Consulting CV — How to Structure Yours
The exact format and content that consulting firms expect. Real examples and detailed guidance.
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A strong consulting CV is one page, clearly formatted, and tells a story of problem-solving and impact. Structure: (1) Contact information, (2) Education (university, degree, grades if strong), (3) Experience (internships and projects demonstrating analytical thinking, leadership, or commercial impact), (4) Skills (analytical tools, languages, relevant certifications), (5) Additional (awards, languages, extracurricular leadership). Consulting firms assess your CV slightly differently than banking: they care more about evidence of analytical thinking and problem-solving ability, less about just having "the right experience." A strong consulting CV includes quantified achievements showing your thinking, not just what you did. Your CV is read in 10 seconds during screening; make those 10 seconds count.
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Consulting CV format and structure expectations
Consulting CVs follow similar formatting conventions to banking: one page, clear hierarchy, consistent formatting, minimal decoration. Use professional font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman), 10-11pt, 0.5-inch margins, black text on white. One key difference from banking: consulting firms sometimes prefer CVs with slightly more personality and less rigid formatting, though this varies by firm. McKinsey is more formal; some boutique firms are slightly looser. When in doubt, use the formal banking-style format.
Structure your consulting CV: Contact Information (minimal), Education, Experience, Skills, Additional. This is identical to banking format. What differs is the emphasis within each section.
Section headers should be clear: EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, LANGUAGES/ADDITIONAL. Use simple formatting. Bold for company names and your own name. Bullet points for achievements. Avoid clever formatting or colours — these distract from content.
One-page CVs are standard. Consulting firms evaluate thousands of CVs and strongly prefer one page. If you have limited experience (only university projects, no internships), one page is still achievable. If you have multiple internships and strong projects, one page requires ruthless prioritisation.
Education: signalling intellectual rigour
Your education section should emphasise intellectual strength. Include: University name, Degree and major (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Economics), Expected/actual graduation date, Degree classification (if 2:1 or above), and optionally key modules or academic achievements.
For consulting, emphasis on strong grades is slightly lower than banking. McKinsey/BCG/Bain have minimum grade filters, but once you pass the filter, case interview performance matters more than CV grades. That said, a strong degree (1st or high 2:1) is an advantage.
Include relevant modules that signal analytical thinking. "Key modules: Economic Policy, Econometrics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Strategy." This shows you've studied concepts relevant to consulting. Don't list every module, just the 2-3 most relevant.
If you achieved academic honours (Dean's List, scholarships, competitions), include them. "Recipient of [scholarship name]" or "Dean's List, all semesters" signals academic strength. These aren't essential, but they differentiate you.
For exchange semesters or dual degrees, mention them. "Study abroad semester, Yale University, Spring 2024" shows initiative and global perspective.
Experience: emphasising analysis and problem-solving
Where banking CVs emphasise quantified financial impact, consulting CVs emphasise your analytical approach and problem-solving process. Format: Company, Job title, Dates, then 2-3 bullets. For each bullet, explain: what problem you solved, how you approached it, what you concluded.
Strong consulting experience bullet: "Analysed customer churn data for [company], identifying that churn rate was 40% higher in regions with low product support. Recommended hiring 15 regional support staff, projected to reduce churn by 25% and increase lifetime value by £2m." Notice this explains: (1) the problem (churn), (2) the analysis method (data analysis), (3) the insight (regional support correlation), (4) the recommendation and impact (hiring, churn reduction).
Even for non-consulting roles, emphasise analytical thinking. Retail internship: "Analysed sales patterns across 12 store locations, identifying that product training improved sales by 20%. Recommended expanded training programme, implemented at 5 locations, resulting in average sales increase of 18%." This shows you think analytically, not just execute tasks.
If you led a case competition or business case project, definitely include it. "Led case competition team analysing market entry strategy for [firm], ranked top 15 nationally among 300 teams." This directly signals the type of thinking consulting firms value.
Include leadership or initiative. "Led university investment club with 80 members, built case competition team, mentored 20 younger members." This shows you take ownership and develop others — both valued in consulting.
Skills section: analytical tools and thinking frameworks
Your consulting skills section should emphasise analytical and communication tools. Include: Programming/Analysis (Excel, Python, R, SQL — specify proficiency level), Visualisation tools (Tableau, Power BI), Languages (if fluent or business-level), and soft skills only if unusual ("Public speaking — trained presentation coach").
For Excel, specify proficiency. "Advanced Excel (V-Lookup, Pivot Tables, data analysis)" signals real capability. "Expert Excel" without detail seems boastful. If you know Python or SQL, definitely mention it — these are high-value skills for consulting analytics roles.
Languages are valuable. "Fluent in Mandarin, English, conversational Spanish." This shows you're global and adaptable. Consulting has international clients, and language skills are genuinely useful. "Basic French" doesn't add value; don't list it.
Certifications: if you've passed CFA Level 1 or have FCA certifications, include them. "CFA Level 1 (passed June 2024)." This signals dedication and technical knowledge. Most graduate consultants don't have CFA, but it's a positive if you do.
Avoid listing obvious soft skills like "communication" or "teamwork" unless you can back them with evidence. Instead, let your experience bullets demonstrate these. Unusual skills (fluent in three languages, published research, trained athlete) are memorable and worth including.
Consulting CV mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Experience bullets that describe tasks rather than thinking. "Analysed client financial data" is weak. "Analysed client financial data to identify that unit economics improved 15% after operational restructuring, recommending expansion to three new regions" demonstrates analysis and insight.
Mistake 2: Missing evidence of commercial thinking. Consulting firms want people who understand business. If your experience includes no evidence of understanding market dynamics, client value, or business impact, your CV signals you think technically but not commercially.
Mistake 3: CV longer than one page (for graduates). Consulting is about efficiency and prioritisation. A two-page CV from a graduate signals you can't prioritise.
Mistake 4: Weak extracurriculars. "Member of tennis club" doesn't add value. "Captain of university case competition team, led team to national top-20 finish, mentored two junior members who placed nationally" shows leadership and problem-solving.
Mistake 5: Vague language. "Helped with project," "Worked on analysis," "Contributed to team." These are passive. Use active language: "Led," "Built," "Analysed," "Identified," "Recommended." This signals ownership.
Mistake 6: No quantification or outcomes. Don't just list what you did; explain the impact. "Proposed change" is incomplete. "Proposed supply chain optimisation that reduced costs by 12% (£3m annually)" is complete.
Firms
Top consulting firms and CV expectations
Major consulting firms and their specific assessment focus:
Values intellectual rigour and problem-solving demonstrated in CV. One page standard.
Looks for analytical thinking and impact. Case competition experience valued.
Emphasises quantitative analysis and business impact. Data analysis skills valuable.
Looks for both strategy thinking and practical implementation. One page preferred.
Values analytical thinking and commercial awareness. Leadership experience highlighted.
Emphasises problem-solving and client-facing skills. Implementation experience valued.
Strategy
Consulting CV preparation tips
Lead with your strongest problem-solving achievement. The first bullet under your most recent experience should showcase analytical thinking.
Quantify impact wherever possible. "Reduced costs," "Increased revenue," "Improved efficiency" — all better with numbers. "Reduced costs by 15%" is concrete and credible.
Show evidence of commercial thinking. Your CV should demonstrate you understand how businesses work. Cost reduction, revenue growth, customer acquisition, operational efficiency — these are business concepts.
Include case competition experience if you have it. Case competitions are perfect preparation for consulting and signal you think like a consultant.
Lead with leadership or analytical achievements, not administrative tasks. "Managed spreadsheets" is less interesting than "Analysed customer data to identify growth opportunities."
Tailor slightly for each firm. If BCG emphasises hypothesis-driven thinking, lead with a bullet showing your ability to form and test hypotheses. If Bain emphasises quantitative analysis, lead with data analysis achievements.
Proofread obsessively. A single typo signals lack of attention to detail — critical in consulting. Read your CV backwards to catch errors.
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