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5 Consulting Cover Letter Examples Created for 2024

• Consulting Cover Letter
• Consulting Internship
• Consulting Firm
• Leasing Consulting
• Management Consulting
• Write Your Consulting Cover Letter

Strategic analysis is your strong suit, shining brightly as you guide businesses to enhance their operations and spending. When they turn to you, they find not just support, but a strategic ally dedicated to improving their overall performance.

But are you capable of writing a great cover letter to complement your consulting resume as you pursue your next business venture? 

While you may be great at helping businesses improve their processes, the hiring process can still seem like a daunting task. You can use our consulting cover letter examples and free cover letter generator as effective templates for success.

Consulting Cover Letter Example

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Why this cover letter works

• Perhaps you increased team productivity. Or maybe you reduced a project’s completion time.
• These specific experiences underscore your ability to deliver significant value in a consultant role.

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Consulting Internship Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your consulting internship cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue San Antonio, TX 76208 (123) 456-7890

December 20, 2023

Carter Lopez Deloitte 123 Fictional Lane Atlanta, GA 30301

Dear Mr. Lopez:

As a budding professional with a strong technical background, Deloitte’s drive to be the best in all endeavors, particularly in creating impactful and sustainable change, has encouraged me to harness such abilities and positively contribute to the consulting world. Working at Deloitte is quite the ideal setting for me to contribute my analytical and technical expertise as a dependable team member.

During my trainee stint at Agility Recovery, I had the opportunity to acquire practical experience through a project in statistical modeling and database management for a retail client. By introducing automated data cleaning and analysis tools, I managed to reduce the time taken for monthly data processing by 38%. This project was particularly challenging as it involved working with unstructured data from various sources but it was also immensely rewarding as it greatly enhanced the company’s overall data analysis capabilities.

Another exciting project that not only tested my technical abilities but also developed my skills in IT system integration was during my internship at FieldEdge. I was part of a team that merged disparate databases containing student academic and extracurricular records into a unified system.

Furthermore, my academic projects at the Georgia Institute of Technology also allowed me to extensively understand data analysis and statistical modeling. A project that particularly stood out was when I developed a predictive model for a local startup that grew forecast accuracy by 29%.

What excites me most about the opportunity at Deloitte is the prospect of working in a dynamic, challenging environment where I can apply my analytical skills to a diverse range of client issues. I look forward to learning from the best in the industry.

Isla Martinez

• The candidate isn’t just listing down skills and achievements but is specifically going deep into why they admire Deloitte. When you showcase your passion for the company, it helps the hiring managers sense your level of enthusiasm and commitment.

Consulting Firm Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your consulting firm cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue New Orleans, LA 70112 (123) 456-7890

December 18, 2023

Caleb Turner Peter Mayer Advertising 123 Fictional Lane New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Mr. Turner,

From the moment I began diving into the digital marketing world, I’ve been enthralled by the power of storytelling and design in shaping consumer experiences. The prospect of bringing my expertise to Peter Mayer Advertising excites me the most as I admire your agency’s innovative approach to marketing solutions.

In my most recent role at Good Work Marketing, I was the lead for our digital marketing strategy, where our team achieved remarkable results including a 38% boost in online engagement and a 22% rise in lead generation within one year. My hands-on experience in content marketing, coupled with my proficiency in graphic design, allowed me to create visually appealing content that resonated with our target audience, prompting a 47% growth in our social media following.

As a social media manager at Touchpoint Digital Marketing, I successfully managed and executed campaigns that were primarily focused on optimizing ad spend and targeting that achieved a 26% higher click-through rate compared to previous campaigns.

At Firefly Digital, I was part of a dynamic team where I was involved in brainstorming sessions for digital marketing strategies. This experience provided me with a broad overview of digital marketing tactics and their impact on business growth.

The opportunity to join Peter Mayer Advertising as a Marketing Consultant is not just a career move for me, but a chance to be part of a team that I deeply respect and admire. I’m hopeful for the opportunity to meet and discuss the potential impact we can achieve together at Peter Mayer Advertising.

Jacob Cohen

• Right from the beginning, the candidate has displayed their sprouting interest in the marketing field. Not just this, the conclusion also delves deep into the candidate’s drive to become a part of the team. Highlighting these aspects shows the company that you’re genuinely interested in the position.

Leasing Consulting Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your leasing consulting cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Jacksonville, FL 76208 (123) 456-7890

July 20, 2023

Lucas Bernard Camden Property Trust Hiring Manager 123 Fictional Lane Jacksonville, FL 76208

Dear Mr. Bernard:

Inspired by Camden Property Trust’s mission to provide living excellence to its residents, I find myself eager to utilize my skills to foster a sense of community and streamline property management processes as your new leasing consultant. The opportunity to grow alongside residents, understanding their needs and ensuring their satisfaction, is an experience I deeply value.

In the past five years, I have honed my skills within the property management sector, utilizing my background in marketing and advertising to reach potential residents across multiple platforms, including social media and property listing sites. At my previous company, Greystar Real Estate Partners, I leveraged platforms such as Yardi, AppFolio, and Rent Manager to optimize operations.

I developed successful marketing campaigns that increased property visibility, leading to a 23% increase in lease inquiries. My hands-on approach to tenant relationship management and maintenance coordination led to a 34% improvement in tenant satisfaction ratings. I also contributed to achieving a consistently high occupancy rate of 96%, contributing significantly to the company’s overall profitability.

My versatile experience in both the B2B and B2C domains of property management gives me a unique understanding of the industry. This, combined with my skills in advertising and marketing, sets me up perfectly to help Camden Property Trust continue its tradition of excellence.

I’m thrilled at the prospect of joining the Camden Property Trust family and fostering a deeper connection with residents. I appreciate your consideration and am looking forward to exploring this opportunity further. Thank you for your time.

Tomás Romero

Enclosures: Resume 2 letters of recommendation Certified Leasing Professional (CLP) Real Estate Salesperson license

• Detail instances when you successfully matched clients to their ideal property. You’ll want to emphasize your customer service skills and attention to detail here.
• Whatever you do, make sure your cover letter is all about how much you thrive in a client-centric environment.

Management Consulting Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your management consulting cover letter!

Louis Thomas Deloitte Hiring Manager 123 Fictional Lane San Antonio, TX 76208

Dear Mr. Thomas:

I am writing to express my strong interest in the management consultant role at Deloitte. With over 10 years of experience in risk management I am confident in my ability to drive success for your clients and contribute to the growth of Deloitte.

Throughout my career, I have successfully advised organizations on risk management strategies and facilitated strategic planning initiatives that have led to significant business improvements. By leveraging my skills in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation, I have enabled organizations to achieve sustainable growth.

In my previous role as a management consultant at OCI Group, I led a team in developing a comprehensive risk management framework for a multinational corporation. By identifying and addressing critical risks, we helped the client reduce overall risk exposure by 23%, resulting in enhanced operational resilience and a 17% increase in shareholder value.

I also have a strong background in strategic planning. With a deep understanding of tools like Tableau and Power BI, I can analyze and present data-driven insights. And by leveraging these tools, I have enabled clients to gain a holistic view of their business performance and optimize operational processes.

I am excited about the opportunity to join Deloitte’s esteemed team of management consultants and contribute to the success of your clients. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of speaking with you soon.

Renata Díaz

• Be as detailed as possible and cite examples like cutting costs, driving business growth, etc. This will show hiring managers you know what you’re talking about, and can analyze complex scenarios and devise effective solutions.
• Use measurable metrics here. Statistics are your friend and add validity to your claims.

Related cover letter examples

• Project Manager
• Human Resources
• Business Analyst

Writing an Impressive Consulting Cover Letter

When preparing business strategies, you know it’s essential to consider their target audiences, products, and operational needs. You also need to take their needs into account when applying for the consulting position in the first place. 

Use your analytical abilities to review the job description and understand each company’s reason for seeking the help of a consultant. Then focus your cover letter on the specifics they want to achieve, like generating conversions or improving margins. 

Tips for the opening and greeting of your consulting cover letter

Just like a good opening in sales copy can help improve conversion rates, a good opener for a cover letter can help grab a hiring manager’s attention. 

You understand that addressing someone by name helps improve success rates in business correspondence. Review the job description and company website to find a specific hiring manager you can address in the greeting; otherwise, try LinkedIn. Failing that, simply leading with “Dear [name of business] hiring staff” works well too. 

Your opening paragraph should also show your connection to the company mission and why you’re the best fit for the role. For example, if the company sells vegan products, you could connect to your passion for plant-based diets and how you want to use your supply chain management skills to help consumers get the best foods for their needs. 

The example below is a good start, however, it doesn’t address a specific person or connect with the company or position enough.

Needs more detail!

Dear hiring manager,

This job caught my attention. I have a background in sales, which will help me improve your marketing processes even further.

Instead, aim for an opener that shows true enthusiasm for the position, like the one below that showcases the applicant’s desire to help residents and streamline property management processes. 

Show a connection with the job! 

Dear Mr. Bernard,

Structuring the body content of your consulting cover letter

The body of your consulting cover letter is where you can let your specific credentials and past experiences shine. 

Leaning on metrics in this section and your key skills is a great way to stand out. For instance, improving ROI or reducing shipping times through production process improvement. 

Take a look at the body paragraph below, which does an excellent job of connecting to the role’s needs by citing past work achievements in reducing risk exposure and increasing shareholder value.

A solid evidence-based body paragraph

Ending and signing off on your consulting cover letter

When drawing up a business proposal, you understand that a strong closing can make the deal go through. Do the same with your consulting cover letter to end on a great note. 

Ideally, you want to connect with the company’s primary needs and mission. For instance, improving financial systems to help reduce costs and ensure all payments are made on time so they can continue providing great manufacturing services to their clients. 

It’s also an excellent idea to end with a call to action like “I look forward to hearing from you soon” to give off the impression you’re highly interested in the position. 

What you shouldn’t do is close out without a call to action or reference back to the consulting position, like the example below.

This won’t land you the interview! 

Thank you for considering my application for the consulting position. Have a great day.

Nick Richardson

Instead, refer back to why you want the role, such as the example below that references how the candidate is excited about the role and the opportunity to connect and help with the resident’s needs. 

A strong closer related to the job’s needs! 

It can be tempting to include bullet points that emphasize essential information like you would in a business presentation. However, think of your cover letter as formal business correspondence, where bullet points wouldn’t be appropriate in this instance. 

If you don’t have much consulting experience, relate to your previous achievements in your field. For instance, if you’re applying to be an IT consultant, you could explain how your IT asset management strategies helped companies reduce equipment malfunctions by 45% using streamlined maintenance schedules. 

Your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than one page, so listing all your skills isn’t the best idea. Instead, focus on the company’s primary needs for why they’re bringing on a consultant, such as improving their supply chain management strategies to get products in customers’ hands quicker after placing online orders. 

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

14 consultant cover letters.

Approved by real hiring managers, these Consultant cover letters have been proven to get people hired in 2024. A hiring manager explains why.

Table of contents

• Senior Consultant
• Strategy Consultant
• Management Consultant
• Alternative introductions for your cover letter
• Consultant resume examples

Consultant Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works in 2024, quantifiable achievement.

By highlighting a specific, quantifiable accomplishment, this sentence shows the value the candidate has brought to previous roles and demonstrates their potential impact at Unilever.

Industry Knowledge

This sentence emphasizes the candidate's well-rounded background in the consumer goods industry, showcasing their domain knowledge and making them a stronger fit for the role.

Passion for Change

Sharing a genuine passion for driving positive change, the candidate connects on a deeper level with Unilever's mission, showing they're not just applying to any company.

Gracious and Confident

Expressing gratitude for consideration while maintaining confidence in their qualifications strikes the perfect balance in the closing sentence, leaving a positive impression.

Showcase your accomplishments

It's crucial to highlight significant projects you've led that are relevant to the role you're seeking. In this case, improving efficiency at a previous job directly ties into the job description of a Consultant. By mentioning a specific quantitative achievement (increasing efficiency by 25%), you're demonstrating not only your capability, but also the impact you can deliver.

Detail your team leadership experience

As a Consultant, you'll likely be managing projects and potentially leading teams. Sharing concrete examples of when you've successfully done this in the past reassures me that you're capable of handling the responsibilities that come with the role. If I have no doubts about your leadership abilities, that's one less hurdle for you in the hiring process.

Showcase concrete achievements

In your cover letter, it's essential to go beyond generic statements about your abilities. By talking about a specific project where you increased operational efficiency by 30% in six months, you're showing your capability to yield quantifiable results. This gives recruiters solid evidence of your value, and makes clear what you could bring to the table.

Highlight relevant skills

When you mention your ability to see the bigger picture and keep an eye on the granular details, you are pinpointing a key skill for consultants. This skill isn't just important, it's crucial. Highlighting it shows you understand the role and have what it takes to succeed.

Align your values

When you talk about your belief in mentorship and lifelong learning, you're not just sharing personal values, you're aligning yourself with the company's culture. Showing this alignment signals to recruiters that you're not just qualified, but that you would fit in and be a valuable addition to the team.

Express genuine interest

By emphasizing your interest in McKinsey's focus on digital transformation, you're not just ticking a box. You're showing genuine interest in an area that's vital to the company, which tells me you're likely to stay engaged and motivated in your role.

Communicate confidence and ambition

Your closing sentence conveys confidence, ambition, and a clear sense of what you can offer. This leaves a strong impression and makes it clear that you're serious about contributing and growing within the firm.

Show your problem-solving impact as a consultant

Sharing a story of overcoming a challenging project demonstrates your ability to tackle difficult tasks and think creatively, which is key for a consultant role.

Quantify your achievements in consulting

Mentioning specific results, like a 25% increase in sales productivity, showcases your direct impact on business success, making you a more attractive candidate.

Express enthusiasm for diverse client experiences

Highlighting your eagerness to work with various clients indicates your adaptability and lifelong learning attitude, traits highly valued in consulting.

Relate your skills to the company's mission

Connecting your expertise to the company's goals shows you understand what they need and believe you can help achieve it, strengthening your application.

Close with a forward-looking statement

Ending your letter by expressing anticipation for a discussion about your contribution emphasizes your eagerness and proactive approach.

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Connect with the company’s mission

Expressing how a company's innovative approach excites you demonstrates alignment with their values and goals, a key factor in standing out as a candidate.

Detail your impactful achievements

Sharing specific examples of how you led teams to achieve measurable outcomes illustrates your leadership and strategic thinking capabilities, both critical skills in consulting.

Showcase your collaboration and impact

Emphasizing your ability to work with diverse teams on complex challenges underlines your capability to navigate the multifaceted nature of consulting projects, making you a valuable team player.

Reveal your aspiration to learn and grow

Highlighting your excitement to learn from industry leaders at the company signifies your commitment to professional growth and continuous improvement, traits that are highly regarded in the consulting industry.

Thank the employer and show enthusiasm for next steps

Ending your cover letter with a polite thank you and an expression of eagerness to discuss your role further demonstrates professionalism and a forward-thinking mindset.

Show your enthusiasm for the consultant position

Talking about your excitement for the role and the company helps me see that you have a genuine interest in what we do.

Highlight your results as a consultant

When you share specific outcomes from your past work, it gives me a clear picture of what you can achieve.

Connect your skills to the job needs

Explaining how your abilities match the role makes it easier for me to see you as a good fit for our team.

Express your desire to grow

Your willingness to learn and develop professionally tells me you're looking to invest in your future here.

Close with a strong call to action

Asking to discuss your application further shows initiative and eagerness to engage with us.

Senior Consultant Cover Letter Example

Align your passions with the job.

It's refreshing to see candidates who are genuinely passionate about the work they do. When you make it clear that you're passionate about the same things the company values, it signals that you'll be a good cultural fit. This is especially important in a Senior Consultant role where you'll be interacting with various stakeholders and representing the company's brand and values.

Highlight major accomplishments

When you're gunning for a senior role, it's important to showcase significant achievements that align with the responsibilities of the job you're applying for. Providing a tangible metric of success (a 30% improvement in efficiency) from a past project not only demonstrates your ability to deliver results, but also gives me a sense of the scale and impact of your work.

Express eagerness for leadership

One thing that sets senior roles apart is the level of responsibility and leadership required. By expressing excitement about leading a team and leveraging your expertise to drive results, you're showing me you're ready to step up and take ownership, which is exactly what I need in a Senior Consultant.

Highlight your alignment with the company's values

Starting with your admiration for the company’s approach to challenges demonstrates your compatibility and enthusiasm for their methods, a good sign for a senior consultant.

Demonstrate impact through strategic initiatives

Detailing a specific project where you drove significant improvements shows your ability to lead and execute strategies that benefit the company, crucial for a senior role.

Stress the importance of teamwork and trust

Emphasizing your commitment to building relationships points to your leadership and interpersonal skills, vital for managing projects and teams effectively.

Show excitement about joining the team

Conveying genuine excitement to work with industry leaders underlines your respect for the company and eagerness to contribute, appealing to hiring managers.

Invite further discussion in a professional manner

Politely requesting an opportunity to discuss your potential contributions demonstrates professionalism and a readiness to take the next step.

Demonstrate your admiration for the senior consultant role

Starting with why you respect the company sets a positive tone and shows alignment with our values.

Share impactful achievements

Detailing significant successes helps me understand the scope and scale of your contributions in previous roles.

Showcase your problem-solving skills

Describing how you tackle challenges reassures me of your capability to handle complex issues.

Emphasize teamwork and excellence

Mentioning your enthusiasm for working with talented colleagues highlights your collaborative spirit and ambition.

Invite further discussion

Ending with a request for a conversation demonstrates proactive interest and readiness to contribute to our team.

Strategy Consultant Cover Letter Example

Illustrate the broader impact of your work.

When you detail how your innovative thinking led to unprecedented growth, you paint a picture of your wider impact. This goes beyond the immediate task at hand and shows that you understand the broader significance of your role. This kind of strategic thinking is highly attractive to employers.

Connect with the company's mission

By expressing resonance with Deloitte's commitment to societal impact, you are showing a deeper connection with the company's mission. This not only shows that you're in tune with their values, but also that you're passionate about contributing to them.

Express eagerness to contribute

Your eagerness to bring your experience to a firm that leads in business innovation and societal impact shows your motivation. This is not just about getting a job, but about making a difference. This type of commitment will certainly make you stand out.

Identify with the company culture

When you mention the company's culture of mentorship and professional development, you are showing that you've done your homework. You're also signaling that you value growth and learning, traits that are highly prized in any industry.

Emphasize your alignment with the team's mission

Your closing statement is not just a hopeful sign-off, it's a powerful assertion of your alignment with the team's mission. This shows a level of commitment and ambition that goes beyond the typical job seeker.

Highlight admiration for the company's impact

When you express respect for the company’s achievements, it shows that you share similar values and are enthusiastic about contributing to their ongoing success.

Show your strategy consultant achievements

Describing specific outcomes from your past work, like increased efficiency or cost savings, proves your ability to tackle complex problems and deliver tangible benefits.

Express eagerness for diverse projects

Showing excitement about working across different industries demonstrates your passion for learning and adaptability, which are crucial traits for a strategy consultant.

Appreciate the recruiter’s time

Acknowledging the effort taken to review your application adds a personal touch to your cover letter, making it more memorable.

Convey genuine interest in the company’s mission

When you mention your alignment with the company’s goals, it highlights your motivation and potential to be an engaged and committed team member.

Show your admiration for the firm

Starting your cover letter by expressing respect and admiration for the company sets a positive tone and shows that you have a genuine interest in becoming part of their team. It's a good way to connect from the start.

Highlight your achievements with numbers

When you talk about your past work, including specific numbers, like a 30% increase or $10 million in savings, it makes your achievements more real and impressive. It clearly shows the impact you can have as a strategy consultant.

Link your skills to the job needs

By listing skills that are key for a strategy consultant role and linking them to your past successes, you make it easy for me to see why you would be a good fit for the job. It's important to connect your abilities directly to what the job will involve.

Share your passion for industry trends

Talking about your eagerness to keep up with industry trends and work with knowledgeable colleagues shows that you're not just looking for any job, but that you're committed to growing and contributing in a meaningful way.

End with a strong call to action

Ending your letter by expressing eagerness to discuss how you can add value makes a strong closing. It shifts the focus from what you've done to what you can do for the company, inviting the reader to imagine you in the role.

Management Consultant Cover Letter Example

Show your passion for management consulting.

Sharing your long-term interest in how businesses operate gives us a glimpse into your genuine enthusiasm for the consulting world. This passion is a strong foundation for a successful career in consulting.

Demonstrate success in diverse industries

When you talk about your experience across different sectors, it highlights your flexibility and ability to adapt to various business environments. This is crucial in consulting, where understanding different industry dynamics can set you apart.

Highlight innovative problem-solving skills

Your willingness to question the norm and your commitment to data-driven decisions showcase a balance of creativity and analytical strength, both highly valued in the management consulting field.

Express eagerness to join the team

By stating your excitement to contribute to the firm's legacy, you not only show that you've done your homework but also that you're motivated to be a part of their success story. This eagerness can be very appealing to prospective employers.

Illustrate your understanding of the company's impact

Your closing remarks about helping the company maintain its excellence in management consulting reflect a deep understanding of the firm's goals and the role you wish to play in achieving them.

Admire the firm’s innovative leadership

Starting with admiration for the company's leadership in innovation sets a positive tone and aligns your interest with their core values.

Demonstrate impactful management consulting experience

Providing examples of your leadership in significant projects with quantifiable outcomes illustrates your capability to drive efficiency and savings, marking you as a valuable asset.

Highlight unique problem-solving skills

Emphasizing your mix of analytical and creative skills showcases your versatility and ability to devise solutions that are both effective and innovative.

Thank recruiters for their consideration

Expressing gratitude for the reviewers' time reflects your professionalism and helps foster a positive connection.

Express enthusiasm for contributing to the firm’s goals

Showing eagerness to support the company’s mission demonstrates your commitment and investment in their success, making you a compelling candidate.

Alternative Introductions

If you're struggling to start your cover letter, here are 6 different variations that have worked for others, along with why they worked. Use them as inspiration for your introductory paragraph.

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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

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 Example

Cover letter examples, cover letter guidelines, how to format an consulting cover letter, cover letter header, cover letter header examples for consulting, how to make your cover letter header stand out:, cover letter greeting, cover letter greeting examples for consulting, best cover letter greetings:, cover letter introduction, cover letter intro examples for consulting, how to make your cover letter intro stand out:, cover letter body, cover letter body examples for consulting, how to make your cover letter body stand out:, cover letter closing, cover letter closing paragraph examples for consulting, how to close your cover letter in a memorable way:, pair your cover letter with a foundational resume, key cover letter faqs for consulting.

Start your consulting cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly, if possible. If you don't know their name, use a professional greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager". Then, introduce yourself and state the consulting position you're applying for. Mention where you found the job posting or who referred you, if applicable. Immediately express your enthusiasm for the role and briefly highlight your most relevant skills or experiences. This will grab the reader's attention and make them want to learn more about you. Remember, the opening of your cover letter sets the tone for the rest of the document, so it's important to make it engaging and tailored to the consulting industry.

The best way for consultings to end a cover letter is by summarizing their interest in the role, reiterating their qualifications, and expressing enthusiasm for a potential interview. A strong closing statement might be: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique skills and experiences to your team and am confident that I can contribute to your company's success. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my application with you further." This ending is effective as it reaffirms the candidate's interest, highlights their confidence in their abilities, and proactively suggests the next step in the hiring process. Always remember to end with a professional sign-off like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name.

Consultants should include the following elements in a cover letter: 1. Contact Information: At the top of the cover letter, consultants should include their full name, address, phone number, and email address. 2. Formal Salutation: Address the hiring manager or recruiter directly if possible. If their name is not available, use a formal greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager." 3. Introduction: This section should briefly introduce who you are, the position you're applying for, and where you found the job listing. 4. Body of the Letter: This is where consultants should highlight their relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. It's important to provide specific examples that demonstrate how you've used your consulting skills in past roles. This could include problem-solving, strategic planning, project management, or communication skills. 5. Company Knowledge: Show that you've done your research about the company and express why you're interested in working there. This could include mentioning a recent project the company has worked on, their company values, or how you align with their mission. 6. Closing Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the role and the value you can bring to the company. Also, mention your availability for an interview and your eagerness to further discuss your qualifications. 7. Professional Closing: End the letter professionally with a closing such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your full name. 8. Postscript: This is optional, but a P.S. can be used to highlight a significant achievement or detail that can make you stand out. Remember, a cover letter should be tailored to each specific job application. It should not only show why you are a good fit for the role, but also why you are a good fit for the company.

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Consulting Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

Crafting an impressive consulting cover letter is your key to unlocking a highly rewarding role, where you can provide detailed analyses, expert insights, and strategic business recommendations.

We'll be your guide, offering important tips, illustrating via meaningful examples, and even suggesting accessible templates to make your journey into the realm of consultancy a smoother ride.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as a consultant. Keep reading to learn about:

• Crafting a well-formatted consultant cover letter header & headline
• Creating a personalized greeting for your consultant cover letter
• Writing an engaging & eye-catching consultant cover letter introduction
• Showing your professional value as a consultant with accomplishments
• Ending your consultant cover letter with a powerful closing statement
• Accessing the best resources for job-seeking consultants

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. Write a well-formatted consultant cover letter header & headline

The first two components to craft on your cover letter are your header and headline.

A cover letter header is a short block of text found most commonly in the upper left corner of the document that includes all the necessary applicant and company information. As for the cover letter headline , this is a brief title statement that helps to lead into the rest of the letter.

To better demonstrate how to format each of these elements, below are more in-depth explanations and examples of each:

Formatting the header

Your cover letter header can vary in format, style, and order of information. Some applicants will choose to include their name in larger font at the very top of the header, while others will create a more letter-style address in the header.

Regardless of what format you opt for, your header should always include:

• The name of the company (& department, when applicable) you are applying for
• Your name and professional title
• Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)

Here is an example of a letter-style header on a consultant’s cover letter

To: Carhill Business Partners, Consulting Department From: Joe King , Business Consultant (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/joe-king

Writing the headline

When writing the headline for your consultant cover letter, you should consider how journalists use headlines and article titles to grab the attention of readers. Your headline should be eye-catching, while also offering an accurate preview of the information to come.

In your headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.

Here is an example of an effective headline from a consultant’s cover letter

My 3 Negotiation Abilities that Make Me the Perfect Consultant for Your Company

Trigger Word/Number : My 3 Negotiation Abilities Keyword: Consultant Adjective: Perfect Promise: For Your Company – this addition at the end of the headline indicates to the employer that you will go beyond simply describing your skills by also relating them to the specific needs of the employer’s business.

Let your cover letter write itself — with AI!

2. create a personalized greeting for your consultant cover letter.

Whenever you write a greeting on a consultant cover letter, it is crucially important to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person or department within the company.

By doing so, you show the employer that you not only have excellent attention to detail but also that you have taken the time to thoroughly research their company beforehand.

In the event that you are unable to uncover a specific person or department that will be reviewing your application, try out one of the following alternatives:

To the [Company Name] Team

To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager

3. Build an engaging consultant cover letter introduction

By the time an employer reaches the introductory paragraph of your cover letter, you should have already hooked their attention with the headline and greeting. To keep this attention intact, include the following details in your introduction:

• A brief overview of your professional history and goals
• A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
• A mutual acquaintance (when possible)

Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a consultant cover letter introduction

To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,

I am writing to you today to apply for the open Consultant position after receiving a recommendation to do so by your company’s VP, Jane Doe. As a Consultant with over 6 years of experience in the financial industry, I am certain I will bring a high level of professionalism and excellence to this role and your company.

Find out your resume score!

4. Show your professional value as a consultant with accomplishments

Once the introduction of your consultant cover letter is squared away, it’s time to provide a more in-depth look into your qualifications in the body paragraphs of your letter. A strong cover letter will typically contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer the following questions:

• What excites you about working at this company?
• What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
• What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
• What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?

Providing quantifiable accomplishments is particularly effective in a cover letter, as this gives the employer real-life examples of the value you can provide to their business.

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a consultant cover letter

As the Digital Transformation Consultant for [Former Employer], I assisted more than 50 companies in the development and implementation of strategies to improve their digital infrastructure and online presence. In turn, these partnerships increased annual sales by an average of 30% annually for my former employer. 

5. End your consultant cover letter with a powerful closing statement

The conclusion of your consultant cover letter should be just as compelling as the introduction. To create a powerful closing statement, you should include:

• An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
• An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
• A formal sign-off

Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a consultant cover letter

Thank you for taking the time to read my cover letter and consider my application. As your new Consultant, I am certain I can elevate your business partnerships and increase your sales according to your company’s high standards of quality. To best reach me, call (123) 456-7890 any weekday during normal business hours.

If I do not hear from you within a week, I will reach out to touch base regarding my application. 

Appreciatively,

[Applicant Name]

Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.

6. Top resources for job-seeking consultants

Exploring the job market for consultants might seem daunting, but with the right tools and resources, you'll find your way. Here are some top recommendations:

• Job platforms:  Websites like Glassdoor and Indeed offer an abundance of job postings, customizable search options, and critical alerts for new opportunities.
• Professional networking sites:   LinkedIn stands out in this category. Beyond networking, it's a hub filled with job listings, industry-related content, and helpful groups to join discussions and stay informed. What's more, you can turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume within a few seconds.
• Industry-specific job boards:  Certain websites cater to specific industries, such as Dice for tech consultants or Idealist for non-profit consulting roles. Exploring these can narrow down your search to targeted opportunities.
• Company career pages:  Never underestimate the power of direct applications. Websites of companies you're interested in likely have a careers section with job postings.
• Career counseling services:  Many universities, and some private organizations, offer career counseling services. They can provide individualized advice, resume and cover letter reviews, interview practice, and more.
• Job search engines and aggregators:  Google for Jobs , SimplyHired , and others pull postings from multiple sources to save you from visiting each site individually.
• Recruitment agencies:  Firms like Robert Half or Michael Page specialize in placing candidates in jobs. They often have relationships with companies seeking consultants and can help match you to suitable openings.

Armed with these resources, your consulting job search becomes a planned mission instead of a scattered ordeal.

Note: These aren't replacements for a compelling consulting cover letter and a strategic networking approach, but support tools on your professional journey.

Consulting Cover Letter FAQ

What should be the structure of a consulting cover letter.

The recommended structure includes an opening salutation, an introductory paragraph, one to two body paragraphs explaining your qualifications and how they match the job requirements, followed by a conclusion and formal closing.

How long should my consulting cover letter be?

The golden rule is to keep it concise. Aim for no more than one page, and certainly no more than 400 words. Remember, hiring managers review several cover letters; short and impactful will get the job done.

Should I reuse a generic cover letter for multiple applications?

Avoid using a one-size-fits-all cover letter for all your job applications. Tailor-make each letter to suit the specific position and company. Mirror the language in the job description and demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with the role.

Do keywords make a difference in a consulting cover letter?

Absolutely. Keywords can act as a bridge between the employer's needs and your skills. They can also dutifully serve as trackers for applicant tracking systems. Identify the keywords in the job description — like 'team player', 'analytical skills', or 'project management' — and integrate them into your letter where relevant.

How should I address my consulting cover letter?

If you know the hiring manager's name, address them directly (for example, "Dear Ms. Johnson"). If you don't know their name, it's better to opt for a generic, yet professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Consulting Team".

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

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A Consulting Cover Letter that Lands Interviews: Our Complete Guide

• Last Updated January, 2024

Rebecca Smith-Allen

Former McKinsey Engagement Manager

The recruiting season is approaching fast, and there’s one thing you’ll need to get your foot in the door for an interview at a top-tier consulting firm: an impressive cover letter.

What should you talk about in your consulting cover letter?

How do you distinguish yourself from the tons of other candidates applying to Bain, BCG, McKinsey, and other top consulting firms this year?

If you’re asking yourself these questions, don’t worry! 

In this complete guide to writing a consulting cover letter, we’ll tell you exactly what points you need to address in your cover letter to put your best foot forward and land that interview.

We’ll discuss:

• What a cover letter is
• The RIGHT way to structure one
• The Red Flags that get candidates rejected and how to overcome them
• 5 Tips on writing an effective consulting cover letter

We’ll  also share:

• 2 cover letter examples that landed candidates interviews at the top firms.

Let’s get started!

Consulting Cover Letter – Why It Matters

What Is a Consulting Cover Letter?

The consulting cover letter is a separate document from your resume; it puts the work experience you outline on your resume into context to show why you’re a great candidate.

The WRONG Way to Structure Your Management Consulting Cover Letter

Most of the Internet articles on writing a cover letter talk about structuring them with the following sections:

• Why are you interested in consulting?
• Why are you interested in the firm you’re applying to?
• What makes you a good fit?

This is not the best way to approach writing your consulting cover letter. My Consulting Offer has helped hundreds of clients land interviews and get offers with top management consulting firms like BCG, Bain, and McKinsey.

We’ve even helped people who faced extra hurdles because they had low GPAs, majored in subjects other than economics or business, or attended non-core schools.

Our clients received interview invitations and job offers because our cover letter process works.

The RIGHT Way to Structure Your Management Consulting Cover Letter

Want to know the best way to structure a cover letter that has statistically been shown to get more interviews?

Watch this video before proceeding.

Now that you watched the video (Watch now if you haven’t yet because the impact of the rest of the article is only 10% of what it could be if you watch it). 

As you found in the video, the best  way to structure your cover letter is to Google the characteristics the consulting firm you want to work for seeks in consulting candidates and then show you have those characteristics .

Yes, you read that right. Go to the Bain Careers page and read about what they’re looking for in candidates. You’ll find it on this page . 

Every consulting firm has values they take very seriously, and that drive the candidates they target, so you will want to know what they are for each firm you apply to. 

As an example, Bain wants consultants with:

• Problem-solving skills
• The ability to lead
• Results delivered

You will use each of these to develop a paragraph or section of your consulting cover letter.

For each, choose a specific time from your professional or personal experiences that shows you possess that characteristic. 

If you have more than one experience that shows you exemplifying a characteristic, pick the strongest example.

Then, create a story that briefly explains the context around your example, describes the action(s) you took, and shows concrete results. 

Quantify the results of your actions whenever possible.

• Results delivered – When I took over as the leader of my sorority’s annual fundraising event for a local food bank, I wanted to make it even more successful than in prior years. Each year, we threw an event and asked people to bring packaged food products or a donation. I went beyond that by asking the college’s academic departments to collect donations from faculty and staff as well. Packaged goods contributions to the food bank increased by 50%, and financial donations increased by over 300%.

Proof the My Consulting Offer Cover Letter Structure Works

This strategy of showing how you’ve exemplified the characteristics the firm is looking for in applicants works particularly well if you are applying to management consulting firms from a non-traditional background. 

If you’re a student with a liberal arts major, in a non-MBA master’s degree or doctorate, or attending a non-core school, you should definitely use our approach. It shows the reader that you’d be an asset to their team and have what it takes to be a successful consultant at their firm. This makes them focus less on your non-traditional background.

One of our early clients was an undergraduate who’d spent his summers interning in Michelin-star restaurants in New York City because he aspired to run a Michelin-star restaurant as a career. 

He didn’t have high-level positions in these internships; he worked in the kitchens. He cut the tomatoes for the tomato soup and did similar food prep.

He wasn’t even in charge of making the tomato soup!

As graduation approached, he decided that while he knew all about the kitchen side of the restaurant business, he wanted to learn about running the front of the house. To do that, he looked into consulting jobs.

But he had no business experience.

In his cover letter, we developed stories about:

• Managing the kitchen effectively, even on hectic Saturday nights
• Managing chefs with many years more experience than he had himself
• Landing jobs at top-rated restaurants by showing up at the restaurants before they opened and networking his way in with perseverance

These stories showed he had the leadership experience, people skills, and drive needed in consulting, things that wouldn’t have been clear from his resume alone.

Why My Consulting Offer’s Approach to Writing Consulting Cover Letters Is So Effective

My Consulting Offer’s approach highlights the characteristics consulting firms value in applicants to develop your cover letter.

• You don’t need to explain “Why McKinsey/Bain/BCG?” because you’ve taken your bullet points from their firm career pages .
• Your stories explain why you’re a good fit.
• You can cover the question “Why consulting?” in just a sentence or 2 because you’ve demonstrated you understand what consulting firms look for in candidates through your stories. This question is especially important for applicants with non-traditional backgrounds or experienced hires. 

Just add a short opening, 1-2 sentences on “Why consulting?” and a short conclusion to these paragraphs, and your cover letter will be ready to submit. 

Mistakes People Make with Their Consulting Cover Letters that Lead to Rejection

There are red flags that can get applicants’ resumes placed in the “no” pile. These are:

• A gap in their work history.

A low GPA  can be a problem because management consulting firms target people who can solve tough business problems. But if your GPA  is low due to extenuating circumstances, such as a problem with your own or a family member’s health, or if you needed to work many hours each week to finance your education, firms will often overlook this.

Small offices at top consulting firms often have a problem. People choose them because they think they’ll have a better shot at getting an offer from the firm. But later, these same people want to move to a different office, leaving that office understaffed. 

If you’re applying to an office because you genuinely want to live in that city, tell the recruiters why you want to live there (examples: near family, proximity to outdoor activities, etc.) They need to see that you are not planning to try to transfer to another office or they won’t want to invest in you.

If you have a gap in your work history, a consulting firm might think you were fired and had difficulty finding another job. If health or another issue was the cause of the gap in your work history, it’s important to explain that.

If you have any of these or other red flags in your consulting application, take the time to explain them in your cover letter so that they don’t derail you from getting an interview.

Writing Your Management Consulting Cover Letter – A Step-by-Step Guide

• Opening – keep it short and sweet. Just introduce yourself and express interest in working for the firm you’re applying to, mentioning the specific position you want. Include your 1-2 sentences on “Why consulting?” here.
• 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.
• Central paragraph 3 – Quantify results whenever possible.
• Central paragraph 4 – Order these stories in the way that works to your advantage, with the strongest story first, the second-strongest last, and weaker (but still good) stories in the middle.
• Address any red flags.
• Express your interest again and close the letter.

That’s it! You now have an impressive cover letter.

5 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter that Lands the Interview

• Tip #1 – Start with the characteristics valued by the consulting firm you’re most interested in. You should tailor the cover letter for each firm to the characteristics they list on their Career page. You’ll find, however, that you can re-use stories because all consulting firms value leadership, drive, teamwork, and creating impact.
• Tips #2 – Pick the most compelling stories from your experience. You probably have multiple stories you could use for some values. Choose just one story. If in doubt, the one where you solved the biggest problem or where you had the biggest impact is probably the best. Don’t worry if you have another great story, you’ll get to talk about it in your consulting interviews.
• Tips #3 – Quantify results wherever possible. Showing that you increased revenue/ attendance/ donations by x% quickly and effectively displays you can get things done. Same with cost reductions or reduced time/effort to get work done.
• Tip #4 – Tighten your language to show your point as efficiently as possible. Never say more than you need to in order to make your point. Recruiters screen thousands of applications, and they appreciate communications that get right to the point. Consulting partners will also appreciate this skill once you’re on their team and drafting PowerPoint slides for client meetings. Keep your cover letter to one page. 
• Tip #5 -Use Fiverr or another service to ensure you have no grammatical or spelling mistakes. You only get one chance to make a good impression. Don’t send out a letter with a big mistake, especially if you can prevent it with $5. 

Consulting Cover Letter Examples

The best way to get a sense of what an effective management cover letter looks like is to read one. 

We’ve got 2 examples of letters that helped My Consulting Offer clients land interviews: one from an undergraduate student’s application to McKinsey and one from an experienced-hire candidate’s application to Bain.

Successful Consulting Cover Letter Example 1

Undergraduate consulting cover letter example.

Why Is This Undergraduate Consulting Cover Letter Sample Effective?

This consulting industry cover letter written by an undergraduate is effective because it addresses key characteristics that McKinsey looks for in their applicants, as you can see   on their careers page :

• Personal impact
• Entrepreneurial drive

While it only calls out 2 of the 4 characteristics McKinsey is looking for, entrepreneurial drive and problems solving, these stories also showcase the candidate’s personal impact. 

The 3rd characteristic the cover letter calls out, teamwork/ collaboration, is also highly valued by McKinsey and other consulting firms. 

The entrepreneurial drive paragraph is effective because it shows this candidate works hard and overcomes obstacles that would stand in the way of other candidates.

The problem-solving paragraph is effective because it shows the candidate’s structured approach to solving a problem. It also shows this approach worked.

The collaborative story works because it shows that this candidate was able to make strong personal connections from a very young age and that they respect people from all walks of life.

The candidate makes clear with his/her stories that they understand what McKinsey is looking for and that they’ve demonstrated those characteristics.

Successful Consulting Cover Letter Example 2

Experienced hire consulting cover letter example.

Why Is This Experienced Hire Consulting Cover Letter Sample Effective?

• Problem-solving skills (addressed in Passion for Results and Lasting Impact.)
• The ability to lead (addressed in all 3 stories.)
• Results delivered (addressed in Passion for Results with quantified impact.)
• Passion (addressed in Drive & Character)

Each of the 3 stories in this cover letter presents the applicant as someone who has the characteristics top management consulting firms look for. 

Moreover, the 3 stories together demonstrate that he or she has “the whole package.” He or she isn’t smart but a poor team player or good at problem-solving but lacking the passion needed to get things done in a difficult, real-world environment.

The fact that the applicant could speak to all of the things Bain looks for helped them land interviews and then offers with multiple top firms.

What About Firms Like McKinsey, Which Don’t Require a Cover Letter?

Some management consulting firms, such as McKinsey & Company, have made submitting a cover letter optional. 

Should you bother to spend the time to write one if they don’t seem to care?

If your resume clearly shows you are a good fit for the consulting firm,  you don’t need to submit a cover letter. Things that would make you look like a good fit include:

• Attendance at or a degree from a core school where the firm recruits through on-campus interviews and hires consultants every year
• An undergraduate degree in business or economics or an MBA
• Leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills clearly demonstrated through work and volunteer experience on your resume

If your resume doesn’t clearly communicate that you’re a good fit for the management consulting industry and their firm, in particular, your application will be strengthened by including a cover letter. 

You should also submit a cover letter if you have been previously rejected from that firm so that they know you have taken steps to improve your application since last applying.

You’ll want to think about stories to use in your behavioral interviews   anyway, so if you’re unsure whether you need a cover letter, it’s safest to write one.

To see the power of an improved cover letter, watch this video on how My Consulting Offer helped Cynthia get invited for an interview at every consulting company she applied to.

Are you ready to write your management consulting cover letter?

We bet you are since you now know:

• What a consulting cover letter is
• The red flags that get candidates rejected and how to overcome them
• Our 5 Tips on writing an effective consulting cover letter
• Plus, you’ve seen 2 Consulting cover letter examples that worked

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about writing effective consulting cover letters, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s former MBB recruiters will answer them.

Other people who were writing their cover letter found the following pages helpful:

• Consulting Resumes
• BCG Cover Letter
• Consulting Networking
• Case Interview Prep : The Ultimate Guide
• Our List of  Top Consulting Firms and their company values
• The Non-MBA Master’s Student’s Guide to Landing a Consulting Job

Do You Need Help Writing a Perfect Consulting Cover Letter?

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on writing your cover letter. We’ve helped over 700 people get offers in consulting and 89.6% of My Consulting Offer clients land  interviews and offers with a consulting firm. Most land more than one. We want you to get that opportunity to interview with McKinsey, Bain, BCG and other top firms!

For example, here is how we helped Tao land interviews at Bain, BCG, and McKinsey.

Join our FREE Webinar:

How 800+ candidates have landed consulting offers at mckinsey, bain and bcg, 2 thoughts on “everything you need to know about the consulting cover letter”.

Thank you Davis for this powerful tool you shared. Really, I havent thought of cover letters telling stories or narrating how you used the needed skills and the value you added using them in your past roles. No wonder I have been getting rejections based on my red flags – not having to work with the big 4s or having multinational experience. All these does not matter as long you can demonstrate the skill set you used to add value in your previous roles which must be inline with what the prospective role needs. I really aporeciate this exposure and I look forward to getting calls from recruiters going forward as I apply your strategy to my cover letters subsequently. Thanks a lot. Esther.

Hey, Esther, We’re so glad the tips we discussed about writing your consulting cover letter were helpful! Good luck in your job search!

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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:

Explore Professional Editing

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.

This application editing can also be done as part of a broader mentoring package, where that same experienced mentor helps you through the whole consulting selection process, from networking, through to case interview prep. You can find out more here:

Learn More About Comprehensive Mentoring

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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Create the Perfect Consulting Cover Letter & Free Template

Thousands of graduates apply for consulting jobs every year and 99% of consulting firms require a cover letter with each application. That’s a lot of cover letters. Amongst the pile of applications, any mediocre cover letters will likely result in the entire application being dismissed . With thousands of applications to consider, screeners will use any mistakes or flaws to justify the rejection of a candidate. Getting your cover letter and resume right is possibly the most important part of the application process.

As your cover letter sits alongside your CV it cannot simply repeat the same information and it cannot be a generic cover letter that you have used for other applications. Each cover letter takes time to write and needs to be unique, concise, and attention-grabbing. Without sufficient care and diligence, it is unlikely you will make it to the next stage of the case interview process.

• What Is a Cover Letter?

The cover letter introduces your application as a whole and should not be confused with a personal statement/summary on a CV. Your cover letter complements your CV but does not repeat it by briefly highlighting your relevant skills and experience as well as communicating your desire to pursue a career in consulting . It should also explain why you want to join the consulting firm you are applying for, it could be the work they do, the reputation they have, or the approach they take.

Cover letters are traditionally a letter, and therefore follow a letter format. It should contain both your address and the firm's office address. It should be short and not delve into too much detail but leave the reader wanting to learn more by continuing to read your application .

• Why Is a Cover Letter Important?

Top firms will receive thousands of candidates and they simply cannot all be put forward for interview. Interviewing candidates is an expensive process for the firm and therefore reducing the candidate pool to roughly a tenth of the size is paramount. The cover letter is in fact a quicker way to qualify candidates than a CV/resume, this is because it is quicker to make a judgment on three critical factors:

• Understanding

Without the potential to develop into a top consultant it is not worth the hiring company investing time and money into training you. Potential can be shown through skills and experiences with a particular focus on the balance of IQ and EQ. Are you a natural problem solver with an analytical skillset that is also able to build relationships with clients? Most people can show evidence of all of these things but not all of them do.

Applicants that do not clearly understand what consulting is and the work it involves will be quickly rejected. Candidates that have applied to consulting without this understanding may find it neither rewarding nor interesting; firms want to hire graduates that will repay the investment they make in them, not graduates that are likely to be difficult in the workplace and ultimately leave after a short period of time. Bad hires are expensive .

Desire is where the letter needs to be the most unique, of course, employers are aware that you will apply to more than one firm but what is it about this firm in particular that you like. It could be their focus on delivering results for their clients, or perhaps the chance to work with incredibly smart people or a particular project they did that caught your eye. Everyone likes to feel special and hiring companies are no different.

• 5 Tips For Consulting Cover Letters

In order to make sure you hit all of the criteria required to keep the reviewer interested in your application we have put together five tips that will cover all bases:

Feedback & proofread

• 1) Make It Unique​​

As being generic is hurtful to your chances of proceeding further you can easily ensure that you make it unique to the company to which you are applying by visiting their company website and visiting the ‘About us’ or ‘Company values’ page. If you can state what it is specifically about that company that you like then you will tick the unique box . An example using this approach for Oliver Wyman is shown below:

Website statement: ​

We value exceptional people - people with intelligence, energy, passion, emotional sensitivity, and a commitment to excellence. We refuse to compromise by hiring those who do not meet our high standards. We believe that if we have common aspirations, a non-hierarchical environment based on respect, and no artificial barriers to advancement, then exceptional people will realize their potential.

Cover letter line: ​

“The focus on exceptional people and a non-hierarchical environment at Oliver Wyman resonates with me greatly as I enjoy working alongside and learning from talented people.”

• 2) One Page

Given how important it is to write a stand-out cover letter, it would be easy to spill over onto a second page to tell the screener how much you want it and why you are the perfect candidate. Please don’t. At the top of this page, we mentioned that your application will sit alongside thousands of other applicants and that pile will be reviewed by 5-10 current employees. That means that each screener has the laborious task of reading hundreds of cover letters in one sitting .

Having a cover letter that is more than one page means you are asking for more of the screener's time than everyone else, which in itself can result in a rejection. Consultants are concise and you should be able to keep your cover letter to one page .

• 3) Be Bold​

As the person reading your cover letter will be doing it quickly, being bold is a way to grab their attention . It doesn’t come naturally to most of us but the reader doesn’t know you and the context of your achievements so you need to convey your brilliance with punchy statements . If you finished top of your class then state that, if you contributed to a record month during some prior work experience then don’t downplay your involvement.

Being bold shouldn’t be confused with lying. Yes, you want to grab their attention but if it later transpires that you had no involvement whatsoever with that record month or other achievements then your dishonesty will ruin all of your hard work.

• 4) Name Drop​

When researching consulting applications there is often reference made to networking . For graduates, this falls into two categories, events and personalities. The aim of networking is to meet people currently working at the company you are looking to apply to. This allows you to find out what it is really like to work there, gain an understanding of the type of work they do, and ask any questions you would like to know the answer to.

Events-based networking is when the firm you wish to apply for is at a university careers fair or is hosting a recruitment event themselves and there are current employees in attendance . They are there to talk to potential applicants and answer the questions they have about the company but the most important thing you need to do is remember their names .

Personal networking is meeting current employees of the firm through your own efforts. These could be cold messages to employees on LinkedIn but you will be surprised at how many people you can reach via your own friends . If you can find a current employee that is an alumnus of your university and a mutual friend that you share, then be confident in asking that mutual friend for an introduction. The employee will be much more receptive to any introductions this way and usually will be happy to give up 15 minutes on the phone . Even many partners are happy to chat with potential applicants that they have been introduced to.

If you have managed to talk to any current employees then be sure to name drop them in your cover letter , something like:

“A recent conversation with a current consultant, [name], confirmed my desire to pursue a career at [firm name]. I was thoroughly impressed by the emphasis you place on collaboration as well as the training opportunities you afford junior consultants .”​

Doing this immediately shows that you understand the work involved and have a particular desire to work at that firm - two of the three requirements ticked off in one sentence.

It is not always possible to talk with a current employee, if this is the case then reference the author of a publication and state what you found interesting about it. These can be found on all firm websites.

• 5) Feedback and Proofreading​

Submitting a cover letter with grammatical mistakes or formatting errors is looked upon very negatively. Sending your cover letter to multiple people will help ensure that no mistakes have crept into your cover letter and it meets the high standards that consultants expect .

As you are trying to condense your highlights into a couple of paragraphs it can be hard to convey the message you want. Collating feedback from as many people as possible will allow you to elevate your cover letter further, if the reviewers know you personally and/or professionally they will be able to cast a judgment on how effective it is at conveying you, your achievements, and your motivations. Don’t feel like you need to implement every single piece of feedback but select the recurring ones and any that you feel will have a positive impact .

• Cover Letter Example

When you have gathered all of the elements required you need to ensure a clear structure to demonstrate the three key factors: potential, understanding, and desire . Whilst the order is not of great importance this example is comprised of 6 components:​

• Introduction

Firm highlights

Personal highlights

Career aspirations

When applying to different consultancies the section that changes most is the firm highlights section as this needs to be unique to each company.

The cover letter should follow a traditional letter format with your name, address, email, and phone number featuring at the top right-hand side of the page and the company’s address below and aligned to the left-hand side under the date of writing.

You should address the reader in a gender-neutral way . This can be done by using the opening “Dear Sir or Madam”.

The first line is a statement of what the letter is regarding (application), what role it is for, who it is with, and at what company.

• Firm Highlights

This is where you can include the name of a current employee you’ve spoken to or the reference to the companies mission or values that caught your attention on their website. Everything that is included in this section shows your desire to work at the firm and even better if you can elaborate further and explain why that fits with your motivations and career ambitions .

• Personal Highlights

This is the section where you can be bold and state your achievements without providing much detail. As consultants like to be concise, we recommend including 2-3 highlights in bullet point format . This makes them stand out and ensures that they will be read no matter how fast the reviewer is scanning the page .

Personal highlights can be anything from academic grades to scholarships awarded to musical awards but it can improve the flow of the letter if these achievements can be later related to consulting. With limited space, using one section to support the next is a useful way of communicating as much value as possible .

• Career Aspirations

Consultants do not expect you to claim you want to be at the firm for the next 30 years, they are often open about their open-door policy . They cannot promote all of their staff due to the pyramid structure and those that leave for other careers are viewed as potential clients in the future . Despite this, you should state why you feel consulting is a good next step for you in your career; what you have learned during your studies, what interests you, what experiences you’ve had, how have they led you to consider a career in consulting?

We think it's most appropriate to sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours faithfully’ as even if you have spoken to the person you are sending it to before, they may not be the only one to read it.

It is now very easy to add an electronic print of your signature alongside a print of your name so we highly recommend that you do this. In almost all pdf viewers there is an option to a dd a signature to the page .

• Cover Letter Variations
• Applying From Abroad

If you are applying for an office in a location where you do not live and did not study then it is important to address this in your cover letter. You will need to demonstrate your right to work in that country or state any help you would need in obtaining the relevant visa, it is in both your and the companies interest to clarify this at the very start of the process. There is no point wasting either party's time unnecessarily. You will also need to be clear as to what the equivalent of your academic grades is in the country. Whilst they may accept grades from other countries, again it is important to clarify this at the start.

• Applying as a Ph.D. graduate

It can be easy to assume that you have no relevant experience as a Ph.D. student but that is not true. Instead of focusing on work experience, focus on the components of your Ph.D. such as data collection, problems overcome, and collaboration with other researchers.

As data and especially big data is becoming an increasingly popular request from consulting clients, Ph.D. graduates are usually at an advantage here. State the data collection, cleaning and analysis you conducted in your personal highlights section. This is an easy way to show you have the potential to be a fantastic consultant.

• Free Templates

Please feel free to download our cover letter template but keep in mind that this template has been downloaded by others, so we recommend making adaptations in order to make your cover letter unique. The template includes our recommended bullet point format for personal highlights.

• Further Material

Now that you have put together your cover letter , make sure to align the other steps within your application process. This means you should also prepare your CV as well as get started with your case interview preparation. Here is a list of resources that will help you get started :

Read our Consulting Resume Guide and follow the  step-by-step guide that shows you how to put together the perfect consulting resume. 

To continue your successful journey, your next step will be to start with your case interview preparation as soon as possible. Make sure to read our comprehensive case interview guide to get started!

On PrepLounge, you will  find everything you need to be fully prepared for your case interview . The vast PrepLounge community makes it easy to find  case partners  to practice cases with who have the same ambition to become an experienced case-solver like you! 

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12 Consultant Cover Letter Examples for 2024: Top CV Skills

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Table of Contents

Most popular consultant cover letter examples.

Explore additional Consultant cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Management Consultant Cover Letter Example

Change Management Consultant Cover Letter Example

Managing Consultant Cover Letter Example

Franchise Business Consultant Cover Letter Example

Process Consultant Cover Letter Example

Principal Consultant Cover Letter Example

Senior Consultant Cover Letter Example

Strategic Consultant Cover Letter Example

Lead Consultant Cover Letter Example

Project Consultant Cover Letter Example

Project Management Consultant Cover Letter Example

Web Consultant Cover Letter Example

Software Consultant Cover Letter Example

Are you ready to take your consulting career to the next level? Crafting an impactful cover letter is a crucial step in standing out in a competitive job market. In this comprehensive guide, we will unravel the secrets of writing an effective consultant cover letter that not only highlights your skills and experiences but also showcases your unique value proposition. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of what a consultant cover letter can accomplish, the essential components to include, and how to format it for maximum impact. We’ll also provide you with three tailored cover letter examples for different experience levels, and highlight common mistakes to avoid, ensuring you present yourself in the best light possible. Here’s what you can expect to learn:

What does a Consultant Cover Letter accomplish?

Key components of a consultant cover letter.

• Format a Consultant Cover Letter
• Three different level cover letter examples

Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Consultant Cover Letter

• Key Takeaways

Let’s dive in and unlock the potential of your consulting cover letter!

A Consultant cover letter serves as a crucial tool in showcasing not only the candidate's qualifications and experiences but also their understanding of the client's needs and industry dynamics. It allows the consultant to articulate their unique value proposition, demonstrating how their skills can specifically address the challenges faced by potential clients. A well-crafted cover letter can set the applicant apart from the competition by providing a personalized touch, establishing rapport, and reflecting their communication skills. For those looking to create an impactful cover letter, utilizing a comprehensive cover letter guide can provide valuable insights and strategies. Additionally, a cover letter builder can streamline the writing process, ensuring that the document is not only professional but also tailored to the specific consulting role being pursued.

• Introduction : Begin your cover letter with a compelling opening that captures the hiring manager's attention. Clearly state the position you are applying for and a brief overview of your qualifications. This sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
• Relevant Experience : Highlight your professional background and relevant consulting experience. Use specific examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills, project management capabilities, and any quantifiable results you've achieved. This section should illustrate how your past roles have prepared you for the consulting position.
• Skills and Expertise : Focus on the key skills that make you a strong candidate for the consultant role. These may include analytical skills, communication abilities, and expertise in specific industries or methodologies. Tailor this section to align with the job description and company needs.
• Conclusion and Call to Action : Conclude your cover letter by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Invite the hiring manager to discuss your application further and provide your contact information. A strong closing reinforces your interest and encourages follow-up.

For additional guidance on crafting your cover letter, check out these cover letter examples and tips on the cover letter format .

How to Format a Consultant Cover Letter

When applying for a consultant position, your cover letter serves as a key opportunity to highlight your skills, experiences, and how you can add value to the organization. Here are some important points to consider when formatting your consultant cover letter:

• Personalize Your Greeting : Address the letter to a specific person, if possible, to create a more personal connection.
• Strong Opening Statement : Begin with a compelling introduction that captures the reader’s attention and states your interest in the position.
• Showcase Relevant Experience : Highlight your previous consulting experiences and specific projects that demonstrate your expertise.
• Quantify Achievements : Use numbers and metrics to illustrate your accomplishments, making them more impactful.
• Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills : Provide examples of how you’ve successfully tackled challenges faced by clients in the past.
• Tailor to the Company : Research the company and mention how your skills align with their values and objectives.
• Highlight Soft Skills : Emphasize interpersonal skills, such as communication and teamwork, which are critical in consulting roles.
• Conclude with Enthusiasm : End your letter with a strong closing statement that expresses your eagerness to contribute to the company.
• Professional Formatting : Use a clean, professional layout with clear headings, a readable font, and adequate spacing.
• Proofread : Ensure that your cover letter is free from grammatical errors and typos to maintain professionalism.

Consultant Entry-Level Cover Letter Example #1

I am excited to apply for the entry-level Consultant position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job listing]. With a strong academic background in [Your Degree] from [Your University] and a passion for problem-solving, I am eager to contribute my skills and fresh perspective to your team.

During my time at [Your University], I engaged in several projects that honed my analytical and strategic thinking abilities. In my capstone project, I collaborated with a team to analyze market trends for a local startup, providing insights that helped refine their business model. This experience taught me the importance of data-driven decision-making and effective communication, as I presented our findings to both academic and business stakeholders. Additionally, my internship at [Previous Internship Company] allowed me to work directly with clients, where I assisted in conducting research and preparing reports on industry benchmarks. This hands-on experience reinforced my understanding of client needs and the importance of tailored solutions.

Moreover, I possess strong interpersonal skills and thrive in collaborative environments. As a member of [Relevant Club or Organization] at [Your University], I led initiatives that required teamwork and leadership, which further developed my ability to manage diverse opinions and drive projects to completion. I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] because of your commitment to innovation and excellence in consulting. I am eager to learn from your experienced team and contribute to impactful projects that align with my passion for helping organizations optimize their performance.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring my unique skills and energy to [Company Name]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background, skills, and ambitions align with the goals of your team.

Consultant Mid-Level Cover Letter Example #2

I am excited to submit my application for the Consultant position at [Company Name], as advertised on [Job Board/Company Website]. With over [X years] of experience in management consulting, I have developed a strong foundation in strategic analysis, project management, and client relationship building. My ability to navigate complex business challenges and deliver actionable solutions has consistently contributed to my clients' success and aligns with the core values of your esteemed firm.

In my previous role at [Previous Company Name], I successfully led a cross-functional team to deliver a comprehensive market entry strategy for a client looking to expand into a new geographic region. By conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis, I identified key opportunities and risks, ultimately helping the client achieve a [specific result, e.g., 25% increase in market share within the first year]. My collaborative approach and strong communication skills were essential in fostering relationships with stakeholders and ensuring alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

Moreover, I have experience in implementing process improvement initiatives that have resulted in significant operational efficiencies. At [Another Previous Company Name], I spearheaded a project that re-engineered the client’s supply chain processes, which led to a [specific percentage] reduction in costs and improved service delivery times. This experience honed my analytical skills and strengthened my ability to work with diverse teams to drive change and achieve measurable results.

I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] because of its commitment to innovation and excellence in consulting services. I admire your recent projects in [specific project or industry], and I am eager to bring my background in [specific skills or experiences relevant to the company] to your team. I am confident that my proactive approach and dedication to exceeding client expectations would make a valuable contribution to your organization.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the goals of [Company Name]. I am excited about the possibility of contributing to your team and helping clients navigate their unique challenges.

Consultant Experienced Cover Letter Example #3

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Consultant position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job posting]. With over [number] years of experience in management consulting, I have developed a strong proficiency in strategic planning, organizational transformation, and performance optimization, which I am eager to bring to your esteemed organization.

In my previous role at [Previous Company Name], I successfully led a cross-functional team in delivering a comprehensive market entry strategy for a high-growth technology client. This project not only resulted in a projected revenue increase of [percentage] within the first year but also solidified my expertise in conducting in-depth market analysis and stakeholder engagement. My ability to translate complex data into actionable insights was pivotal in guiding the client through a successful implementation phase, ensuring alignment with their long-term business goals.

Additionally, I have a proven track record of enhancing operational efficiency for clients across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and retail. At [Another Previous Company Name], I spearheaded an initiative that streamlined supply chain processes, which led to a [specific metric, e.g., 30% reduction in costs]. This experience not only honed my analytical skills but also reinforced the importance of fostering strong relationships with clients to facilitate change management and drive sustainable results.

I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] because of your commitment to innovation and excellence in consulting services. I am excited about the opportunity to leverage my background in project management and strategic consulting to contribute to your team's success. I am confident that my proactive approach and ability to navigate complex challenges will make a positive impact at [Company Name].

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my extensive experience and passion for consulting align with the goals of your organization. Please feel free to contact me at [your phone number] or [your email address] to schedule a conversation.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Cover Letter Tips for Consultant

When writing a cover letter for a consultant position, it's essential to convey not only your expertise and qualifications but also your ability to solve complex problems and add value to clients. Tailor your letter to the specific consulting firm and role by highlighting relevant experiences where you successfully addressed client challenges or contributed to strategic initiatives. Use clear, concise language and focus on demonstrating your analytical skills, teamwork, and adaptability. Make sure to showcase your understanding of the firm's culture and values, as well as how your background aligns with their needs.

• Research the Firm: Understand their projects, values, and industry focus to tailor your letter effectively.
• Highlight Relevant Experience: Provide specific examples of past consulting projects or relevant job experiences that showcase your skills and successes.
• Emphasize Problem-Solving Skills: Consultants are often hired to solve problems; demonstrate your analytical thinking and how you've tackled challenges in the past.
• Showcase Soft Skills: Highlight interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, which are crucial for consulting roles.
• Be Concise and Focused: Keep your cover letter to one page and ensure each sentence adds value; avoid unnecessary jargon.
• Include Metrics: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements (e.g., "increased client satisfaction by 30%").
• Tailor Your Tone: Match the tone of your cover letter to the firm's culture—formal for traditional firms, more conversational for modern, creative agencies.
• End with a Call to Action: Politely encourage the reader to reach out for further discussion, reinforcing your enthusiasm for the opportunity.

How to Start a Consultant Cover Letter

When applying for a consultant position, your cover letter's introduction plays a critical role in grabbing the hiring manager's attention. A strong opening can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and highlight your relevant skills or experience. Here are some examples of effective introductions for a consultant cover letter:

As a seasoned professional with over five years of experience in management consulting, I am excited to apply for the Consultant position at [Company Name]. My background in strategic planning and data analysis aligns perfectly with your team's objectives, and I am eager to contribute to innovative solutions that drive client success. With a proven track record of delivering impactful business strategies for Fortune 500 companies, I am writing to express my interest in the Consultant role at [Company Name]. My expertise in market research and stakeholder engagement has equipped me with the skills necessary to enhance your clients' performance. I am thrilled to apply for the Consultant position at [Company Name], where my strong analytical skills and passion for problem-solving can be utilized effectively. My previous role at [Previous Company] honed my ability to identify opportunities for growth and implement actionable strategies, making me a perfect fit for your team. Having successfully led multiple cross-functional projects that resulted in significant cost savings and efficiency improvements, I am eager to bring my experience to the Consultant position at [Company Name]. I am particularly drawn to your commitment to innovation and excellence, and I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with your talented team. As an accomplished consultant with a deep understanding of both qualitative and quantitative analysis, I am excited to apply for the Consultant role at [Company Name]. My success in advising clients across various industries has given me a unique perspective that I believe aligns well with your mission to deliver exceptional value.

How to Close a Consultant Cover Letter

To effectively close a consultant cover letter, it's essential to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, express confidence in your abilities, and invite further discussion about your qualifications. Here are some examples to consider:

“I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise in strategic planning and operational efficiency to your team, and I look forward to the possibility of discussing how I can add value to your organization.”

“Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to bring my analytical skills and consulting experience to your company and would love to discuss how I can help drive your projects to success.”

“I appreciate your time and consideration. I am confident that my background in data analysis and problem-solving will make a positive impact at your firm, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further.”

“I am enthusiastic about the possibility of joining your team and leveraging my skills in project management to achieve your business goals. I would be thrilled to discuss my application in more detail.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this position. I am looking forward to the chance to further discuss how my experience aligns with your needs and contribute to your team’s success.”

A well-crafted cover letter is essential for consultants looking to make a strong impression on potential employers. While it’s important to showcase your skills and experiences, avoiding common pitfalls can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your application. Below are some frequent mistakes that candidates should steer clear of when writing a cover letter for a consulting role:

• Failing to address the hiring manager by name, opting for a generic greeting instead.
• Using a one-size-fits-all approach by not tailoring the cover letter to the specific consulting firm or position.
• Focusing too much on job duties rather than on accomplishments and how they relate to the consulting role.
• Neglecting to demonstrate an understanding of the firm's culture, values, and current projects.
• Overly formal language that reads like a resume rather than a conversational and engaging narrative.
• Ignoring the importance of a compelling opening statement that captures the reader’s attention.
• Making grammatical or spelling errors, which can undermine professionalism.
• Including irrelevant information or personal anecdotes that do not relate to the consulting position.
• Failing to clearly articulate what you can offer the firm and how you can add value to their team.
• Not including a strong closing statement that encourages further discussion or an interview.

Key Takeaways for a Consultant Cover Letter

In crafting an effective cover letter for a consultant position, it's essential to highlight your analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and relevant experience. Tailoring your letter to demonstrate how your expertise aligns with the prospective company's needs can significantly enhance your chances of making a positive impression. Utilize clear, concise language to convey your enthusiasm for the role and your understanding of the consultancy landscape. To help you get started, consider using professional cover letter templates that can guide you in structuring your document effectively.

Additionally, leveraging a cover letter builder can streamline the writing process by providing you with customizable options that reflect your unique qualifications. Remember, a well-crafted cover letter not only complements your resume but also serves as a testament to your communication skills and professionalism. By focusing on these aspects, you can create a compelling narrative that showcases your potential as a consultant and sets you apart from other candidates.

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Consulting cover letter example

The shape of the global workforce has changed significantly over the past decade, with companies bringing in external consulting expertise on demand like never before. The “gig economy” could describe Uber drivers and Deliveroo couriers, but at the high end there are tens (and maybe hundreds) of thousands of consultants and interim professionals.

If there is a challenge for a business that they do not have the resource to handle internally, there is a pool of awesome external talent waiting in the wings to come to their rescue. The challenge for a consultant when they write their consulting resume and cover letter is the need to work out just how to package up their vast and diverse experience.

They have always done what has been required in the specific circumstances of their past employers, but without knowing the demands of their future employer in detail, they are writing their applications in the dark. We will explore some ways of shining a light on the process to make any hiring manager take notice.

This guide to writing an incisive consulting cover letter will:

• Talk about the considerations of making sure that your experience fits their needs.
• Explore the intricacies of the cover letter format – what will be right for you?
• Look at the psychology of why consultants are hired and how you sell yourself.
• Create a letter that makes you think: “did I really do all that?”

Most people write their cover letter alongside their resume, so check out Resume.io’s free resources for some additional inspiration. 

Now it’s time to begin. What should an amazing consultant include in their cover letter?

Best format for a consulting cover letter example

There are certain job search norms to writing a cover letter that have been tried and tested over the fullness of time. You would be foolish to ignore them. While you might want to spend the majority of the piece waxing lyrical about how much you saved an employer, how you increased their sales, or how you introduced a new technology, it is important to leave a rounded impression. Give them a taste of different aspects – experience, personality and fitness for the role.

Here is the suggested structure:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting
• The introduction
• The letter body
• The conclusion
• The signature / sign-off phrase.

For an in-depth look at writing each of these sections, as well as some free example sentences, have a look at our overall guide on cover letters. If you need more guidance or are considering broadening your search, investigate our related business and management cover letter examples: 

If you're looking for more ideas, check out these related business and management cover letter samples:

• Manager cover letter sample
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• Executive cover letter sample
• Project Manager cover letter sample
• Product Manager cover letter sample
• Project Coordinator cover letter sample
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• Supervisor cover letter sample
• Assistant Manager cover letter sample
• Business and management cover letter sample
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• McKinsey cover letter sample
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• Quality Assurance (QA) cover letter sample
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Cover letter header

Consultants are expected to be proficient at influencing at high levels, so any mistakes in gauging the required formality of the application letter header will be viewed harshly.

Make sure that it is easy to find your contact information at the top of the letter. In the world of social media this might seem superfluous, but not everyone is surgically attached to their LinkedIn profile, so make it easy for a reader to get in touch with you.

Depending on the industry, some consultants might cultivate a strong personal brand and curate their own website. There is nothing wrong with including this in your contact information, but only do it if you are sure that there would be relevant information there for your particular client.

The aim of this cover letter element: get the basics spot on, think about maybe including a relevant personal website, provide a mental break to reset before getting into reading.

They will only have a certain amount of time and mental headspace to spend in considering your application, so make sure that they aren’t wasting it on trawling through an irrelevant website. No matter how fascinating your blogs are, if they are not directly relevant to the job in question, they are stealing time that could be spent reading your resume in more detail.

Lastly, there is a psychological consideration. It is vital that the reader is “present” as they absorb what you have written – the header section offers a chance to pause and direct their thoughts. When there are a million and one things going through their heads, the boring necessity of a header makes them stop and settle in the job search starting blocks.

What comes next is therefore important: the first paragraph that you want them to read needs to create that critical amazing first impression.

Cover letter greeting

There are certain things that you should simply “get right” in your job search: don’t be late to an interview, call them by their correct name, don’t use emojis in your emails… the list is long and for the most part obvious.

Getting the greeting of the letter right is right up there. It might be obvious, but no one likes it when you get their name or preferred greeting wrong.

Understand the culture of the hiring organization, and while “Dear Mr. / Mrs. Surname” will likely be the most prevalent option, “Hi First name” might sometimes be a better option to fit in with the team. Having said this, err on the side of being respectful.

Most importantly of all, think about how you would address your partners and colleagues in your normal work. Follow these guidelines and you won’t go far wrong.

There is a power in starting off any communication with someone’s name. Use it.

The aim of this section: Set the tone of your job search process. Getting it right won’t really be noticed but getting it wrong could set alarm bells ringing.

Dear Mrs. Fishman,

Cover letter introduction

Consultants can bring a whole host of different benefits for their clients. Their projects will have an impact on all sorts of areas of the business and their legacy will be felt long after they have moved on.

It is therefore more difficult for them (than most) to come up with a pithy one-liner or short paragraph to introduce the letter. Getting to the crux of their value is always the hardest thing to do, but it is essential to do in the greeting if they want to hook a potential client.

As with any correspondence, the information that they choose to share will be interpreted as the very best information that is on offer. If the opening line is weak, the reader will assume that there is not much more to come and may well even stop reading.

Go with the big guns blazing and excite the reader.

Notice the first introduction sentence in this cover letter example text. Don't you want to know how the writer saved that much money for the client? When you save a client $2.3m on a $30m spend, there are many impacts on a business. 

The aim of this part: You should aim to sell yourself like no other candidate can – in one or two short sentences. No pressure.

When you save a client $2.3m on a $30m spend, there are many impacts on a business. I did exactly this at Bift Forwarding - optimizing their routes, centralizing their purchasing and rationalizing their supplier base. Employees had to start working in different ways and the strategy of the business took on a new dimension.

Cover letter body

For a consultant, the cover letter body is a bit different. Because they are coming in to do a specific job, an impactful cover letter should focus more on the specific projects that they have delivered in the past that are relevant to what will be required in the job in question. You should still include aspects of your personality and the fit for the company culture, but this is secondary to showing that you have the ability to do the job in hand.

Think long and hard about the sorts of projects that you might be asked to undertake (although this should be obvious from the job description) and include 2/3 examples of what you have done previously. Talk about the issues that you faced and how you solved them.

A last consideration for the body is to include some financials and performance metrics. If you cannot give a quantifiable indication of your value, doubts will quickly appear. Putting a number down in black and white shows that you adopt a target-driven and commercial approach. Being a consultant is the ultimate results-oriented profession. 

The body of your cover letter has to scream: “success.”

This cover letter sample text details the writer's experience and tells the hiring manager that a solution will be offered: I have run audits, managed RFP processes, analyzed needs, assessed vendors and reduced costs for some of the biggest names in supply chain. Logistics is a traditional industry in terms of maintaining the status quo of vendors and processes, but modern technology has transformed the potential for optimization. I understand how your business is structured and I know that there are least three projects to make a difference to your profitability.

The purpose of this cover letter body: Think about the projects that you would most like to talk about during your interview and steer the conversations in the way that you wish.

With a joined-up procurement approach, every part of the business benefits. When logistics cost savings are thoughtlessly pursued, reliable suppliers can be cast aside and already efficient processes discarded. 16 years in logistics consulting have proven to me that a sledgehammer approach can only bring delay and confusion. I have run audits, managed RFP processes, analyzed needs, assessed vendors and reduced costs for some of the biggest names in supply chain. Logistics is a traditional industry in terms of maintaining the status quo of vendors and processes, but modern technology has transformed the potential for optimization. I understand how your business is structured and I know that there are least three projects to make a difference to your profitability. I could translate the following successes to your operation:

• Optimized route planning to save 8% on transit time and 12% in total transport cost.
• Audited the spend of a $22m logistics provider - $1.5m cost savings across five areas.
• Re-negotiated service level agreements with 180+ global suppliers during my career.  

Being adept at involving every section of the business is key to squeezing the potential out of any change project. Whether presenting to the board or chatting to the guys in the warehouse, every part of the machine matters equally.

Cover letter closing paragraph

The parting line of a consulting cover letter should center around the importance of leaving a good final thought / emotional impression. This is where you provide a Call To Action which leads to an interview or further contracts and cooperation. Any consultant can come into a business, be paid an inordinate amount of money and then leave after they have made a mess. The best consulting professionals make an impact that lasts long after they have left and the receptionist has forgotten their name.

Leave your future employer with one last thought: if they hire you, they will be investing in the future of their business for years to come. That might make your remuneration demands a little easier to swallow and it will certainly start off any interview on a positive note.

End with a call to action, just like this cover letter sample text does: I would love the opportunity of an interview to discuss how my procurement approach could help you at Risden Freight.

The aim of this part: Finish on a future-looking note and be confident in your ability to bring about beneficial change. Show that you are invested in their future success.

I would love the opportunity of an interview to discuss how my procurement approach could help you at Risden Freight. Sincerely, Tina Gotsch

Writing psychology – application letter tools and strategies

Any consulting professional should be adept at influencing others with their communication skills. There are certain psychological moments that should be considered in a cover letter. Without getting a sense of these four attributes, no employer will feel confident inviting a consultant to an interview:

• Strategic mindset: every consultant should understand the long-term ramifications of their actions. Their job is to guide their employers along a given roadmap, implement tactical measures to get things on track, but always have a final destination in mind. Demonstrating strategic thinking is a must.
• Commercial awareness: Your employer needs to be reassured that you are a safe pair of hands with the figures. Most consulting assignments will have a financial element, so make sure that your cover letter ticks the commercial boxes.
• Team player: Consulting professionals rarely work in a vacuum. They might have great ideas, but it is often the case that these ideas will have to be implemented by others. Influencing skills and people management are the hallmarks of a great consultant. You are a critical cog of a much bigger machine.

Mistakes to avoid in your consulting cover letter

While the content of your application letter is the most important consideration, there is always the danger that you might become too focused on the message and neglect some of the basics. It is surprising how many of the following basic mistakes are made:

• Don’t exaggerate. Much as you might want to paint the rosiest picture of your experience, don’t mention anything that won’t be corroborated in a reference. Exaggeration in any part of a job application is a dangerous pursuit.
• Maintain distance. You probably don’t know the hiring manager personally, so make sure that you keep the tone of your application letter formal. You might be friendly, but make sure not to be overly familiar with your language.
• Don’t use too many adjectives. A one-page cover letter might seem like a lot of job search real estate, but in reality, you should only be looking at 200-400 words and with the amount that you will want to say about yourself, extra adjectives should be chosen carefully. They can add an extra layer of meaning, but make sure that the content itself is meaty enough in the first place.

Key takeaways

• Base your application letter around your previous successful projects.
• Weave a story around your successes and how you achieved them.
• Make your examples relevant to the sorts of projects that you will be taking on.
• Focus on your strategic thinking and commercial awareness.
• Talk about your process orientation and how you replicate your success.

With resume.io, you can construct the ideal cover letter to accompany your stunning resume. In the challenging current job market, both need to be perfect. Get started now and have an amazing cover letter (and resume ) ready in no time at all!

Free professionally designed templates

Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

Today we’re going to explain everything you need to know about writing consulting cover letters.

We’ll start by reviewing an example cover letter that got interview invitations from ALL the MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain). 

And then we’ll explain exactly how you should write your own cover letter to land consulting interviews. Here’s a full list of the topics in this guide:

• Example cover letter

How to write your consulting cover letter

Consulting cover letter tips.

• The skills consulting firms look for

Consulting cover letter screening process

• Get help with your cover letter

Let’s get to it! 

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

Example cover letter (which got interviews at mckinsey, bcg, and bain).

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 letter example, here. 

In the next section, we’ll go step-by-step through each part of the cover letter and explain how to go about writing it. But before we dive in, please note the following points about the above template:

• A lot of people use this template. Get inspiration from it, but every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.
• This cover letter might sound impressive. It's one of the best ones we’ve seen. But even if you have not achieved as much as this person, you can still get an interview.

With that said, let’s dig into the cover letter writing process!

As a starting point, this video provides a nice overview of the full writing process for a consulting cover letter. 

Now let’s break things down further.

1. Introduction

Example - Introduction

Mary Taylor - [email protected]

DD / MM / YYYY

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to apply for an Associate position at McKinsey in London.

This section is a formality. It should simply state the following information:

• Your name and email address. You can replace your email address with a postal address although those are not commonly used anymore.
• The date on which you are sending your letter
• The position, company, and office to which you are applying

Keep it short and sweet.

2. Why you? 

Example - Why you?

I started working as an Analyst at Big Finance in New York in September 2020 and was quickly promoted to Associate in a year and a half instead of the average four years. While at Big Finance, I advised a broad range of clients who constantly gave me positive feedback and regularly asked to work with me again. Before joining Big Finance, I graduated as the top student of my MEng in Chemical Engineering at Prestigious University in the UK. While studying, I received two competitive scholarships and awards. In addition, I developed my leadership skills as the President of the Prestigious University Consulting Club. High energy was essential to lead a team of 5 managing the club and growing the number of members by 20%.

This is your "GOLD MEDALS" section. It is the first section of your cover letter and therefore the most important one.

It should state the TOP 3 achievements of your life to date that are relevant to consulting. These achievements should be as unique and as memorable as possible. When your reviewer reads them they should think "Wow, that's impressive. I want to know more about this person."

To write this section you need to step back and ask yourself "What are the most impressive things I've done with my life so far?" This is not an easy question to answer. 

In our experience discussing this with a close friend can help. It's sometimes easier for them to quickly point out the impressive things you have done as they are an external observer.

In addition, notice how achievements are QUANTIFIED in the example above. Saying you have been promoted "in a year and a half instead of the average four years" is much more powerful than saying you have been promoted "quickly." You should quantify your achievements whenever possible.

This section is your chance to grab the reader's attention. If there's nothing impressive in it, they will stop reading and just scan the paragraphs. So don't miss your opportunity!

3. Why consulting?

Example - Why consulting?

There are several reasons why I want to pursue a consulting career. To start with, I know I will enjoy being a strategy consultant because I have already worked in a strategy team in the past. This was in summer 2019 when I was a Strategy Intern at Big Grocery Retailer in London. In addition, I think consulting is a unique opportunity to comprehensively learn about business management by working on a variety of company situations. Over the past two years, I have started building my business skills while advising clients on financial matters at Big Finance. I now look forward to learning more about companies’ management at McKinsey. Finally, I want to work in consulting because I truly enjoy interacting with clients. Throughout my work experiences I have built a successful track record of developing and maintaining relationships with clients including, for instance, the senior strategy team at Big Grocery Retailer.

Once you have convinced your reviewer that you have impressive achievements under your belt they'll be thinking: "Ok, this person is impressive. But do they REALLY want to be a consultant? Or are they just applying because they're not sure what to do with their career."

The third section of your letter should therefore answer the  "Why consulting?" question . But here is the thing about this question: There are some reasons to go into consulting that you should tell your reviewer about. And some reasons that you should really keep to yourself.

For instance, one of the mistakes candidates commonly make in their cover letter is to write something along the lines of "I'd like to spend 2 or 3 years in consulting to learn more about business in general and then decide what I want to do." This is a HUGE mistake. 

Consulting firms want to hire FUTURE PARTNERS. Not employees who will stay for a couple of years. You can watch the video below for more details about this.

The best approach for your "Why consulting?" section is to write about past experiences that really show you know what you are getting into. The perfect situation is if you have done an internship in consulting or in corporate strategy and have enjoyed it. If that's the case, this is the perfect section to write about it.

But even if you haven't done related internships, there are plenty of angles you can use to connect your past experiences to what you will do as a consultant. For instance:

• You might have enjoyed working with clients when you were in M&A or in Sales
• You might have enjoyed structuring and solving tough problems as an engineer

You should use these experiences to say that "working with clients" or "solving tough problems" is something you KNOW you enjoy doing; and you look forward to spending more time doing this as a consultant.

When they read this section, your reviewer should think: "Ok, this person is impressive AND they know what they are getting into."

4. Why McKinsey / BCG / Bain / Other?

Example - Why McKinsey?

McKinsey appeals to me for three reasons. To start with, the different people from the company I have met and worked with all told me they had truly enjoyed their time there. For the past two years, I have worked for Michael Smith, a former Engagement Manager from the London office, who now works for Big Finance. Additionally, I regularly read McKinsey’s reports on financial services and think the insights delivered by Sarah James and others in the Finance practice are truly superior to that of other consultancies. By joining McKinsey, I therefore think I would have an opportunity to work with and learn from the best consultants in the industry. Finally, the fact that McKinsey was selected by Finance Supercorp to shape its digital strategy also played an important role in my decision to apply. This was a first-of-its-kind contract in finance and it shows that while at McKinsey I could get the opportunity to work on truly unique projects.

If you have managed to convince your reviewer that you have an impressive background and that you really want to be a consultant, you have a VERY HIGH chance of getting an interview. 

The only question that's left for you to answer is: " Why McKinsey  / Why BCG? / Why Bain? "

Top consulting firms  have a lot in common. In most regions, they cover the same industries and work for similar clients. They also pay similar salaries, and the career path is more or less the same from firm to firm. So what should you write about in this section?

In our experience, the most efficient way to set yourself apart in this section is to write about three specific elements:

When you write "I've met with Michael Smith," or "I've read report X," or "I've heard about project Y," you are making an argument that's SPECIFIC enough for your reviewer to think: "Ok they've done their homework."

If you stay too GENERIC, your argument will be much less credible. For instance, writing something like "While at McKinsey, I'll be exposed to a broad range of industries which I'm excited about" is a weak argument because you could swap McKinsey for BCG or Bain in that sentence.

In fact, this is the ultimate test. If you can swap McKinsey with another name in your "Why McKinsey?" section you are not being specific enough. You need to work on your paragraph again and mention SPECIFIC people, reports, or projects that you find interesting.

5. Conclusion

Example - Conclusion

For all these reasons, I am very enthusiastic about the chance to work at McKinsey. I am available for an interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Taylor

The last section of the cover letter is a formality again. It should include the following elements:

• A sentence or two saying that you are enthusiastic and available for interviews at any time
• Your final signature

So how do you make it easy for your reviewer to put your cover letter on the "Accept" pile? We have put together the 10 tips below to make sure you can achieve this and avoid common mistakes.

Tip #1 Don't use a template letter

Writing cover letters is painful. But trust us, reading hundreds of them can be at least as painful. That's why you should make every effort to make your letter interesting and genuine. 

It's ok to get inspiration from templates such as the one we provide in this guide. But every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.

Tip #2 Keep it to one page

One of the unwritten rules of consulting cover letters is that they should not be longer than one page. The trick to achieve this is to only select the MOST RELEVANT experiences from your  resume  and to summarise them. 

The points you decide to highlight should clearly demonstrate that you would make a great consultant.

Tip #3 Standard format and font

It's tempting to use an eye-catching font and format. But that's actually a bad idea. You only risk your interviewer thinking: "I've never seen this font, it looks really weird. Who is this person?" Your cover letter should stand out because of its content, NOT because of its format.

Tip #4 Not the time to be shy

Your cover letter is not the time to be shy. If you went to Harvard and have three Olympic medals, now is the time to say it! Most of us don't, and that's fine. But the point is that you should really push yourself to bring your most impressive accomplishments forward.

Tip #5 Network, network, network

This might sound surprising, but a big part of the cover letter is  how much networking you have done . Having networked with people from the firm you are applying for pays dividends for multiple reasons. 

First, they might recommend you to the HR team. But most importantly, these people will give you insight into what makes their firm UNIQUE. Then you can quote what you've heard in your cover letter (and name drop the person you heard it from) to show that you really understand the firm you are applying for.

Tip #6 Read, read, read

Unfortunately, networking is not always easy or possible. In these cases, your second best option is to read as much as you can on the firms you are applying for. You should read about the firm's projects, reports, and partners and find pieces of information you are really interested in. 

For instance, if you did your master thesis on electric vehicles, try to find who works in this area at the firm and what they have to say about it. And then mention what you have found in your cover letter.

Tip #7 One letter per firm

One question we often get is: "Should I write one letter per firm?" The answer is YES. But it's not as hard as it might sound. 

Every cover letter needs to answer three questions: Why you? Why consulting? And why this firm? The only paragraph you will need to change in every letter is the one about "Why this firm?" For each firm, you will have to do the networking and reading mentioned above.

Tip #8 Start writing early

Writing an outstanding cover letter is VERY HARD. Most candidates underestimate how much time it takes and start this process too late. You'll need to take a step back and reflect on everything you have done to date to highlight your most relevant experiences. 

This takes multiple iterations. Start early.

Tip #9 Get feedback

In our experience, great candidates all look for feedback and iterate on their cover letter until it's truly as good as it can get. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.

It’s best to get feedback from peers or consultants. These people will be able to point out which parts of your letter they don't get or don't find impactful enough. If you’d like to have an expert review your cover letter, check out our team of  ex-consultant coaches .

Tip #10 Proofread multiple times

Finally, you should check and double check your letter for typos and grammar mistakes - multiple times. A cover letter is (not so secretly) a writing test and you should really treat it like one.

What consulting firms look for

To get multiple interviews at  top consulting firms , it’s extremely important to understand what those firms are actually looking for. 

The good news is that most of the leading consultancies are looking for basically the same skills. 

To illustrate this point, here’s what  McKinsey  and  Bain  say that they’re looking for in candidates, along with our own translation of what they mean:

There are also a few unofficial items that consulting firms will look for on your resume, and you can read about those in our  consulting resume guide .

Next, let’s talk about the typical cover letter screening process.

Screening process

Now let's talk about HOW your cover letter will be handled once you send it. Here's how it works.

Your application will be sent to a JUNIOR CONSULTANT who recently graduated from your University. They will score your documents based on a grid provided by the HR team. 

Consultants usually have to score 200 to 400 applications in about 2 weeks. And this is sometimes on TOP of their normal project. It's not uncommon for them to leave the job to the last minute and to have to do it on a Friday night just before the deadline.

Why is this important? The point we are trying to make is your application is part of 100 other applications. And the person who will review it will be tired by the time they get to your cover letter. If they don't understand something, they won't Google it. It's your job to make their job easy.

Why consultancies ask for a cover letter

There are two main reasons why consulting firms ask for cover letters.

First, partners bill several thousand dollars per day to their clients. The opportunity cost of interviewing you is HUGE for the firm. Put yourself in the shoes of a consultancy for a second. What are the top 3 questions you want to answer before investing money in interviewing a candidate?

• Have they demonstrated the skills needed to be a consultant?
• Do they know what consulting is and what they are getting into?
• Are they genuinely interested in working for our firm?

If you don't answer these three questions in a structured and impactful way, your chances of getting past the screening process are very low. This is why every cover letter should be structured as follows:

• Why consulting?
• Why this firm?

The second reason consulting firms ask for a cover letter is to test your writing skills. Consultants write all the time: emails, PowerPoints, Word documents, etc. They spend about 50% of their day writing. And a lot of the time their job is to summarise very large quantities of information in a succinct way.

This is exactly what you have to do in your cover letter. You have to a) look back on all your past experiences, b) select the relevant experiences to convince the reviewer that you are the right person for the job and c) summarise all these experiences in a way that's easy to read and digest.

Cover letters are a disguised writing test. Candidates who end up getting invited for interviews recognise this early on. Making a good impression on paper is way harder than making a good impression in person.

Are many candidates ready to invest HOURS in writing the perfect cover letter? No. That's the whole point. That's how you can set yourself apart. If you spend enough time making sure that your letter is as impactful as it can be, you stand very high chances of getting invited for interviews.

Another reason that it can help to have a cover letter is to explain anything on your resume that may look unusual to a reviewer, such as a time gap or a non-traditional background for consulting. 

Whatever your unique situation is, if you’re not confident in how your cover letter looks today, then we can help you. 

Get an Ex-MBB consultant to review your cover letter

The guide above, in addition to our guide on  consulting resumes , should go a long way in helping you craft documents that will get you interviews. 

But if you still feel you need additional help, we have a team of ex-MBB recruiters and interviewers who would be happy to provide feedback on your cover letter.

You’ll get feedback on how to immediately improve your cover letter, including what experience to focus on, how to optimise your phrasing, formatting, etc.

Start by browsing profiles for available coaches.

Related articles:

Consulting cover letter examples

Are you in need of a consulting cover letter that is going to make you stand out from the competition?

We understand that you offer your sought-after advice and expertise for living, so this time, let us be the ones to impart our advice to you.

Check out our comprehensive writing guide below, along with our consulting cover letter examples to inspire you and help you with your application.

CV templates 

Consulting cover letter example 1

Build your CV now 

Consulting cover letter example 2

Consulting cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Consulting cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write a Consulting cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

Type the content of your cover letter directly into the email you are sending, or if you are applying via a job board, directly into their messaging system.

The reason for doing this it to ensure that your cover letter gets seen instantly and you can start connecting with the recruiter as soon as they open your message.

If you attach your cover letter as a separate document, the recipient will have to open up the document, which will slow the process down, or make them less likely to even open your cover letter – which could mean your application gets skipped over.

Start with a friendly greeting

To kick your cover letter off, start with a friendly greeting to build rapport with the recruiter instantly.

Your greeting should be personable but professional. Not too casual, but not too formal either

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you have opened the cover letter with a warm greeting, you need to explain which role you are interested in.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant could be managing over 10 vacancies, so it’s crucial to pinpoint exactly which one you are interested in.

Highlight the department/area if possible and look for any reference numbers you can quote.

These are some examples you can add..

• I am interested in applying for the role of *Consulting position* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To round of your cover letter, add a professional signature to the bottom, giving recruiters your vital contact information.

This not only gives various means of contacting you, it also looks really professional and shows that you know how to communicate in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Gerald Baker Senior Accountant 07887500404 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application email, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Consulting cover letter

So, what type of information should you write about in your Consulting cover letter?

The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.

• Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
• Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
• The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
• Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
• Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job ? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.

Consulting cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Consulting cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

As a seasoned geologist with 13 years of experience working for reputable consultancy firms, ATCOM and GE, I am excited to apply for the Environmental Consultant position at GF Consulting.

Throughout my career, I have successfully managed a junior team at GE Consultants and provided comprehensive environmental solutions for various public sector and commercial clients, including the NHS, Lloyds Bank, and the Civil Service. I have coordinated EIAs for diverse projects, such as transport, energy, and flood management, ensuring compliance with UK and EU legislation. One notable achievement was my successful delivery of a £600k land management project for a Council run leisure centre, leading to subsequent contracts worth £1.5million per annum. Additionally, my research on water conservation technology resulted in an 88% reduction in water wastage for a commercial client, surpassing national targets.

I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience to further discuss my qualifications and potential contributions to GF Consulting’s vision. Thank you for considering my application.

Kind regards,

Elanor Gasson ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I am excited to apply for the Business Consultant position at Nexus where my diverse skill set and 8 years of experience in managing complex projects, mentoring teams, and driving strategic and operational improvements can contribute to your esteemed financial services clientele.

As a Mathematics graduate with an MBA from King’s College London, I am adept at developing data driven solutions and process improvements, delivering measurable results. At Arcadia Business Solutions, I successfully designed a risk management framework for a leading investment bank, reducing operational risk by 15% and enhancing compliance. Additionally, my strategic planning outreach initiative for a financial services firm led to the identification of new business opportunities and a 10% revenue increase over three years. Moreover, my role as a Business Analyst at Monzo provided me with valuable experience in delivering business insights through data analysis and Agile methodologies with I could bring to this role.

I am eager to discuss my potential contributions to Nexus’ continued success. I am available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for considering my application.

Stephan Menaux ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I hope you’re well.

I am writing to apply for the IT Consultant position at Sideline Solutions where my extensive 22+ year career and expertise in server management make me a great fit for the role.

Throughout my tenure at Spire Consultancy, I have successfully consulted with clients in the retail and ecommerce industries, delivering timely and effective solutions. My implementation of remote assessments has reduced average downtime by 15%, garnering excellent feedback from satisfied clients. Moreover, my expertise in SQL Server queries and data processing would allow me to complete complex analysis of diverse data formats, including CSV and XML. As a Technical Consultant at Manson IT Ltd, I managed large technical accounts and resolved escalated IT issues for public and private sector clients, improving support efficiency by conducting monthly product updates seminars and effectively managing IT consumables stock.

I am eager to discuss how my technical acumen and outstanding customer service can benefit the team at Sideline Solutions. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience.

Gabriel Obu ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Consulting job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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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Great consulting resumes have 4 main sections: Education, Work Experience, Extracurricular Activities, & Others. All should be result-oriented and data-driven

60+ Cover Letter Examples in 2024 [For All Professions]

No matter where you are in your career, or what job you’re applying for, submitting a cover letter with your resume is a must . 

Done right, a cover letter will effectively complement your resume and explain to the hiring manager in more detail why you’re the right person for the job.

Writing a cover letter, however, is easier said than done. 

You have to effectively demonstrate that you’ll be able to perform the responsibilities listed in the job description and that you’d be a better fit for the company compared to other candidates. 

And unless you’re a professional writer, this can be a very hard task.

Fortunately, we created these cover letter examples to inspire you and help you get started with your own cover letter!

Let’s dive in!

21 Cover Letter Examples 

#1. career change cover letter example .

Here’s what this cover letter does right:

• Has an ideal length. This cover letter includes all the relevant information for the hiring manager without getting into too much detail.
• Relevant introduction. The candidate explains that they’re changing careers and why they want to work in this new field from the get-go.
• Explains their related experience. The candidate explains how their previous experience in retail sales can help them succeed in PR.

Check out our guide video guide to learn how to write a Cover Letter that gets you HIRED!

#2. Recent Graduate Cover Letter Example 

• Personally greets the hiring manager. The candidate has taken the time to find the hiring manager’s name and address them by it, which makes the opening of the cover letter much more personal.
• Wraps up with a call to action. The candidate wraps up the cover letter by suggesting a meeting with the hiring manager, which makes them more memorable.
• Explains why the candidate is the right person for the internship. In this cover letter for an internship , the candidate explains how they’ve previously interned in a different firm, which gives them the experience to succeed in this role.

Have you just graduated from college? Make sure to check out our guide on writing an entry-level cover letter from start to finish! 

#3. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

• Use of bullet points. The candidate presents the information in a concise and reader-friendly way, making it easy for the hiring manager to find their key achievements. 
• Formal closing. The candidate has used a formal and polite tone to conclude their cover letter, which combined with a call to action makes them look professional and passionate about getting the job. 
• Explains how the company would benefit from hiring them. The candidate outlines exactly what they could do for the company, which not only highlights their skills but also shows they’ve done their research on the company’s needs. 

#4. Business Manager Cover Letter Example

• Detailed header. In addition to the must-have contact details, this candidate has also included their professional Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, making it easy for the hiring manager to look more closely into their career. 
• Concise and to the point. This candidate has used short paragraphs and bullet points to make the cover letter easy to skim through. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. By letting the hiring manager know they’ll be contacting them soon, they’re more likely to make an impression.

Check out this article for a complete writing guide and an inspiring business manager resume sample. 

#5. Ph.D. Cover Letter Example

Here’s what this cover letter does right: 

• Attention-grabbing introduction. In the opening paragraph, this candidate explains why they’re passionate about pursuing a Ph.D. in great detail. 
• Explains the candidate’s qualifications in detail. The candidate builds on their passion by explaining how they’re also qualified for the degree because of their education history and academic achievements. 

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

• Professional and minimalistic template. This senior executive has used a professional but minimalistic template that lets their work experience do the talking. 
• Achievement-oriented opening paragraph. Right from the get-go, this candidate explains what makes them so good at their job, effectively grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.  
• Wraps up with a call to action. By suggesting to have a meeting and discussing how they can help the company meet its goals, the candidate stands more chance to make a positive lasting impression. 

#7. Architect Cover Letter Example 

• Modern resume template. This architect has picked a template that perfectly matches his industry, as it is professional and modern at the same time. 
• A personal greeting to the HR. They address the hiring manager by their first name, which helps make a better first impression. 
• Measurable achievements. By quantifying their achievements, the candidate proves their achievements instead of just claiming them.

Struggling with your architect resume ? Check out our full guide!

#8. Business Analyst Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has listed both their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, providing the HR manager an opportunity to learn more about the candidate.  
• Mentions what the candidate can do for the company. This cover letter doesn’t just explain why the job would be great for the candidate, but also how the candidate would benefit the company. Win-win, right? 
• Error-free and reader-friendly. It’s super important for the cover letter to have no spelling or grammatical errors and be reader-friendly. This candidate made sure they did both.

Need a resume alongside your cover letter? Check out our guide on how to write a business analyst resume . 

#9. Consultant Cover Letter Example 

• Professional cover letter template. Being an experienced consultant, this candidate has picked a professional template that doesn’t steal the spotlight from their achievements. 
• Experience and achievement-oriented. The candidate has effectively elaborated on their top achievements relevant to the job. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. To show they want the job, this candidate has also explained how passionate they are about their profession.

For more advice on landing a job as a consultant, check out our guide to writing a consultant resume .

#10. Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example

• Creative cover letter template. This digital marketer highlights their originality by picking a creative cover letter template. 
• Lists the candidate’s awards. The candidate has taken advantage of the cover letter to list their most noteworthy awards in the industry. 
• Concludes with a call to action. As they used a call to action to conclude their cover letter, the HR manager will be more likely to remember them.

Want to take your digital marketing resume to the next level? Check out our guide!

#11. Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has included additional contact information such as their website link, as well as their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.  
• Ideal length. This cover letter is concise, which means that the HR manager is more likely to read it from start to finish.  
• Draws attention to the candidate’s strong points. Although this candidate is a recent college graduate, they’ve managed to effectively show that they have enough knowledge and experience to do the job right.

Read this guide to write a graphic designer resume that’s just as good as your cover letter!

#12. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. The candidate picked a well-designed but minimalistic template for their cover letter. 
• Focused on skills and achievements. This cover letter is packed with the candidate’s skills and achievements, proving he can be an excellent employee. 
• Formal closing. Politeness can go a long way and the candidate has used this to their advantage to make an impression. 

Our article on how to write an administrative assistant resume can help you take your job application to the next level.

#13. Front Desk Cover Letter Example

• Modern cover letter template. This template incorporates memorable colors and clear lines, which make the cover letter very visually appealing. 
• Attention-grabbing introduction. Using an attention-grabbing intro, the candidate is more likely to make an impression. 
• Calls the HR to action. By including a call to action, the candidate is reminding the HR of their immediate availability. 

#14. Human Resources Cover Letter Example

• It is concise and to the point. The candidate doesn’t dwell on unimportant details the HR won’t be interested in. 
• Uses a traditional cover letter template. The cover letter design is more on the conventional side, which fits the industry better. 
• Highlights the candidate’s strong points. The candidate has rich work experience and they use the cover letter to elaborate on it. 

This HR resume guide can help you get your resume just right.

#15. Sales Agent Cover Letter Example 

• Attention-grabbing cover letter template. As a salesperson, this candidate knows how important first impressions are, so they’ve picked a catchy cover letter template. 
• Has an ideal length. At the same time, they’ve also made sure to keep their cover letter at just the right length. 
• Lists the candidate’s career highlights. The candidate has made perfect use of the space by mentioning their most impressive professional achievements. 

Check out this sales agent resume guide to create an attention-grabbing sales resume .

#16. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

• Modern but minimalistic cover letter template. The template’s design hints the candidate is creative but professional at the same time. 
• Uses a catchy introduction. The candidate has used an attention-grabbing opening paragraph to catch HR’s attention. 
• Concludes the cover letter formally. The candidate proves that they’re polite and well-spoken, a quality very much important for the role they’re applying for. 

Take your receptionist resume to the next level with this receptionist resume guide .

#17. Information Technology Cover Letter Example

• Mentions measurable achievements. Numbers make an impact, which is why this candidate has included measurable achievements. 
• Lists both soft and hard skills. The candidate has mentioned a great mix of soft and hard skills, showing how well-rounded they are. 
• Contains relevant contact information. The candidate’s GitHub, website name, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles are all great additions to the resume. 

Looking for tips to help you write a great IT resume ? Check out our guide!

#18. Real Estate Cover Letter Example

• Ideal length. Short and to the point, this cover letter is bound to get noticed by the HR manager. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. This candidate reinforces the HR to call them back through a final call to action. 
• Mentions the right skills. On top of their sales accomplishments, the candidate touch upon important soft skills such as customer service and communication . 

This real estate resume guide will help you take your resume from good to great.

#19. Teacher Cover Letter Example

• Mentions relevant contact information details. This candidate has included optional (but relevant) contact information details, such as their LinkedIn, Quora, and Medium profiles. 
• Achievement-oriented. The candidate has elaborated on their achievements in more detail throughout their cover letter. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. For some jobs, being passionate is much more important than for others. Teaching is one of these jobs, which is why this candidate explains their passion for the job. 

Our guide on how to write a teacher resume has all the tips you need to land the job.

#20. Project Manager Cover Letter Example

• Leverages a catchy introduction. Through a catchy introductory paragraph, this candidate is sure to grab the HR’s attention and get them to read the rest of their cover letter.
• Lists measurable accomplishments. This candidate explains exactly what they’ve achieved using numbers and hard data. 
• Personally greets the HR. A personal greeting sounds much better than “Dear Sir/Madam,” and the candidate knows this. 

This guide on how to write a project manager resume can help you perfect your appication.

#21. Paralegal Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. This cover letter design looks good but doesn’t steal the show from the candidate’s abilities.
• Mentions the candidate’s academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Although the candidate is a recent graduate, they’ve used the cover letter to explain they have enough skills and achievements to do the job.
• Lists measurable achievements. The candidate proves they did well in their internship by mentioning quantifiable achievements.

Check out this paralegal resume guide to perfect yours.

40+ More Cover Letter Examples and Guides 

Couldn’t find a cover letter example for your field? Do not worry.

Below you can find a number of other cover letter examples for different fields and industries:

• Acting Cover Letter Examples
• Accounting Cover Letter Examples
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Architecture Cover Letter Examples
• Attorney Cover Letter Examples
• Barista Cover Letter Examples
• Bartender Cover Letter Examples
• Business Cover Letter Examples
• Business Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• College Student Cover Letter Examples
• Computer Science Cover Letter Examples
• Construction Cover Letter Examples
• Consultant Cover Letter Examples
• Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
• Data Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• Data Entry Cover Letter Examples
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Executive Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Finance Cover Letter Examples
• Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples
• Healthcare Cover Letter Examples
• Human Resources Cover Letter Examples
• IT Cover Letter Examples
• Law Cover Letter Examples
• Management Cover Letter Examples
• Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Mechanical Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Medical Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples
• Physician Cover Letter Examples
• Project Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Receptionist Cover Letter Examples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples
• Sales Cover Letter Examples
• Social Work Cover Letter Examples
• Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Teacher Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Team Leader Cover Letter Example

What is a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume . 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can give the hiring manager more insight into what makes you a good candidate and help them make up their mind about whether they should invite you for an interview. A bad cover letter, though, will get ignored (at best) and lose you the job (at worst).

So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

The first thing to remember is that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you shouldn’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume and call it a day. 

Optimally, you should use your cover letter to shed more light on your skills and qualifications, as well as explain anything you didn’t have space for in your resume (e.g. a career gap or why you’re changing careers).

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, though, putting all this together might seem pretty tough. 

Fortunately, you can follow our tried-and-tested format to make the experience much easier:

• Header - Input your contact information.
• Greeting the hiring manager - Open the cover letter with a “Dear Sir or Madam,” or use the hiring manager’s name if you know what that is.
• Opening paragraph - Grab the hiring manager’s attention by getting straight to the point. Mention what your professional experiences are, and what role you’re applying for.
• The second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Mention your top 2-3 achievements, your top skills, why you want to work in that specific industry, and whatever else is relevant.
• The third paragraph - End your cover letter with a call to action. E.g. “I would love to meet personally and discuss how I can help Company X.”
• Formal closing - Something like this: “Thank you for your consideration. Best, John Doe.”

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

9 Tips to Write a Cover Letter (the Right Way)

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about cover letter tips . Below, we'll give you all the knowledge you need to take your cover letter from "OK" to "great."

#1. Pick the right template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

And what’s a better way to leave a good impression than through a professional, well-formatted, and visual template?

You can simply pick one of our tried-and-tested cover letter templates and you’ll be all set!

#2. Add your contact details on the header

The best way to start your cover letter is through a header. 

Here’s what you want to include there:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

Optionally, you can also include the following:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your content portfolio site or blog.

#3. Greet the hiring manager the right way

Once you’ve listed all your relevant contact information, it’s time to address the hiring manager reading your cover letter. 

A good practice here is to find the hiring manager’s name and address them directly instead of using the traditional “dear sir or madam.” This shows that you’re really invested in the company and that you took your time to do some research about the job.

So, how can you find out the hiring manager’s name?

One way to do this is by looking up the head of the company’s relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Office.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of server at a restaurant. In that case, you’d be looking to find out who the restaurant manager is.

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

If you still can’t find out the hiring manager’s name, here are several other greetings you can use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

#4. Create an attention-grabbing introduction

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The problem with most cover letter opening paragraphs, though, is that they’re usually extremely generic, often looking something like this: 

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

As you can probably tell, this opening paragraph doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything other than that you’ve worked the job before - and that’s not really helpful in setting you apart from other candidates. 

What you want to do, instead, is start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position. 

For example:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as my excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the role of X at Company Y.

The second example shows how the candidate is a top performer. The first just shows that they’ve worked a sales job before.

Which one are YOU more likely to invite for an interview?

#5. Show you’re the perfect person for the job

One great thing about cover letters is that they allow you to expand more on the top achievements from your resume and really show the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. 

A good way to do that is to first read the job ad and really understand what skills/experiences are required, and then to ensure that your cover letter touches upon the said skills or experiences.

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. This means I created the ad copy and images, as well as picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

#6. Explain why you’re a great company fit

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

To convince the hiring manager that you’re a great company fit, do some research on the company and find out what it is you like about them, or about working there. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company's product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

Then, turn your top reasons for liking to work there into text and add them to your cover letter! 

#7. Wrap up with a call to action

To make the end of your cover letter as memorable as possible, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Mention anything you’ve left out that you think could help the hiring manager make up your mind.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. After all, it never hurts to be polite. 
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. A call to action is a great way to make your cover letter ending as memorable as possible. 

#8. Write a formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions in a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

#9. Proofread your cover letter

Last but not least, make sure to always proofread each and every document that you’ll be including in your job application - cover letter included. 

The last thing you want is to be claiming you’re a great candidate for the job with a cover letter full of typos! 

For an even more comprehensive guide on how to write an impactful cover letter , check out our article ! 

Cover Letter Writing Checklist 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about cover letters? Check out the answers below:

1. How do I write a simple cover letter? 

To write a cover letter that’s simple but also professional, make sure to include a header with your personal information, a formal greeting to the hiring manager, an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a second paragraph explaining why you’re a good candidate for the job, and a formal closing (preferably with a call to action). 

2. What are the 3 parts of a cover letter? 

The three parts of a cover letter are: 

• The introduction , namely the header, the greeting to the hiring manager, and the opening paragraph. 
• The sales pitch is usually the body of the cover letter. 
• The conclusion involves a formal closing and a signature line.

3. What makes a great cover letter?

A great cover letter should be personalized for each job you’re applying for, instead of being overly generic. It’s also preferable to address the hiring manager by their name and not use the overly-used “Dear Sir/Madam.”

To make a great first impression, you should mention 1-2 of your top achievements in your opening paragraph - the more job-specific they are, the better. Also, don’t stop at showing the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for the job. Make sure to also talk about how you’re a good culture fit for the company.

Last but not least, wrap up your closing paragraph with a call to action to give the hiring manager a little extra something to remember you by. 

4. When is a cover letter necessary?

Unless the job ad specifically states otherwise, you should always include a cover letter with your job application .

Even if the hiring manager doesn’t read it, you will look more professional simply by including one.

And that’s a wrap! We hope our cover letter examples and writing tips will inspire you to write a cover letter that will land you your next job.

If you’re looking for more invaluable career advice and articles, make sure to check out our career blog , or any of these related articles: 

• How to Write a Resume
• Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

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