focused on, and if there’s no match, broaden your search to a regional level.

Show your business acumen: managing clients, working internationally, building financial models, managing budgets, having a track record of business impact, all these examples show that you are an experienced professional that could be put in front of a client with confidence.

Show that you’re passionate and driven: demonstrate your ability to start and see personal projects through. Talk about your motivations, the challenges you faced and how you have overcome them. Nobody wants to work with a boring person so this is the place to really talk about what excites you!

Looking for more details on what makes a great cover letter for MBB? Read more in the ZeroToMBB book , filled with end-to-end tips on how to ace the interview and land the offer.

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Consulting Cover Letter Tips, Hacks, Requirements & Examples

If you’re applying for consulting positions at prestigious firms like McKinsey, Bain & BCG, then you may be wondering how to write a consulting cover letter.

The best consulting cover letters connect your past experiences with the values of the company you’re applying to. The general format is to have an opening, 3 or 4 key paragraphs where you connect the company’s values to your own experience and a close.

But the devil is in the details. So let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

How To Write A Cover Letter For Consulting

A surefire way to write your consulting cover letter is to Google the values of your target firm and then use those values to show that your personality and past experience make you a perfect fit.

To do this, you’ll need to:

1. Google the name of the company you’re applying to (Example: Bain) and the word “values”. The top result will normally be a page on that company’s website where they list out their company values.

2. Jot down their top 3 to 4 company values.

3. Add each value to your cover letter as a bolded bullet point and, right after (or under) it, tell a to-the-point story of how you delivered on exactly that value.

4. Add an opening paragraph that expresses your interest in the company. Include one specific thing you like about that company. Be specific.

5. Add a closing that reiterates your interest.

And that’s it. This formula has helped consultants across the world land that coveted interview.

Tip: If you don’t find a “values” page in your initial Google search, try clicking around the company’s website until you find their recruitment page . There’s a good chance that they’ll list what they’re looking for on this page. Use those to craft your bullet-points.

Do Cover Letters Matter For Consulting?

MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) companies have made cover letters optional. If you have a great GPA and graduated from an Ivy League school, and your resume doesn’t have any “red flags”, then you might get away with not having a cover letter.

As a general rule, cover letters help consultants get interviews. Your cover letter is your opportunity to tell the story that your resume can’t. A good cover letter can turn a mediocre application into an interview.

Keep in mind that, every day, consultants turn boring facts into convincing stories. It’s not enough to have the facts (your resume). You have to know how to turn the bland into the compelling. And if you can’t do that in your resume, then a consultancy might wonder if you can do it at all.

How Long Should My Consulting Cover Letter Be?

Recruiters for top consulting firms sift through hundreds of applications every day . So how long should your cover letter be?

Your consulting cover letter should be about a page long. You’ll want to write it to be long enough to be compelling but short enough to skim in a few seconds.

Your ability to sell yourself in a single page will be an important deciding factor on your suitability for the position you’re applying for.

Do McKinsey, Bain & BCG Require A Cover Letter?

McKinsey, Bain & BCG all state on their websites that they don’t require a cover letter but, keep in mind, a good cover letter could strengthen your application.

This is particularly important if you have any work gaps in your resume, or any red flags (like a low GPA).

How Do I Write A Cover Letter For McKinsey, Bain & BCG?

Writing a cover letter for McKinsey, Bain & BCG is pretty much the same across all 3 firms.

In all cases, you want to have a short opening paragraph, 3-5 paragraphs highlighting your strengths and how they’re linked to the company’s values, and a short closing paragraph. Focus on good, succinct storytelling while delivering specific numbers on the outcomes you’ve achieved.

What Should A Cover Letter For McKinsey, Bain & BCG Include?

According to Victor Cheng (author, ex-consultant & ex-recruiter for multiple top consulting firms), these are the 5 things recruiters look for:

1. Well-known employers or schools.

2. academic performance., 3. high test results in math., 4. proof of leadership and people skills., 5. notable achievements in your career (relative to the length of your career)..

Let’s look at each.

The company you end up working for has to sell you to their clients. If you’ve graduated from a top school, that’s an easy sell. If you’ve worked for a top firm, that’s an easy sell.

If you haven’t worked for a top firm, then you have to focus that much more on the other 4 criteria. (Or you need to get on an unpaid internship ASAP!)

Always put your GPA in your CV. If you don’t, they’ll ask for it anyway and write it in. A 3.5 GPA is like the bare minimum and recruiters and firms won’t really bother with you if you don’t seem smart.

Being good at Math is strongly linked to doing well at logical and analytics tasks. You don’t need a perfect score but higher is definitely better.

Being smart isn’t enough. You need to know how to work with people who may or may not dislike you. Your personality can’t get in the way of a client getting the results they want or need.

So you have to demonstrate times in the past where you were faced with a difficult situation and your people skills are what saved the day.

Focus on outcomes, not just responsibilities. Use numbers where possible. And focus on what’s relevant.

And balance it all against the time you spent working or studying. You don’t want to be the person who spent a few years at a firm or studying and did nothing outside of the ordinary. Every candidate studied. Every candidate worked. Focus on what you achieved that few (or no) other people achieved.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be miles ahead of your fellow candidates.

For more consulting career advice , click here.

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Consulting Resume Guide (REAL McKinsey, BCG, Bain examples)

Every year, ~200,000 candidates apply to McKinsey, but only ~2,000 of them end up getting an offer. That's a 1% success rate. Candidates usually don't know this, but the most competitive step in the recruiting process is the cover letter and resume screening. That's where more than 60% of candidates get eliminated.

So how do you craft a management consultant resume that gets you interviews at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain?

Because here’s the thing: consultant resumes are actually VERY different from CVs for other professions.

So, let's step through the consulting resume basics and writing tips you should be aware of.  Plus, we’ll review 5 REAL CV examples that landed candidates interviews and jobs with McKinsey, BCG, Bain and other top firms.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What do top management consulting firms look for?
• 5 consulting resume examples  (from REAL candidates)
• Consulting resume template
• Consulting resume tips 
• How to write a great consulting resume (step-by-step)
• Consulting resume checklist

Let’s get into it.

Click here for a resume review with an ex-MBB consultant

1. what do top management consulting firms look for ↑.

Before crafting a consulting resume that will get you multiple interviews, you first need to understand what top consulting firms actually look for in a candidate.

There are two versions of the truth when it comes to this topic: the official version on every firm's website, and the unofficial one that they are less willing to talk about.

1.1 Official version

As we have already mentioned in our case interview guide, all top consulting firms broadly look for the same skills. This is particularly apparent when comparing the skills McKinsey, BCG, and Bain list in their job description requirements.

Top consulting firms tend to all be interested in candidates who exhibit the following:

• Problem-solving. This means you need to have shown strong intellectual abilities to solve problems at university and during your work experiences. You also need to demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills to stand out.
• Personal impact. This means you've shown a dedication to achieving great things in most projects you undertook in the past. Your resume needs to showcase instances that demonstrate your strong personal initiative and resilience in the quest for success.
• Entrepreneurial drive. This means you should have a track record of launching new initiatives. You are not satisfied with doing things the traditional way. You like innovating, even if that means having to manage ambiguous situations.
• Teamwork and leadership. This means you've shown you can lead groups of people in the past either in a professional context, at university, or in any extracurricular activities. This also includes your effective communication skills and ability to collaborate with and manage different stakeholder relationships.

The first objective of your resume should be to highlight relevant parts of your experience that demonstrate these skills. Each bullet point in your resume should specifically target one. And overall, your bullet points should be balanced across these four categories.

For instance, let's assume that there are 20 bullet points in your resume. Broadly speaking, 5 of your bullet points should show your strength in problem-solving and 5 should show that you deliver impact when you are part of teams. Another 5 should show that you are used to taking initiative. And yet another 5 should show that you can lead teams.

Doing this will take you a long way in crafting a successful application. Trust us, it works both for entry-level and experienced hire resumes . But unfortunately, there are also untold truths about consulting CVs that you need to be aware of.

1.2 Unofficial version

If you meet the above qualifications, then great! But it would also be helpful if you keep in mind the following ‘unofficial’ preferences that top consulting firms rarely put in their job requirements. They’re as follows:

• Big brand names

First, your resume screener will be looking for big brand names when going through your CV. If you went to a target school (e.g. Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, etc.), that will definitely help.

If you did not attend a target school then your best chance of getting noticed is to have worked for companies that are big and well-known.

You might be wondering why consulting firms value big-brand universities and employers so much. To be frank, top consulting firms are snobs when it comes to academic and professional pedigree. This is obviously slightly unfair, but there are a couple of reasons things work that way.

First, it's easier to sell Junior consultants to clients if they have an impressive background. When a client asks "Who will be on the team?" Partners like to be able to answer "Melissa just joined us with a bachelor's from Oxford and an MBA from Harvard" or "Bukayo joins us after 3 years leading a team at Google." That makes it easier to justify the high salaries consulting staff get paid.

Second, consulting firms receive a LOT of applications every year. McKinsey, for instance, received about ~200,000 resumes each year. They can't interview everyone and need a pretty efficient way to get to a manageable number of candidates they can interview. Big brand names are a shortcut. They want to hire high-achievers and assume that if you went to a top school or worked for a top employer, you are a high achiever.

This can feel very frustrating and unfair if you don't have big brand names on your resume. In these situations, it does not mean you won't be able to make it into consulting. It just means that unfortunately, it will likely be more work for you than for other people. You will have to network more , consider working/doing an internship at big brand names first, and maybe apply to consulting firms multiple times. But you can still do it.

• GPA/Grades cut-off

One of the questions we often get about consulting resumes is: "I have a 3.X GPA from University Y. Will I make the cut-off?" To be clear, there's no official GPA cut-off in the US, or grades cut-off in other countries.

Your resume will usually be reviewed by a recent graduate from your university who works at the firm. They will score your resume on a number of dimensions, one of which will be your grades. 

If your grades are on the lower end (GPA < 3.5 in the US, 2:1 or less in the UK), you will obviously get fewer points than if they were higher. As a consequence, you will need to compensate for this with very strong achievements in other areas of your resume. This could be an extracurricular activity where you showed strong leadership and entrepreneurship skills. 

Finally, one important aspect of consulting resumes that's not discussed often is languages. Only a few job posts (mostly openings for positions in regions where English isn’t the primary language) explicitly require proficiency in languages other than English. 

But even if you’re applying to an English-speaking firm, speaking multiple languages fluently will boost your chances of getting an interview.

Indeed, most consulting firms operate a global staffing model. If you are based in the London office but speak French and Spanish, that means your firm will be able to send you on projects in the UK, France, and Spain, but also North and South America and many countries in Africa. Your value to the firm will therefore be much higher than if you only spoke English.

Do you want expert advice on how to get into consulting?

Our management consultant coaches can help you build an actionable plan to get into consulting and boost your chances of landing a job at MBB or any top consulting firms.  Click here to book a 1-to-1 consulting career coaching session .  

2. 5 Real consulting resume examples ↑

Before we start on how to write your consulting resume, let's take a look at samples of what you should be aiming for. 

Unlike in other articles on this topic, these are all real resumes that got real candidates job offers at top global consulting companies. Note that we’ve anonymised most of the resumes to protect the resume owners’ privacy.

2.1 McKinsey resume examples

Jacob’s mckinsey resume.

This resume got the candidate an interview (and later an offer) at McKinsey, which is where he's now working. (Please note that we've changed the names of the companies to protect the candidate's privacy).

T his is a seriously high-quality resume. Here's what Jacob does particularly well:

• Quantifying achievements : Jacob uses numbers to make his achievements shine. Notice how his work achievements are full of specific sums of money or percentages. This ensures that we can clearly understand the impact he has had.
• Action verbs: Jacob starts his bullet points with verbs describing key actions for a consultant: "Developed investment case", "Solved client's concern", "Identified commercial risk".
• Skills & Interests : You can bet that Jacob had even more great work achievements that he had to leave out to fit in a strong Skills and Interests section. But it's definitely worth it - in four lines he's able to make himself stand out from the crowd with some very specific and interesting passions.
• Font trick! You almost certainly didn't notice, but the penultimate line of Jacob's resume is in font 10, rather than 10.5. This helped him squeeze it all onto one page.

Henry’s McKinsey resume

This is the resume that got “Henry” (not his real name) a consultant role at McKinsey.

Here’s what we think makes this resume stand out:

• Highly targeted: Apart from his professional consultant experience, notice that two of Henry’s internship experiences are not directly related to management consulting. But they earn their spots in his resume because he’s able to highlight the aspects of these experiences that are relevant to consulting, i.e. client relationship management, project management methodologies and tools, and collaboration. They also show that he’s suitable for a range of different industries such as manufacturing, insurance, and finance.
• Action verbs: Henry starts his bullet points with verbs describing key actions for a consultant: “Formulated a strategy”, “Performed competitive benchmarking”, “Advised on R&D roadmap”, “Mentored 4 interns” etc.

2.2 BCG resume examples

David's bcg resume.

The below resume belongs to David, a consulting interview coach on our platform (currently a hiring manager at Revolut for the Global Strategy Team). It's the resume that got him into BCG in 2020.

Here's what we found interesting about David's resume:

• Clarity : David is extremely concise. He sticks to one page and leaves plenty of white space, making it extremely easy for a recruiter to read quickly.
• Project-based approach: David has worked on a lot of different projects in a short space of time. By listing many of these projects, he demonstrates experience across different consultant skillsets.

Theo’s BCG resume

This is the resume that got “Theo” an associate role at BCG. BCG recruiters have used this particular resume in university workshops as an example of what to aim for so it’s an excellent model to study.

Here are the highlights that we think make Theo’s resume attractive to recruiters:

• Achievement-oriented : Theo’s resume is a great example of how a candidate with limited work experience can leverage their educational and extracurricular achievements. He lists down his grades and awards and has bullet points demonstrating specific skills such as problem-solving, innovating, teamwork, and leadership.
• Quantified success: In his two professional/internship experiences, Theo quantifies his achievements (“success rate of more than 90%”, “10% salary increase in the first year”).

2.3 Bain resume examples

Suresh’s bain resume.

This resume earned the candidate, let's call him “Suresh”, a role at Bain.

Here's our feedback on this resume:

• Quantified impact : Suresh does a great job of quantifying the impact of his achievements, giving specific numbers when possible.
• Additional information: Suresh uses the last section well to demonstrate an interesting depth of personality and other skills such as writing and languages.
• Layout: Extremely simple layout is clean and very easy to digest.

3. Consulting resume template ↑

Now that you’ve seen a few stellar examples of consulting resumes that work, let’s take a look at this consulting resume template. Use it as a basis or reference point for writing your consulting resume. 

A word of advice: a lot of people use this template so be careful about how you use it. Take inspiration, but be sure to write every sentence from scratch. 

Just a few notes about the template:

• It’s based on a consulting resume of a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. You can trust this template works.
• This resume might look impressive. It's one of the best ones we have seen. Even if you have not achieved as much as this person, you can still get an interview.

Click here to download the resume template as a Google doc .

Click here to download the resume template as a PDF .

4. Consulting resume tips

Before we take you through the step-by-step process of writing your consulting resume, here are the 9 things we’ve learned after having reviewed hundreds of CVs over the past few years. Our expert coaches, Cody (top tech recruiter, ex-Google now at LinkedIn) and Candace (career and resume expert) also weigh in with their insights.

4.1 Keep it to one page

Consulting recruiters have to review tons of resumes daily. Keeping your resume to one page is one way to make the job easy for them. But we know condensing your entire lifetime's achievements in ~500 words is difficult. 

The key is to select the right achievements and to describe them in a way that makes it clear you would make a great consultant. It takes time and a few iterations to get it right, so start earlier rather than later.

4.2 Organize your resume into 5 sections

The best consulting resumes have 5 sections: Personal information, Education, Work experience, Extracurricular achievements, and Additional skills. 

One of the most common mistakes we see in CVs is to not have an "Extracurricular achievements" section. This is a BIG mistake as this is a section you can use to showcase some of the skills that consulting firms look for such as leadership and entrepreneurial drive.

4.3 Avoid fancy designs

"Design features like pictures, columns, photos, etc. can prevent ATS systems from correctly scanning your resume," says Candace.

Using a special format with a slightly funky font is tempting. You might think it could help you stand out. But it won’t. Most, if not all, companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS to pre-scan resumes. So your fancy resume might not even make the ATS cut.

Let’s say your funky resume somehow managed to pass through the ATS. You still won't get extra points for it. At best, your CV screener will think: "Okay, I've never seen this format, but why not?" At worst, they will think: "Who is this person? They don't get it!"

The content of your resume should stand out, not its format.

You should also avoid including your photo in your resume unless it’s specifically required. This goes against employment and discrimination laws in most countries, and is another potential problem for ATS systems.

4.4 Use action verbs

"Us recruiters are lazy. Don't make us dig around for the key info, we want to see if you meet the job requirements in the first 10 seconds!" says Cody.

A good way to make a good first impression in 10 seconds is by using keywords in the form of action verbs that resume screeners are either consciously or subconsciously looking for. ALL your sentences should start with an action verb that highlights one of the soft skills the firms are looking for.

For instance, you should have bullet points on leadership that start with: "Led a team of 10 people..." And bullet points on problem-solving which start with: "Solved one of the toughest engineering problems..." 

These action verbs are important because they are at the beginning of sentences. If you use the right ones, your resume screener will immediately think: "Okay, this person has the right skills. Let me look at their CV in more detail."

4.5 Quantify your achievements

“This advice is for many careers spanning many industries, we have to tell our story through data and numbers. Words can tell a story but numbers tell it way better," says Cody.

Consultants are obsessed with quantifying things. When you become a consultant, a big part of your job is to crunch numbers to back up ideas you present to clients. If your idea is not backed up by numbers, it's just a point of view. If it is backed up by numbers, it becomes an argument and has more gravitas. 

For instance, if you were awarded a scholarship to study abroad you should write something like: "Awarded Entente Cordiale Scholarship to study in the UK (2 scholarships for 1,000+ applicants)" This will make you stand out much more than if you had just written: "Awarded a competitive scholarship to study in the UK."

4.6 Dumb things down

This is particularly important if you have written a Ph.D. or Master's thesis. Your resume screener won't be familiar with your field. And they won't take the time to Google anything they don't understand. It is your responsibility to dumb things down sufficiently for them to be understandable.

A good test for this is to ask a friend or sibling to highlight anything that they don't easily understand in your resume. If you find them scratching their head to make sense of a sentence, it is too complicated. Simplifying things is hard work, so you should start this process early.

4.7 Highlight your soft skills

As mentioned in the first section of this guide, McKinsey, BCG, Bain and other top firms are looking for skills that are very specific to consulting. A lot of those skills are actually SOFT skills such as leadership, personal impact, entrepreneurial drive, etc. 

If you have a standard resume that you use for other jobs, you will most likely have to adapt it to showcase the specific soft skills consulting firms look for. If you don't do this, you run the risk of your CV being overlooked as it's not tailored enough to consulting.

4.8 Be unique

Your resume screener will literally have looked at hundreds of CVs before they look at yours. The reality is a lot of these resumes are quite similar. So, if there's something a little bit unique that you have done, you should not hesitate to say so. 

For instance, you might have worked for 6 months in a surf shop in Australia, or you might have done a 6-month unpaid internship for charity. Everything that differentiates you in a positive way should be clearly mentioned on your resume.

4.9 Don't get AI to write it for you!

With the boom in AI technology and the likes of ChatGPT increasingly used by students and applicants, it's tempting to think you could get a bot to write your resume. And if you're finding it hard to get started, AI can be quite helpful in giving you examples of the sorts of phrases you should be writing.

However, rely too much on AI and you run the risk of your CV looking exactly like everyone else's and not truly representing who you are: a unique individual and (hopefully) a great consultant in the making!

5. How to write a consulting resume ↑

Now that you’ve seen examples of what you should be aiming for, as well as some key tips, let’s go through the resume-building process.

5.1 Study your target company and job description

Before you start writing or editing your resume, our tip is that you do some research.

Find the job specification, read it thoroughly, and use it to shape your resume. 

• Figure out if you’re applying for a general consultant role or an industry consultant role. Some job posts will have a general ‘consultant’ opening. This means you don’t have to start with a specific expertise and are expected to develop one on the job. Others are highly targeted and will have a specific industry that they’re building teams for, such as finance, healthcare, tech, and others. 
• Prepare to adapt your resume accordingly. Look into the keywords of the job description and use them as much as possible where they’re applicable. Suppose your previous jobs or internships are not directly related to consulting. In that case, you can phrase your descriptions to highlight specific consulting skills such as leadership, project management, problem-solving, etc. Same goes for your extracurriculars.
• Zoom in on a few of the responsibilities in the job description that you think are most important. Search for specific examples from your past that demonstrate experience in doing the same thing or very similar. Find the numbers to back it up where possible, so you’re ready to include this information in the work experience section later on.
• Take note of the language used in the job description so you can, where appropriate, match specific verbs and phrases.
• Research the company. If you have a particular interest or expertise, you’ll want to get into the firm that matches it. If you know anyone who works in your target company, you might want to ask them for advice or information about what their company is specifically looking for.

Now you’re probably wondering: do you have to write a different targeted consulting resume for every company you’re applying to? 

The answer is: ideally, yes. But as we’ve covered in the section at the beginning, these top companies are typically looking for more or less the same qualifications. 

We looked at some of the latest job postings on McKinsey, BCG, and Bain and aggregated the data to find the most common consulting job requirements for top companies in 2024. And here’s what we found:

Typical consultant job requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, with a strong academic record
• Robust analytical and problem-solving skills
• Above-average communication and presentation skills
• Relevant experience (in consulting or specific industry indicated)

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or additional qualifications or certifications)
• Specific industry expertise (financial services, healthcare, technology, etc.)
• Prior consulting experience (familiarity with consulting methodologies and client engagement)
• Language skills (for positions in non-English-speaking regions, proficiency in local languages is often preferred)

Common Responsibilities

• Engaging with clients to understand their needs, present findings, and provide recommendations; building and maintaining strong client relationships
• Leading and managing consulting projects, including overseeing project deliverables, coordinating team efforts, and ensuring timely completion
• Performing in-depth analysis to identify issues, evaluate data, and develop actionable insights, using analytical tools and methodologies
• Collaborating with team members and sometimes mentoring junior staff 
• Assisting clients with the implementation of recommendations or strategies to ensure successful execution

If you don't want to have to tweak your resume for each specific company you're applying to, aim to base your resume around this list of requirements.

Once you’re done with your research, let’s get into writing your consulting resume!

5.2 Organize your resume by sections

As you’ve seen in the example resumes and the resume template, every consulting CV should be split into 5 sections:

• Personal information
• Work experience

Extracurricular achievements

Additional skills

Below are a few best practices for coming up with a layout for your resume:

• Choose a professional-looking font: Size 10-12, black and white. Arial, Calibri, and other plain sans serif or serif fonts are fine.
• Use bullet points.
• Make sure the formatting is 100% neat and consistent.
• Include enough white space so that it doesn’t look overcrowded.
• Save it as a PDF so it looks uniform on any device.

Now, let’s get into each section.

5.2.1 Personal information

In this section, you should include all the basic personal details the consulting firm you are applying for is requesting. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you put this section together:

• Use a larger font for your name than for the rest of the section to make it stand out.
• Don't insert your headshot, date of birth, or gender unless specifically requested by the firm.
• Use a neutral/professional email address. Keep your hilarious email address for friends and family.
• Double-check all your details including your email address and phone number before sending your resume.
• No need to include your street address–this may cause issues with data privacy laws; just your general region will do.
• No need to label each item, e.g “email:”, “tel:”, etc. It’s obvious what they are, so save the space.

5.2.2 Education

This section should summarise the different degrees you graduated with. It should NOT include your high school experience. If you have recently graduated and only have internship experience, this section should follow the Personal information section. 

But if you have already had a first job for 1+ years, you could consider swapping this section with the Work Experience section. 

Here are a few tips on how to write this section:

• If you have multiple degrees (e.g.: a BA and an MBA), you should write a subsection like the one above for each degree, starting with your highest level of education first (e.g.: your MBA).
• For each degree, include the name of the degree, university, and dates in the headline. You should also describe relevant course content briefly (no more than one line).
• List your grades (e.g.: GPA) as well as results on other standardised tests you have taken (e.g.: SAT, GMAT, etc.)
• Detail all the awards and scholarships you have received, and most importantly how competitive they were (e.g.: 2 awards for 1,000 students).
• If you have written a thesis/dissertation, you should also summarise the topic in a way that's very easy to understand. Note if it is being published in academic journals.

5.2.3 Work experience

The work experience section should include the previous work positions you have held as well as your main achievements in these roles. Here are some more important points to help you put this section together:

• Use reverse chronological order, putting most recent employment at the top
• Include the name of the position you held and the employer as well as the location and dates in the headline. The first line of the section should then describe your employer/department in one sentence. Notice that this mirrors the structure used for the Education section.
• Start each bullet point with an action verb that matches one of the skills consulting firms look for (Leadership, Entrepreneurial drive, Personal impact, Problem-solving, etc.). "Led", "Analysed" or "Presented" are good examples of such verbs.
• Use present tense verbs (e.g "Lead, Develop, Execute") in your current position (except for completed achievements), and past tense verbs for past position (e.g "Led, Developed, Executed")
• Balance the skills you demonstrate as much as possible. For instance, notice how some of the bullet points above are about leadership while others are about problem-solving.
• Focus on the results of what you did and quantify them as much as possible to highlight the tangible contributions you have made. Ex-Google SVP Lazlo Bock talks about a common method for doing this that you might find helpful, called the “X, Y, Z” formula : “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]”.

5.2.4 Extracurricular achievements

One of the most common mistakes we come across in resumes we receive from candidates is the absence of an extracurricular achievements section. 

This section is particularly important if you have limited work experience as it's a great way to show leadership, entrepreneurial drive and personal impact. It's also a great way to compensate for average university grades or a non-target school. 

The way you write about your extracurricular experiences should follow the same format and tips as for the Work experience section. Here are different types of activities you could write about (not exhaustive):

• University clubs: if you have held a position in a university club (e.g. Consulting club, Finance club, Theatre club, etc.) you should definitely mention it. The "higher" the position the better, as it could highlight your ability to lead and manage others.
• Sports team: if you were part of a university sports team, you should definitely highlight that along with the achievements of the team. This will highlight your ability to work with others.
• Side businesses: if you have set up a side business with friends at university, you should mention it along with the number of customers/revenue you have managed to achieve. This will show your entrepreneurial drive.
• Writing/arts: if you enjoy writing or any other art form and have published your work or have online followers, you should also not hesitate to mention it. This will help showcase your creativity.

5.2.5 Additional skills

Finally, you should focus the last section of your resume on any additional skills you have. 

Our recommendation here is to keep things simple and to list any foreign languages, programming languages, software experience, or project management tools that you know. 

For each language, you should specify your level of proficiency. For the technical skills, you can also specify your level (experienced or expert).

5.3 Ask for feedback

Now that you have put together the first version of your resume, your next step is to ask for feedback to improve it. If you know any consultants or former consultants, don’t hesitate to reach out to them to get their thoughts. 

But failing that, asking for feedback from peers is also helpful. They'll be able to cast a fresh eye on your resume and flag typos, inconsistencies, or sentences that they find difficult to understand. 

5.4 Proofread - multiple times! 

This is the last step of crafting your CV and it is crucial. You should never skip this part.

When you become a consultant, one of your deliverables will be PowerPoint decks and Word documents. You’ll be expected to proofread these multiple times before handing them over to clients. So even as an applicant, you’ll be expected to do the same with your resume.

In particular, make sure to triple-check your contact details. You don’t want to miss out on an interview because of a typo in your email address.

6. Your consulting resume checklist ↑

Almost ready to send your resume? Use this checklist to make sure you’re following the best practices we’ve recommended above.

You should be answering “Yes” to every question.

• Have you demonstrated the 4 key consultant traits? (problem-solving, personal impact, entrepreneurial drive, teamwork and leadership)
• Is it just one page?
• Is the formatting 100% consistent and neat?
• Is there enough white space to breathe?

Personal Information

• Have you triple-checked to make sure your contact details are correct?

Work Experience

• Have you talked about your ACTIONS rather than your responsibilities?
• Have you QUANTIFIED the impact of your actions?
• Have you got the tenses correct?
• If you graduated >5 years ago, are your examples post-university?
• Do your extracurricular activities make you stand out in some way?
• Have you listed any languages you speak and your level of proficiency?
• Have you added any additional skills or competencies that could add value?

Proofreading and feedback

• Have you proofread it since you last edited it?
• Have you gotten any feedback on your resume and updated it?
• Have you saved it as a PDF to make sure it displays correctly on all devices?

Did you say “Yes” to every question in the checklist? Well done! If you’ve used all the tips in this article, then your resume should be in good condition and will give you a fighting chance of getting that interview.

7. Is your consulting resume truly outstanding? ↑

The guide above as well as our consulting cover letter guide should go a long way in helping you craft documents that will get you interviews.

But to get your consulting resume from "fine" to "outstanding" usually requires feedback from someone who really knows their stuff - as in an ex-recruiter or manager at one of the MBB firms.

By signing up to our resume service , you can choose from our team of management consultant coaches like David , Htoo , Tiago ,  Shankar , and recruiting experts like Candace and Cody . They will spend an hour going over your CV with you and give you feedback on how to immediately improve your resume, including what experience to focus on, how to optimize your phrasing, formatting, etc.

Check it out and increase your chances of getting an interview at a top firm!

Related articles:

Career in Consulting

Consulting Cover Letter: a step-by-step guide (2024)

With a great CV, your consulting cover letter can open the door to scoring an interview and, ultimately, getting a job in consulting.

But it’s not that easy: less than 30% of applicants receive a call for an interview.

Thus, in this article, I’ll show how to write a persuasive and customized cover letter to move your job application to the top of the pile .

In particular, I’ll show you the exact steps you need to take to write a consulting cover letter that:

• Set you apart from the crowd
• Express your motivation to join the firm you are applying to

But first, let me introduce you to Paul.

Paul is a recent graduate from a business school in France.

He did two internships (one in Marketing and one in Finance).

Paul used the tips from this article to learn how to write a cover letter for a consulting job and landed job interviews in ALL the consulting firms he applied to . 

At the end of this article, you’ll see Paul’s consulting cover letters for McKinsey, the Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, and Deloitte.

Also, you’ll find a consulting cover letter template to help you craft your consulting cover letters. 

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Get the latest data about salaries in consulting, what is a cover letter.

Along with your resume, a cover letter is an important part of your consulting job application.

It is intended to provide a more in-depth introduction, enhancing the information in the resume or CV, outlining pertinent qualifications, and showcasing some of your most noteworthy achievements.

A strong cover letter convinces the employer that your skills align with their requirements and demonstrates the following:

• Justifications for your qualifications for the job.
• An explanation of why you want to work as a consultant.
• Justifications for why you would be a good fit for their particular company.
• Your capacity for producing engaging, clear, and concise writing.

A strong cover letter should ultimately focus on “why should we hire you” and “what’s in it for us.”.

And for that reason, it’s worthwhile to take the time to write a strong cover letter .

What recruiters want

The consulting recruiting process is costly for top consulting firms. 

Do the math:

Multiply the time spent by a management consultant giving interviews by their fees.

You’d get an insanely high number.

Therefore, management consulting firms want to invite only candidates with a serious chance of making it.

To do so, they use two selection criteria. 

Selection criteria 1: do you have the right consulting skills?

ALL consulting firms essentially look for these 4 skills when screening your application documents (resume and consulting cover letter):

• Problem-solving : As a Consultant, you will be essentially a problem-solver. Thus, Consulting firms will assess the range of problems you had to solve and the impact you had.
• Leadership abilities : As a Consultant, you must get things done while working with others. Thus, Consulting firms will assess your ability to work in teams and create a climate where people are motivated to do their best.
• Personal impact : As a Consultant, you will need to gain the support and commitment of others. Thus, Consulting firms will assess your ability to develop relationships with people and influence someone to act upon your recommendation.
• Drive : As a Consultant, you will work on new consulting projects every 3x months. Thus, Consulting firms will assess how comfortable you are with new situations and your ability to perform outside your comfort zone.

Selection criteria 2: are you a good fit?

A career in consulting is not for everyone.

It’s demanding. 

And it can sometimes be stressful.

Therefore, management consulting firms want to assess your motivation to pursue a career in consulting.

And more specifically, a career in consulting in their firm.

To do so, they’ll assess if you’ve done your homework.

For instance, do you understand what consultants do?

And do you understand what makes them different from other management consulting firms?  

Related articles :

Your answer to the question Tell me about yourself must be consistent with the information on your resume.

Check this article explaining how to craft a superior answer to the question “ Tell me about yourself .” 

Also, read this article to learn more about the recruiting process at McKinsey.

Besides, I’ve written articles about the recruiting process at Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company .

How to write a consulting cover letter: your step-by-step guide

Good consulting cover letters tend to follow a tried-and-trusted format. 

One that’s set up in a way that lets you show off your accomplishments and what are your motivations to join this consulting firm in particular .

If you’re worried about sticking to the same format as everyone else somehow stopping you from standing out, don’t.

It’s what you say (or don’t say) that counts. 

Let’s break down how your cover should look.

Step 1: Add the header (mandatory)

To begin with, start your cover letter with the following information:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Date of sending

In addition, you can include the company’s name and address to which you’re applying.

Step 2: include the greetings (mandatory)

The greeting needs to display the right level of respect and professionalism.

If you have a name for the contact person, use it.

If you don’t know the contact person’s name, you can begin your cover letter with “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

Do your best to find out to whom you’re writing to.

Look at the company website or LinkedIn page to see if you can track down the hiring manager’s name. 

Or  take the initiative to call the company.

Someone on the other end of the phone might be happy to tell you who does the hiring.

Step 3: write the opening paragraph (mandatory)

If you were to meet a hiring manager in person, you wouldn’t just throw your resume in their face and walk away, would you?

I’d like you’d offer a handshake and tell them who you are first.

This paragraph  is like a good handshake.

You want your first paragraph to be strong, succinct and make a great first impression .

In your opening paragraph , start strong:  show enthusiasm and show you want to come in there and make a contribution .

Hook the reader early with a first paragraph that makes them want to read.

You can use these guiding questions to craft the first paragraph of your cover letter .

• Which position are you applying to ? Consultant in the BCG Munich office 
• What are your personal qualities? Results-driven and eager to learn. 
• Who are you? What are your past and present experiences? A final-year student at HEC Paris who completed two internships in the Banking and Technology sectors
• What is your most impressive achievement? Experience in working with C-level management teams  

This is an important cover letter tip: 

Mention the position you’re applying to (Business Analyst, Senior Consultant, Associate, etc.)

Step 4: explain why you are a good candidate (mandatory)

Your management consulting cover letter must say why you’re the right person for the job. 

This is one of the most important consulting cover letter tips.

To do so,  you must  highlight the specific skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for consulting .

For instance, here is how Paul has highlighted his skills in his consulting cover letter.

Here are the four steps followed by Paul to show off his skills in his cover letter :

• Step 4.1: List your most impressive achievements and write a great resume.
• Step 4.2: Select three skills you want to emphasize.
• Step 4.3: Select three achievements that best illustrate how you used those three skills.
• Step 4.4: Highlight these three achievements in your cover letter. But don’t repeat your resume word by word; show your personality instead.

Step 4.1: List Your Most Impressive Achievements And Write A Great Resume

In the “Consulting resume: 11 steps to get interviews in 2023”   article, you have the exact steps you need to take to:

• List your most impressive achievements
• Summarize these achievements into compelling action statements in your resume
• Format your resume with a ready-to-use template
• Get inspired with (literally) hundreds of examples
• And much more…

So, start your cover letter… by writing your consulting resume !

Step 4.2: Select The 3 Skills You Want To Emphasize In Your Consulting Cover Letter

Choose the three skills you want to emphasize in your cover letter . 

For instance :

• Problem-solving : how you used your analytical and quantitative skills to solve a problem and had an impact
• Leadership skills : how you got something done while working with someone or a group of people
• Personal impact : how you influenced people to act upon your recommendations

Another cover letter tip:

Do NOT put three achievements in your cover letter that illustrate the same skills twice or thrice.  

If you do so, you will undermine your profile…

And lose an opportunity to show that you are a well-rounded professional .

Step 4.3: Select The 3 Achievements That Best Illustrate How You Used Those Skills

You now must have a great list of achievements and an outstanding resume. 

Now, it’s time to select which achievements you will highlight in your cover letter.

To do so, select which achievements best illustrate your experience in three chosen skills . 

To do so, choose three achievements you feel are your strong suits to focus on.

For instance, you can ask yourself :

• Which achievements are you most proud of?
• Where did you have the biggest impact?
• Which achievements were the most challenging?

Step 4.4: Highlight These 3 Achievements In Your Cover Letter. But Do NOT Repeat Your CV Word-By-Word; Show Your Personality Instead

Finally, highlight these three achievements in your cover letter. 

However,  your cover letter shouldn’t just rehash your resume . 

In other words, do not repeat your word-by-word resume.

Because this will give a weak impression.

Instead, use  the letter to tell a brief story , such as “my toughest sale” or “my biggest technical challenge,” and show your personality . 

That’s  how you will stand out from the rest .

It will make a HUGE difference if you show your personality when highlighting your achievements in your cover letter.

The secret to showing your personality is to tell the readers WHY these achievements matter to YOU .

For instance:

• WHY this achievement was important for you
• WHY this achievement, in particular, was challenging
• Why did you enjoy this achievement 
• WHY this achievement left a positive (or negative) mark on you 

Do you see the pattern here?

To make it personal, explain WHY a particular achievement is important for YOU .

There are four  reasons why a particular achievement can be  important for you : 

• You had to manage (or you were part of a team managing) something critical for your company. In other words, you had a huge impact.
• The situation you had to handle was very challenging : you had to deal with a tight schedule, you had few resources to reach your objectives, you were in the middle of stakeholders who were not aligned, etc. In other words, it was tough ! Think of these long hours spent at the office 🙂
• You had to do something for the first time : present something in front of the leadership team for the first time, face a specific problem for the first time, have to handle a crisis for the first time, have to manage a team for the first time, etc. In other words, you learned a lot. 
• Or a combination of these 3 things : critical x challenging x first time (I can imagine how stressful it was!!)

So, to conclude, when describing your achievements in your cover letter, make sure to cover these four critical elements:

• The problem you had to solve
• How you solve this problem (your action)
• The outcome (the results of your action)
• Why was this achievement important for you

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Step 5: explain why you want to join this firm (mandatory)

A well-written cover letter highlights your credentials for a job and proves your desire to work for this company in particular. 

The golden rule of applying to a job is showing interest in the firm you apply to . 

Explaining your motivation to join a company is what is most important for recruiters, according to a recent survey of 200 recruiters.

Why is explaining your motivations to join this specific firm so important?

Think of it from the consulting firm’s perspective: they want to hire someone who will positively impact the firm and its customers and someone who is a good fit.

The hiring process is very costly and time-consuming. 

Therefore, they don’t want to hire someone who will leave the company after 12 months .

Being specific when you express your motivations to join a consultancy is key.

It won’t impress the readers if you give general reasons that can be applied to other consultancies. 

Even worse,  it shows that you haven’t done your homework and haven’t done any research about the company .

Thus, do not write, “I want to work for McKinsey because it’s the market leader” or “I want to join the Boston Consulting Group because I’ll be able to work with smart people.” 

Note:  I’ll show you how to use these two (good) reasons yet sound specific . 

So, now let’s see  how to express your motivation to join this firm in particular . 

To begin with, let’s see what Paul wrote in his McKinsey cover letter.

Paul gave two reasons why he is interested in joining McKinsey & Company. 

Each of his reasons follows this formula :

Step 5.1: Start By Giving A Reason Why You Want To Join This Company

You want to join a top consulting firm for many good reasons .

So if you are asking yourself, “Why McKinsey?”, “Why BCG?”, “Why Bain?”, “Why Deloitte?”, Why Accenture?” or “Why any other firms,” you should consider the following reasons :

• The company’s culture : you think you’ll be a good fit with the company’s culture. For instance, the culture of excellence at McKinsey. Or the collaborative culture at Bain & Company. Another example: the diversity of profiles promoted by the Boston Consulting Group
• Its reputation : you want to work for a company recognized as a global market leader, such as McKinsey & Company. Or do you want to join a well-known advisor in a specific geography like Bain & Company in the Middle East?
• The company’s specialization : you can have a special interest in a topic or an industry and join a firm with expertise in that topic or industry. For instance, Simon Kucher & Partners for pricing, or Bain & Company for Private Equity. Or maybe McKinsey is the only consulting firm working with public entities in your region 
• Smart colleagues : you want to be inspired and work with people inside and outside the firm who will challenge your work and how you think. For instance, McKinsey is obsessed with working mainly at the CEO level
• The company’s size : you want to join a new (or a small) office and be part of the teams that will help develop that office. Or the office can be well established, but you want to join a newly created practice and want to help develop it
• The company’s international footprint : you want to have the opportunity to work in an international environment or to be relocated to an office abroad in a couple of years. For instance, some consulting firms have international staffing rules, whereas others offer only local staffing opportunities
• The career progression opportunity : you want to join a company that invests a significant amount each year to train their consultants. For instance, Bain is known to put a high value on training their employees

So, think of “Why do you want to work for this company?” or “What attracts you to work for this company?” and check which reasons make sense.

However,  if your cover letter mentions some of the previous reasons without any more explanations, your answer will sound very generic  (and weak).

For instance, if you write, “I want to work for a prestigious company and be surrounded by smart colleagues,” this can be applied to most consulting firms. 

That’s  why you need to add evidence that you know what you are discussing .

In other words, you must show that you did your homework and researched the company. 

That’s step 5.2.

Step 5.2: Then, Back-Up Your Reason With A Persuasive Source Of Information

To make your answer convincing, you must back up your reason with a good source of information.

Thus, you will show the readers that you are not applying to this firm for random but thoughtful reasons. 

To do so, there are three persuasive sources of information that you should consider::

• Consultants who work at the company you are applying to . Your interviewer wants to know if you have done your homework and have talked to anyone from the office you are applying to, or at least from the firm in general. In other words, networking is super important.
• Reports produced by the company, such as the McKinsey Quarterly or the BCG Insight. Tell them you read and found interesting a report or an article about a topic you like.
• Alumni with whom you have worked with . If you had the opportunity to work with alumni from the firm you are applying to, mention it. This shows that you have an idea of what working there looks like.

To conclude, back up the reasons why you want to join a company with one of these sources of information, and you’ll show the readers that you researched the company and thus demonstrate real interest .

Step 5.3: Finally, Explain Why This Reason Is Important For You

Now, it’s time to make it personal. 

As for your skills  (read again writing tip 6, “Show your personality in your cover letter” if necessary),  explain why this particular reason is important for you .

For instance, you can explain why working for a global market leader such as McKinsey is important:

You are excited by the opportunity to work on impactful projects. 

Another example:

You can explain why the focus of Bain & Company on having an impact is important for you: you need to have tangible results from your work.

Step 5.4: Repeat The Previous Steps 1 Or 2 Times

Try to give a minimum of 2 (and a maximum of 3) reasons why you want to join a particular firm.

Therefore, repeat the previous steps 1 or 2 times.

Step 6: say why you want to pursue a career in consulting (optional)

This section is optional. 

90% of the time, your management consulting cover letter should NOT include this section .

If you need to include this section, keep it short. 

My recommendation is a maximum of 3 or 4 lines.

And to do so, the process is simple.

First, select one or two reasons you want to pursue a career in consulting.

Here are some examples of reasons to pursue a career in consulting:  

Second, explain why this reason is important for you .

For instance, why is having an impact important for you?

Or why is working in an environment with a strong learning curve important for you?

Again, keep your answers concise.

Step 7: end with a call to action (mandatory)

This is your call to action.

Thank the readers for their time, and let them know you’re excited to be interviewed.

I would welcome the chance to discuss further your expectations and how my analytical, leadership, and communication skills can bring value to McKinsey.

Always be polite and respectful in your close.

Let them know how eager you are to be interviewed, but never make demands.

Step 8: add your consulting cover letter signature

Sign off your letter with a “Best” or “Best regards” (remember to include a comma), followed by your name.

You can use other phrases like “Yours sincerely,” “Kind regards,” or “Best wishes,” but “Best” or “Best regards” are the safest options.

Step 9: proofread and check typos

Now it’s time to polish your consulting cover letter to ensure it stands out.

Like your resume,  your cover letter is one of the few things in your life that needs to be perfect .

Thus, you must put the same attention to detail in your cover letter as Consultants do with their slide deck presentations.

In other words, perfection is the minimum standard your cover letter must pass to keep it out of the rejection pile.

Pay close attention to the following areas to make your cover letter bulletproof.

Imagine finding out that your application — the one you spent hours working on — was dismissed because of a few small spelling or grammar errors. 

That would be tough to take.

But it happens.

Hiring managers must review hundreds of resumes and cover letters.

And typos are one of the easiest ways to narrow applicants down . 

So, double or triple-check your cover letter.

When you’ve done that, have someone else read over it.

#2: Formatting Errors

Large blocks of text are hard work on the eyes, especially on a screen. 

Therefore, keep sentences short and limit paragraphs to three or four sentences.

Moreover, I recommend using bullet points when describing your most critical skills and achievements . 

Another thing to remember is that your cover letter and resume will be read together, so the two should be consistent in how they look. 

Thus, match the style of your cover letter to your consulting resume .

To help you, I have put a cover letter template at the end of this article.

In addition, you can find a resume template in this article .

#3: Any Trace of Copy And Paste

The  “I am writing to apply for the role of  [job]  at  [company] ”  example from a previous cover letter is classic copy-and-paste.

Anything non-specific or generic immediately has the hiring manager wondering how many other people you’ve tried to impress with your robotic writing . 

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use copy-and-paste templates.

It just means you shouldn’t make it obvious that you do.

#4: Too Many Words

According to a survey by Saddleback College, almost 70% of employers want a cover letter to be less than one page.

24% say that the shorter, the better.

Generally, your consulting cover letter should be less than 500 words and fit on a single page . 

Let me repeat because it’s important:

Your consulting cover letter must be on one page.

#5: File Name And Type

First, use the PDF format when submitting your cover letter to a consulting firm unless otherwise specified by the company or recruiter.

Besides, when assigning a file name to your cover letter, include your first and last name along with the name of the company you’re applying to in the name of the file, like “Sébastien Ritter Cover Letter McKinsey.”

Step 10: get your cover letter reviewed by an expert

To ensure your consulting cover letter is error-free, share it (with this article 😉) with your friends and ask for feedback.

But do not ask all your friends.

Instead, focus on these three people: a grammar champion, an HR person (preferably in the consulting industry, but non-consulting HR is fine, too), and a Consultant.

Step 11: complement your cover letter with a great CV

I recommend focusing your time and energy on your consulting resume before writing your cover letter. 

Because recruiters say they spend a maximum of 60 seconds deciding whether a candidate should be invited for an interview, they probably start by figuring out whether you have the skillset and education required for the job.

And that’s the purpose of the resume .

For instance, I recommend spending 80% of your time writing your CV and 20% writing your cover letter.  

Check this article that will help you craft your CV .

You’ll find a step-by-step guide, templates, and examples to help you craft a perfect consulting resume. 

My best consulting cover letter tips

In 2023, I analyzed 147 management consulting cover letters . 

As a result, here are my 7 best cover letter tips. 

And here is the best part:

You’ll also learn the most common mistakes to avoid at all costs. 

Consulting cover letter tip 1: Personalize your letter for each firm

Never send a generic cover letter.

This implies that you must create a new one for each firm.

Consulting cover letter tip 2: Simplify your letter

Clarify and condense your message.

Using complicated words and sentences would almost certainly fail to convey your intentions to the company, and the person reading the letter probably won’t bother with the rest of your application.

Consulting cover letter tip 3: Be specific when needed

Make sure to quantify your accomplishments.

For instance, elaborate on your marketing expertise in your cover letter by stating that you increased revenue to $10,000 while bringing in 200 more clients monthly.

Having specific personal information can help you stand out from other applicants.

Consulting cover letter tip 4: Omit unnecessary details

Let’s state the obvious:

You don’t need to mention your graphic design experience.

Personal information like accomplishments in leisure activities, interests, and hobbies are best left out.

Consulting cover letter tip 5: Show Your Value

When applying for consulting positions, it’s a common error for candidates to focus only on their individual accomplishments.

Cover letters with many “me memes” are frequently read by recruiters.

This means that rather than emphasizing how they can contribute to the company (and eventually become partners), many applicants concentrate on how they will personally benefit from the position in question.

In your cover letter, highlight how your skills will help the company.

Consulting cover letter tip 6: Remember that spelling counts

Grammar and spelling mistakes can indicate that you neglected to proofread your own letter.

Additionally, be consistent—do not represent a dash with “—” in one location and “–” in another.

Consulting cover letter tip 7: Give Yourself Time to Write a Quality Letter

A strong consulting cover letter takes time to write, just like consulting resumes do.

It’s important to consider your accomplishments and what sets you apart from others if you want to be successful.

Think twice before assuming you can create a quality cover letter in a single evening.

It necessitates numerous revisions, careful rereading, and prompt feedback.

Additionally, you must ensure that the cover letter complements your resume flawlessly and elaborates on your impressive abilities and experiences.

Four consulting cover letter examples

In the next 4 sections, you can find sample cover letters for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain & Company.

McKinsey cover letter (Undergraduate)

Now, you can see a first consulting cover letter sample.

That’s the McKinsey cover letter used by Paul. 

Please note that this Junior Consultant cover letter (or a cover letter for the Associate Consultant position) can also work for other positions. 

BCG cover letter (experienced hire)

Here is now a BCG cover letter from an experienced hire.  

Bain cover letter (Undergraduate)

Here is now a Bain & Company cover letter from an undergraduate student.  

Bonus: McKinsey cover letter from FirmLearning

Here is another McKinsey cover letter example from the YouTube channel Firm learning:

Do you want more consulting cover letter samples?

Then sign up for our free training !

In this free training, you’ll find consulting cover letter samples and tips on acing your consulting interviews at top management consulting firms.

And you’ll improve your problem-solving skills!

Consulting cover letter templates

Do not reinvent the wheel.

Thus, you can download free consulting cover letter Word or PDF templates to fasten the writing process .

These detailed templates will help you correctly outline your management consulting cover letter.

You can use these templates to apply to any top-tier consulting firms, including the following:

• Bain & Company
• Oliver Wyman
• Roland Berger
• Deloitte Monitor
• Strategy&
• E&Y Parthenon
• And many more.

If you need help writing your resume, these templates will help you.

Here is the Word template .

And here is the PDF template .

Besides, check this article to download consulting resume templates and examples.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a cover letter be.

Aim at 2–4 paragraphs within one page.

Do I need a cover letter?

I ALWAYS recommend adding a cover letter to your application .

Because a well-written cover letter will always distinguish your application.

If a resume shows your  Skills and Accomplishments, a consulting cover letter must show your Personality and Motivation.

In other words, a great cover letter is your chance to say something about yourself that you can not put in your resume.

And for securing your dream consulting job, any advantage you can gain over other candidates to land an interview is worth taking.

A good consulting cover letter is one such advantage.

This article helps showcase your personality and motivation in your consulting cover letter.

Also, here is what recruiters say will get an application rejected (source: careerbuilder.com ):

Not submitting a consulting cover letter is a risk of rejection . 

How to organize your consulting cover letter sections?

Short answer: the order of the sections does not matter much.

For instance, you can organize your management consulting cover letter like this:

• Why consulting

Or you can organize the sections of your management cover letter differently. 

There is no one-size-fits-all management consulting cover letter winning order.

Consulting cover letter: final words

I hope you found this new guide to writing a persuasive, customized cover letter for consulting jobs helpful. 

Now I’d like to hear what you have to say:

Which tip from today’s post was the most helpful for you?

Is it how to show your personality?

Or maybe it is how to express your motivation for a particular firm.

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

P.S. Are you looking for help?

If you want a team of experts by your side throughout the entire consulting recruitment process, check if we would be a good fit by clicking here .

Besides, check our clients’ success stories .

We’ve helped hundreds of candidates get offers at top consulting firms around the globe. 

The best part?

Those candidates had various backgrounds: MBAs, Engineers, PhDs, experienced professionals, etc.

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18 thoughts on “Consulting Cover Letter: a step-by-step guide (2024)”

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The only useful and structured cover letter writing article on the whole internet!

Happy that you enjoyed the article, Anthony 🙂

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I didnt realise how much i need this article, till i read it . Truly helpful , Thanks Sebastien 🙂

Thanks! glad you found it helpful!

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Brilliant brilliant work, Sebastien! Thank you very much. The best I have come across so far.

Thank you very much Samuel!

Wow, this paragraph is pleasant, my sister is analyzing such things, so I am going to inform her.

Great article to read, all the tips are great….

Thanks! I’m glad you like it

Ththank you very much for the article which was very interesting, just like the one about the CV!

However, I was wondering if following this structure in 3 adjectives and form could not be penalizing since many people have already followed your article?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hi Thomas. Thank you for your comment, and I’m glad you’ve liked this article! Regarding your question, besides the structure described in this article, the content (the reasons why you are interested in a firm and why these reasons are important for you) will make your CL unique. Hope this helps, Sébastien

I never write comments like this on the internet but felt compelled to express my gratitude. This, and the resume writing article, are the most thoughtful and helpful guides I have ever read on this topic. Although I am a teacher in England (not an American consultant!) I found all the advice to be completely transferrable and have done a major overhaul on my CV. Thank you for being so clear and thorough in your advice – I have shared it with my colleagues and will continue to spread the word to anyone who needs CV writing advice in any profession.

Thank you Emily for the nice comment

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Consulting cover letter

, McKinsey & Co., Associate Published: August 10, 2022 Context | Cover letter tips | Key things to avoid | Example consulting cover letters What is a consulting cover letter? (Top) By this point, you have likely written a cover letter or two and definitely reused a cover letter by quickly changing the name of the company and the role, so you may be wondering what really differentiates a consulting cover letter and if you even need to do anything differently. Hopefully by the end of this article we will convince you to relook at your cover letter before you submit and maybe even help improve your other cover letters as well! You will likely see the cover letter option when you go to submit your consulting application. Whether or not it is optional will depend on the firm, office, and the level you are applying from. For example, MBB North American offices for the MBA no longer require it and McKinsey is clear in stating that they will not read cover letters at all. However, MBB European offices highly recommend them and Asian offices require them. Regardless of the options you are given, whether to write a letter is also highly dependent on your profile as well. Is the cover letter really optional? The cover letter is a chance to cover things that are not obvious in your resume and to provide more context to your background and experiences. When you have the optional cover letter, the some of the questions to consider when deciding whether to write it include: Are there unexplained gaps in work experience on your resume? Is your career path considered non-traditional? Does the location that you have selected make sense given your living or past work experience? Have you applied in the past? Are there any red flags on things like GPA? If these apply to you, then the cover letter is a good time to provide more details and explanations. A cover letter is likely less influential when you have: a linear career path within the industry are applying from a structured school based program and have already done the networking, or been told by a recruiter to submit your application. Whether you should write a cover letter or not does not make you a better or worse candidate, it is just a matter of how much more context you should provide for your application. Tips to help start working on your cover letter (Top) Tip #1 : Follow the standard format- The standard format includes the heading, closing, and paragraph structure that you see across cover letters. Standardized formatting allows the recruiter to quickly review your cover letter and is the easiest to create in Word. Don’t fix what isn’t broken! Tip #2 : Start by covering the basics- Your first paragraph should state who you are, what office you are applying to, where in your education or working experience you are at, the title/role you are applying for. This will give the recruiter a sense of how to place you. Tip #3 : Hone in on the key things that you plan to get across- Rather than trying to cover every part of your work experience, select one or two narratives or two or three strengths that you find the most valuable to cover. (Sample strengths include: analytical skills, collaborative work experience; sample narratives include: why pivoting to consulting, why a particular office). Focusing on your key points will allow you the word count to bring up things outside of your resume and make it more clear why you are writing a cover letter. Tip #4 : Write a paragraph for each narrative or strength and then combine- By writing out your paragraphs for each of the points you are trying to get across and then bringing them together, this will ensure that each paragraph has a clear point. Tip #5 : Research the language each firm uses- While there is a lot of jargon and language that isn’t very differentiated, there are differences between firms and the way they describe the skill sets they are looking for. E.g. Mckinsey is focused on personal impact when it comes to working effectively with people versus Bain would describe that more as one team. You can read the websites and other firm content to see how they describe themselves. Tip #6 : Read to delete- After you write your cover letter, go back through and delete the fluffy language to ensure that it’s to the point and concise. 💡 Shameless plug: Our consulting interview prep can help build your skills Key things to avoid (Top) Regurgitating your resume- The cover letter is not your resume in paragraph format. Instead, the cover letter should add more context to your resume and mediate for things that are not addressed or you don’t have the opportunity to explain in your resume. Focusing on breadth over depth- Trying to cover too many attributes will make it confusing for the reader and hard to determine what your actual strengths or focal points are. Verbose language about how great a company is- The firm knows you are interested, it’s why you are applying. You can talk specifically about projects you are interested in or people you have spoken to, but do not spend paragraphs listing out the awards or recognition a company has received unless it is relevant to you. (E.g. Do not include sentences on how the company is the best or largest in the world. However, it is okay to highlight awards on best work place or diversity if gender or racial representation is important to you.) Going over one page- Stick to the classic formatting discussed above but also make sure your cover letter is under one page. This is a time to highlight key attributes, going over one page will seem like you are over justifying things. Recruiters also only have limited time to review. Consulting cover letter examples (Top) Sample consulting cover letter formatted for relevant strengths. August 1, 2022 To Whom It May Concern: I'm an MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management recruiting for the New York office. While my background may be less traditional to the consulting recruiting path, I believe that there are many skills I’ve acquired along the way in my career in tech that are transferable to client and management consulting work. Subsequently, I am excited to make the transition and apply for an Associate position at Bain. The three skills I think best highlight the connections between my tech background and consulting work include: Entrepreneurial drive - Early in my career, I worked at a growing startup where I wore many hats. Because we were still looking for product market fit, I needed to be open to new ideas and approaches even if they didn’t fit my model of what the consumer wanted. Additionally, to test and learn in an affordable and efficient way, I was constantly challenged to come up with innovative ways to iterate quickly. I believe that these skills will be important in client work where you are often asked to take feedback and quickly implement it. Problem solving ability- As a leader on a strategy team, part of my job was to take ideas from senior leaders where there were often no clear answers and provide a recommendation. In each project, I was tasked with coming up with a framework, laying out assumptions, identifying critical data, conducting analysis, and presenting our ideas. While it may require more external engagement, I can see a situation where each of these steps are mirrored in a consulting project. Analytical mindset- Today, there is plenty of readily available data from internal and externally sources. However, it is important to think through what is the most relevant and how to apply it. Across my roles in tech, I worked with business intelligence and data science teams to identify the best data sets or create data lakes to start tracking the information we needed. By leading with an analytical approach, I often pushed us to start first with data rather than our initial reactions. There are many more skills relevant to the consultant role but if given the chance and the support of my team at Bain, I am confident that I will be able to continue to grow in the areas where I am less experienced. Thank you for the time and consideration, Jessie Wang Sample consulting cover letter addressing a key topic such as why you’ve selected a particular location I'm a MBA candidate at University of Chicago Booth School of Business and am planning on recruiting for the McKinsey London office. While I understand that cover letters were not required, I wanted to set aside some space to explain why I am interested in recruiting for London specifically and what I hope to bring to contribute to future teams. My initial interest in the London office was primarily personal as it is geographically closer to my partner’s family and is the largest English speaking office in EMEA. However, as I began to learn more about the office both from recruiting events and the consultants in the office, I quickly realized that London is also a strong professional fit for me as well. Over the summer, I had many opportunities to learn more about living and working in the UK as an American and the international working culture of the office from my informal conversations with consultants. When I worked in Beijing, I felt constrained by the homogeneity of the working culture and these conversations helped me to see the range of opportunities available to consultants to connect with and work across other offices both in EMEA and Israel which share a staffing pool. Then, with official recruiting I was able to meet individuals specifically in digital and TMT where I plan to focus. These conversations helped me understand the scope of London’s digital practice and the continued investment in the space. I know what I’ve learned about the London office is just the tip of the iceberg as the office covers a wide range of industries and practices but I am looking forward to being able to explore the different career paths and build my own McKinsey experience. If given the chance, I am confident that I will be able to contribute professionally and quickly adapt to working life in London given my past experience living and working abroad. Write a cover letter but make it highly effective and specific to your application. Do not have a generic cover letter, it is a waste of time for the person reviewing it especially since the cover letter is optional in certain cases and it will also not help your application. Specific applications will highlight your narrative, demonstrate firm specific language, and limit what is covered in your resume. When thinking about what you want to cover in your strengths or your narrative, think about questions such as: What are the things that you are worried about in your resume or application? How can you strengthen your case? What are the key principles you most align with? What does your resume not show about you? Focus on a few key points and how they relate to the firm or the work that you will do in consulting and don’t try to cover too much. Read this next: Consulting Getting Started Guide Full cases from RocketBlocks Consulting career path, compensation and responsibilities Partner compensation at MBB Applying from a non-target school Experienced hire recruiting process Switching from PhD into consulting Recruiting: office selection considerations Consulting internships at MBB Consulting re-application Consulting exit opportunities Associate Consultant salaries Consulting international recruiting Consulting resume McKinsey consultant salary See all RocketBlocks posts . Get interview insights in your inbox: New mock interviews, mini-lessons, and career tactics. 1x per week. Written by the Experts of RocketBlocks. P.S. Are you preparing for consulting interviews? Real interview drills. Sample answers from ex-McKinsey, BCG and Bain consultants. Plus technique overviews and premium 1-on-1 Expert coaching. Launch your career. For schools Expert program Testimonials Free resources Behavioral guide Consulting guide Product management guide Product marketing guide Strategy & BizOps guide Consulting case book Interview prep Product management Product marketing Strategy & Biz Ops Resume advice Part I: Master resume Part II: Customization Focus: PM resumes Focus: Consulting resumes Focus: BizOps resumes Recently Active Top Discussions Best Content By Industry Investment Banking Private Equity Hedge Funds Real Estate Venture Capital Asset Management Equity Research Investing, Markets Forum Business School Fashion Advice Management Consulting Forum CO consulting cover letter Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share via Email I need some tips on writing a good cover letter. I was able to secure a great FT position at a BB with a ton of analytic work and valuations... however I've always wanted to get into consulting and am gearing for it. Do we NEED to have a cover letter? I got a good amount of interviews from places without a cover letter... but after getting a year at my current job under my belt.. I'm thinking I should write one. Thanks in advance! any websites I can look to for cover letters? besides management consulted looking4anything: any websites I can look to for cover letters? besides management consulted The management consulted one is really helpful though. Any particular reason that you don't want to use that one? Or do you just want another resource to use in conjunction with it? Either way, the management consulted one has really served me well this recruitment season. This is pretty good: caseinterview Dot com/consulting-cover-letter Cover letter is one of the most important parts of your application in consulting unlike IB . Definitely check out management consulted and refer to their samples and formats, its a great starting point. I'm still inclined to think it varies by company, by office, by whatever. Case in point: a girl I knew applied for summer internships with MBB , wrote " McKinsey " in her cover letter to BCG and she still got a BCG internship interview - and they weren't even recruiting on-campus. Better safe than sorry though, when it comes to cover letters. It is not a matter of "needing" a cover letter; you should want one. No matter how stellar you look in resume format the cover letter allows you to add color to those achievements and capabilities by expounding on a couple choice experiences. Plus, you get to show your communication chops which will be especially important for consulting, since you are client-facing earlier on in your career. I'd view the cover letter more as another opportunity to shed light on your qualifications as opposed to some nuisance that you "need" to complete. thanks for the replies guys. Will get started! Disagree that cover letter matters so much in consulting. I've spoken to many entry-level consultants who pick first round interviewees at different firms ( McKinsey , Bain, BCG , Deloitte , LEK, etc.), and they all agree that they don't read most of the cover letters (~80/90%). Most of the decisions are made based simply on resumes. Yes, you need to submit a cover letter, but it's not an integral part of your application. They said that they don't have enough time to go through all the cover letters. Maybe things are different for experienced hires. But for undergraduate recruiting, cover letters don't make much of a difference. Accusamus velit consequatur odio hic. Est vitae iste non omnis qui molestiae. At laborum et molestiae pariatur. Quaerat est animi quas. Quis eveniet velit amet cumque recusandae aliquid quas. Rem inventore qui architecto et temporibus nam nobis. Doloribus aliquam harum possimus culpa et aperiam. Tempore alias similique ut modi quis neque. Laboriosam debitis sapiente laudantium numquam velit perspiciatis doloribus. See All Comments - 100% Free WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value) or Unlock with your social account... Want to Vote on this Content?! No WSO Credits? Already a member? Login Trending Content +32 Recently interview invites came out for an MBB firm (it is obvious which). I did not recieve one. I don't have any huge red flags (target, 3.7+, two internships, involved in clubs) and was a little confused. Beforehand, I talked to the school lead and showed my resume, and he said it was good and w… ">Asking MBB consultant why rejected? 12 2d +13 Current consulting intern at B4 non-strategy in NYC. I feel like despite attending a target school, getting decent grades (3.75), and being involved extracurricularly/professionally, I’m not in the spot I want to be exiting college. I feel if I were to work for a “better” firm/practice I would perf… ">Am I screwed? 3 2d +11 I'm a U.S M.D that recently received a full-time offer from BCG through their Bridge to BCG program, also interviewing soon with McKinsey. For any physicians that joined MBB or MBBers that have worked with physicians on your team, do you feel that the M.D degree helps the person in any way (staffin… ">Does having an M.D degree help in MBB? 2 2d +9 I made a very similar post under VC so I’m going to make this one shorter: Pretty much l'm a WashU student studying biochemistry and minoring in business interested in entering the business side of biotech. I'm looking for a good timeline to follow after undergrad including when… ">Washu student path into biotech 3 6d +6 Hi I recently graduated from a target school and accepted my return offer to work in private credit. Definitely enjoyed the job last summer but after some self reflection, consulting is more aligned with what I’d like to do long term. So I was wondering what the recruiting process would be l… ">Applying for MBB as a Recent Grad 3 21h +6 Thread for C1 SC S25—starting this because the application opened today. Interestingly, the only location available for the position is their headquarters: McLean, VA. ">Capital One Strategy Consulting Intern 2025 7 12m +4 Is there a difference at all? Knew there was some reorg happening but not sure where everything currently stands. ">Difference In Monitor Deloitte And Deloitte S&A? 2 1d Career Resources Financial Modeling Resources Excel Resources Download Templates Library Salaries by Industry Investment Banking Interview Prep Private Equity Interview Prep Hedge Fund Interview Prep Consulting Case Interview Prep Resume Reviews by Professionals Mock Interviews with Pros WSO Company Database WSO Virtual Bootcamps Aug 10 Financial Modeling & Valuation Bootcamp Aug 10 - 11 10:00AM EDT Aug 17 Investment Banking Interview Bootcamp 10:00AM EDT Aug 24 Foundations Bootcamp 10:00AM EDT Sep 07 Venture Capital Bootcamp 10:00AM EDT Sep 14 Financial Modeling & Valuation Bootcamp Sep 14 - 15 10:00AM EDT Career Advancement Opportunities August 2024 Consulting Overall Employee Satisfaction Professional Growth Opportunities Total Avg Compensation “... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...” Leaderboard Silver Banana Banana Points 1 99.2 2 99.0 3 99.0 4 99.0 5 98.9 6 98.9 7 98.9 8 98.9 9 98.9 10 98.8 “... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...” Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling. or Want to Sign up with your social account? Cover Letter at MBB for multiple offices I am intending to send out my application at MBB but as you know that one can choose up to three offices during the application process. I have my three offices in my mind but the dilemma I am facing is about the cover letter. In general, I always make the cover letter very specific to the location/office however in this case as I am intending to select up to three offices, I dont know how shall I manage that in the cover letter? I cannot attach three cover letters as that is for sure. Shall I make my cover letter very generic without mentioning any office or shall i make it for my first priority office? Any help and advice on this matter will be of great help! Many thanks! David Overview of answers Date ascending Date descending good question! it honestly depends on which is your priority. If you want to go in a specific office, I suggest you to contact through likedin of friends a consultant/ manager of that specific office. Asking some questions to get to know the environment better and the asking him/her to submit your CV. In this case prepare a tailored cover letter (even if not indispensable) if you are ok with one of the 3 offices. It may be not a your choice at the end... you can send online and preparing a generic cover letter... more focused on why you want to work for the Firm instead of the specific office. Do not send 3 covers my suggestion would be, anycase, to try first through Likedin/ friends... it’s a good way to also better understand the office and it’s specific culture. hope this can help, Hi! In a cover letter, I would always recommend to rather emphasize what YOU bring to the table, as opposed to rationalizing why a particular office fits your personal needs. This then also has the advantage that you avoid the dilemma outlined above. Cheers, Sidi Consensus here is that cover letters do not matter much, and may not even be looked at. My personal opinion is that within the cover letter, the "why this location" is just about the least important That being said, I'd focus mostly on the 'why this company', and on the top location choice if you feel you need to go a little deeper.. Hi Anonymous! you can phrase your cover letter in a generic way that does not cover the specific offices you are applying to - under one condition: Your CV shows that you know the cities/countries you are applying to and can make a credible case that you're getting yourself into, when moving to the office location. If that is not the case - e.g. you are applying to a place that you have not lived in before, because your partner found a job there - then the cover letter becomes critiacally important and you need to explain why you are applying to that particular place. Even more so, if you are applying to a different country, not just a different city. Hope this helps! If you are not intended to go to the specific office I would recommend structuring your letter in a generic way about it but to focus more on the reasons why you fit the company and what you can give them. Also, as already mentioned, the cover letter is not a thing of great importance. Related Products Break into consulting - strategy consulting firm's all-in-one by alexandre. Created by 2 BCG consultants Covers most strategy consulting firms Get you to the backstage of the strategy world Break Into Consulting - Industry Overviews by Alexandre 15+ industries covered Practical tips to master any industry Break Into Consulting - Frameworks I wish I knew by Alexandre Covers most interview cases Practical tips to crack the case Crafting Your Entry-Level Cover Letter by Udayan Paragraph-by-paragraph explanations for entry-level positions Format tips with a real-world example Created by Recruitment Coach and Ex-McKinsey Interviewer Udayan Integrated FIT Guide for MBB by Clara Combines key concepts review and a hands-on methodology Contains printable worksheets to prepare your stories Includes 20+ real examples and 50+ practice questions Related Articles Consulting cover letter, investment banking cover letter, related cases. Bain Case: Old Winery MBB Final Round Case - Smart Education MBB Case: COVID-19 Vaccine Espresso, Whatelse? Bain 1st round case – blissottica, similar questions, should i apply in this september or wait, mckinsey solve, mbb hiring in a germany. Select category General Feedback Case Interview Preparation Technical Problems Get the Reddit app Got questions about McKinsey, BCG, Bain? Get them answered here! *Resources in Pinned Posts* - Prep for McKinsey, BCG, Bain interviews and win job offers from top management & strategy consulting firms Resources: McKinsey Problem Solving Games, BCG Casey Chatbot, BCG Pymetrics Test, Bain Aptitude test, McKinsey Case Interview, BCG Case Interview, Bain Case Interview, Personal Interview, Resume & Cover Letter Templates. Case Structuring Help. Case Bank/Free* Cases. Free* Games, Free* Case content! McKinsey, BCG, Bain Resume & Cover letter templates MBB firms have standard Resume & Cover letter templates. These have not changed in years. You can find Free McKinsey, BCG, Bain Resume & Cover Letter templates here The goal of these documents is to get selected for screening tests. MBBs will select you if you meet two conditions You can demonstrate impact & potential (Resume) You can demonstrate your interest in them (Cover letter) Let's discuss in detail: Resume: Showcase your Impact & Potential Respect their time - Keep Resume 1-2 pages long Show your impact & future potential - School - Brand, Grades, Activities in school (leadership, sports, volunteering) Financial - $ saved, $ earned for the company. At Least part of the team & contributions Non-Financial - Leadership in projects, potential, extra activities at work GMAT/GRE/SAT scores - it helps you stand out Volunteering Hobbies - Traveling, Music, Arts, etc Do show your interest in business - Remember you ARE trying to go into Management consulting (AKA business management consulting ) that deals with three core variables Cover letter: Demonstrate your interest in them (Aka love letter to MBB firms) Tell them you know their firm & location What research you have done Who did you network with (Alumni, LinkedIn, Case partners who got in..) Love the city, etc Just keep it simple. By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy . Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account. Enter a 6-digit backup code Create your username and password. Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it. Reset your password Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password Check your inbox An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account Choose a Reddit account to continue 213 IMAGES How To Write A Cover Letter For A Consulting Firm 6+ Consulting Cover Letter Examples (with In-Depth Guidance) Consulting Cover Letter Template 5 Consulting Cover Letter Examples Created for 2024 5 Consulting Cover Letter Examples Created for 2024 MBA Cover Letter Examples VIDEO Shake It Hip Hop Dance Song #shorts #hector #rhymes #dancemusic #kidsfun 1 Timothy 5:17-25 ABC Phonics Song How I went from Employee to Entrepreneur HD Eiffel 65 Alif ba ta for kids আলিফ বা তা ছা Arbi Bornomala আরবি হরফ শিক্ষা Learn Arabic Alphabet #shorts Ep-18 COMMENTS Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.) Below is an anonymised cover letter from a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. So you can trust that this template works. The image here highlights the different sections of the cover letter, but we'll dive deeper into the text later, and you can also get a downloadable copy below. Free download of the consulting cover ... Write a Management Consulting Cover Letter that Land Interviews Central paragraph 1 - As explained above, find what the firm is looking for in consultants from their Careers page and dedicate one paragraph to each characteristic. Central paragraph 2 - Create a story from your experience that shows you have that characteristic. You should include 3-4 stories in your cover letter. Consulting Cover Letter: What You Actually Need to Know Consulting cover letters are not the place for creative, colorful designs. Format your letters in a conservative, text-dense, black-and-white fashion - that's how actual consultants do it. ... McKinsey having the largest support network for consultants, or Bain being the frattiest among MBB consulting firms. Non-unique reasons, such as ... Consulting Cover Letter: Ultimate Guide The management consulting cover letter serves as an unofficial writing test. As a consultant, communicating effectively over email and through presentations is a crucial skill. In addition, the consulting cover letter also provides you with the opportunity to showcase your storytelling ability. The goal of the cover letter isn't to ... BCG Cover Letter: Our Step-by-Step Guide + Examples Tailor Your BCG Cover Letter to What BCG is Looking for. Step 1: Find out who to address your cover letter to at BCG. It may differ between offices, depending on size, but you can usually find the key recruiting contact on the career page or by searching on LinkedIn. It may be a recruiter who handles recruiting for your university across ... Consulting Cover Letter Guide 1. Understanding Consulting Cover Letters. To write a good one we will first need to understand the demands it must meet. That is to say, we need to understand the function of the cover letter and precisely how it will be assessed. Let's start by going through some important points: 1.1. How to Write the Perfect Consulting Cover Letter ... This should include the name and address of the consulting firm or the specific individual you're addressing. Date: Place the date on the right-hand side of the page. Remember to spell out the month for clarity (e.g., "1 April 2024" in the UK format or "April 1, 2024" in the US format). MBB Consulting Firms: What's Different About the Big 3 MBB is a shorthand way to refer to the "Big 3" strategy consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company. These firms are the most prestigious consulting firms because they hire top graduates of highly competitive undergraduate and M.B.A. programs, solve the toughest business problems (industry disruption ... Writing your MBB cover letter MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) usually require a cover letter. They'll read it immediately after reading your CV, provided your CV has captured the recruiter's attention. Whether you are writing a BCG, Bain or McKinsey cover letter, these tips all apply!The basicsOne page, font 11 minimum, 3-5 paragraphes.Cover letters require some work. Consulting Cover Letter Writing Tips (+ Top Consulting Firms Cover Writing a great cover letter for a consulting job is not enough. Your consulting cover letter must be exquisite and unique because consulting jobs are highly competitive, especially if you want to land your dream MBB job. McKinsey even mentions that a candidate's CV and cover letter should be compelling and thoughtful to be easily distinguished on their recruitment page. BCG Cover Letter: Your Guide to Success BCG Cover Letter: Your Guide to Success. Updated May 15, 2024. Whether you're a student or an established professional, the path to joining the ranks of top consulting firms like Boston Consulting Group will include a compelling cover letter. Candidates should aim to provide a concise, customized cover letter for each major consulting firm ... How to start writing a Cover Letter for MBB? Step 4 - Tweak the language of each paragraph to fit the company's website, application posting, etc. I.e. Curiosity might become passion for learning. Then, of course, you need an intro paragraph summarizing your interest + reasons why as well as a closing paragraph doing the same with new language. And viola! Consulting Cover Letter Tips, Hacks, Requirements & Examples The top result will normally be a page on that company's website where they list out their company values. 2. Jot down their top 3 to 4 company values. 3. Add each value to your cover letter as a bolded bullet point and, right after (or under) it, tell a to-the-point story of how you delivered on exactly that value. 4. Your Consulting Resume (McKinsey examples, Bain, BCG) See an example cover letter that got offers from all the MBB firms, download a free template, and write your consulting cover letter with our step-by-step tips. Read more . Consulting Mar 13, 2020. Written case interviews: the ultimate guide. McKinsey Cover Letter The McKinsey cover letter is a 1-page document that explains your story, serves as a writing sample, and why you want to work at the firm. As a rule of thumb, a knockout cover letter will not guarantee an interview at consulting firms. However, a strong cover letter can move the needle on borderline candidates. Consulting Cover Letter: a step-by-step guide (2024) Step 8: add your consulting cover letter signature. Sign off your letter with a "Best" or "Best regards" (remember to include a comma), followed by your name. You can use other phrases like "Yours sincerely," "Kind regards," or "Best wishes," but "Best" or "Best regards" are the safest options. Consulting cover letter This will give the recruiter a sense of how to place you. Tip #3: Hone in on the key things that you plan to get across- Rather than trying to cover every part of your work experience, select one or two narratives or two or three strengths that you find the most valuable to cover. (Sample strengths include: analytical skills, collaborative work ... Consulting Cover Letter Bain Follow a Structure. Now isn't the time for a creative approach. Your cover letter should be four to five paragraphs long and include: an introduction, your first "hero story", your second "hero story", and a conclusion. Consulting firms are expecting these sections. If you decide to break the box, you will likely just hurt your chances. Do you have any examples for a successful MBB cover letter? Brand / positioning / market share in the region. More clients / projects / expertise in the industry you are interested in. More well-known stories of success in your city. Your friends working there. Your interactions with the other consultants before the interview. Your prior experience of working with the Firm on a client side. McKinsey Cover Letter Sample & Guide (10+ Examples) You need a McKinsey cover letter that's as polished as a freshly-minted consultant's business card. One that'll make the interviewer eager to add you to their all-star team. This guide will show you: How to write a cover letter for McKinsey to be in the one percent. A McKinsey cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 other cover letters. consulting cover letter Disagree that cover letter matters so much in consulting. I've spoken to many entry-level consultants who pick first round interviewees at different firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, LEK, etc.), and they all agree that they don't read most of the cover letters (~80/90%).Most of the decisions are made based simply on resumes. Cover Letter at MBB for multiple offices McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 350+ candidates secure MBB offers. Hi! In a cover letter, I would always recommend to rather emphasize what YOU bring to the table, as opposed to rationalizing why a particular office fits your personal needs. This then also has the advantage that you avoid the ... McKinsey, BCG, Bain Resume & Cover letter templates MBB firms have standard Resume & Cover letter templates. These have not changed in years. You can find Free McKinsey, BCG, Bain Resume & Cover Letter templates here. The goal of these documents is to get selected for screening tests. MBBs will select you if you meet two conditions. 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