How to prepare your resume for strategic consulting

A consulting resume is the first filter in the selection process at firms like McKinsey, Bain or BCG. Its function is to demonstrate impact, clarity and excellence in less than a minute, differentiating the candidates who advance to the interview from those who are left out.

Out of every 100 applications, less than 10 make it to an interview. Here we will guide you to make yours one of them.

1. Why is the CV so important in consulting?

The CV is much more than a document. It is your tool to stand out in an environment where everyone has good grades and interesting experiences.

A consulting resume should:

• Be clear and structured
• Demonstrate impact, not just tasks
• Show that you know how to communicate accurately
• Reflecting the values sought by top consulting firms

If it does not convince in 30 seconds, the process ends there.

2. What do consulting firms look for in your resume?

The major consulting firms are looking for five key elements:

• Academic excellence: grades, awards, master's degrees, double degrees...
• Relevant or differential experience: internships, personal projects, own initiatives.
• Structured thinking: demonstrated through analytical roles or organized leadership.
• Ability to synthesize: clarity in communicating achievements and results.
• Quantifiable impact: figures, percentages, concrete results.

It is not enough to say "I made a process improvement". Say: "I improved the process and reduced the delivery time by 25%".

3. How to structure a consulting resume?

Clarity and professional format

Use bullets (never long blocks of text). Leave white spaces. Use a professional font and avoid embellishments.

A visually clean CV conveys order and structured thinking.

Download our free CV templates

Achievements, not responsibilities

Instead of saying "Marketing Campaign Manager", say:

"I led an RRSS campaign that increased leads by 45% in 3 months."

Each line must respond to:

• What did you do?
• What was the impact?
• Why does that make you a better candidate?

Strategic order

Put what stands out to you first. If you did an internship at a big four, put it at the top. If your professional experience is limited but you have a powerful project or relevant award, give it visibility.

Constant review and improvement

Review the CV several times. Read each line aloud - does it make sense, is it concrete, does it reflect accomplishments or just describe tasks?

Don't rely only on your own judgment. Contrast with examples and use validated resources.

4. Your CV is your first challenge

The person reading your resume will spend less than a minute with you. Your job is to show that you know how to focus, prioritize and communicate impact.

A well-done resume can open the doors of any firm. A weak one closes them before it starts.

Access the complete guide "Crack the Interview Process".

5. Common mistakes that leave you out

• Two pages without need: in junior/middle, 1 page is the standard.
• Bullets "task" instead of "impact": avoid generic verbs without metrics.
• Overloaded designs: prioritize legibility; do not saturate with content.
• Inconsistencies: dates, verbs, formats and margins must be consistent.
• Lack of English translation: always have an English version, especially if you are applying to international firms.

6. Structure Template (1 page CV)

1. Header: Name, email, phone, city, LinkedIn.
2. Education: Degrees/masters, GPA (if outstanding), awards, relevant courses.
3. Experience: 3-5 bullets per role; action verbs + metric/result.
4. Projects/Accomplishments: pro-bono consultancy, ventures, competitions.
5. Skills: languages, tools (Excel, SQL, Power BI), certifications.
6. Interests: 2-3 concrete (can open conversation in interviews).

7. Mini-FAQ

Should it always be 1 page?
In most cases yes; two pages only for senior profiles.

Do I include a photo?
Only if it is a local requirement and in professional format.

Do I put GPA?
Include it if it is high or provides positive context; if it does not, omit it.

Should I include soft skills?
Not as an isolated category. Show those skills through concrete achievements.

What if I don't have consulting experience?
Highlight what you do have: structure, leadership, impact, proactivity, written clarity.

Can I include personal projects?
Yes, well presented, they can differentiate you much more than irrelevant practices.

8. Access resources and keep moving forward

If you want to further prepare for consulting, explore our complete 7 steps guide. You'll find more tips on CV, networking, case interviews, mental arithmetic and more: