A one page, consulting CV serves the purpose of introducing yourself to recruiters. It includes core information that indicates your suitability for the specific role to which you applied. In consulting, companies often pre-screen CV's before inviting an applicant to complete an online assessment or competency interview. However, even if you pass the pre-screening, your CV still plays a role in the rest of the application process. It provides a springboard for opening questions in interviews (such as 'walk me through your CV) as well as a pathway for more in depth questions (such as 'tell me more about experience X…'). It is therefore important to perfect your CV, as well as master your knowledge of it for interviews. Below is a list of Do's and Don'ts when it comes for writing a consulting CV.
Do's
1. Use the industry standard formatting, font, and size
Recruiters receive a vast number of CV's. For example, McKinsey usually receive around 200000 graduate applications for around 2000 roles. Recruiters scanning through this many CV's want the information to be where the expect it to be as it saves them time. When you have a completed draft, ask a fresh pair of eyes to look at it and tell you what they are drawn to immediately. This will give a good indication of what the recruiter first sees, so you can maximise the chances they notice the important things about you. Following industry standards can be extended to the number of work experiences listed. It is typical for four experiences to be written about in this section; however, if you have a good reason to deviate from this, it isn't a rule.
2. Start each line/bullet point with active buzzwords
As mentioned previously, recruiters have a large number of CVs to assess and it is unlikely that they read them in detail. It is more likely that they just scan the page, and therefore having active words at the beginning of each sentence ensures they are easy to find. This will help you demonstrate your skills to a recruiter. Moreover, some companies that receive a large number of applications use CV screening software that score CVs. One aspect of this scoring mechanism will be the number of buzzwords, and therefore it is good practice to use them at the beginning of the sentence so it is easy for you to check you have included them. Try and avoid using the same word twice, even if you are describing the same skill. There are plenty of synonyms available and it makes you come across more comprehensive if are able to display a wide vocabulary. A bank of such buzzwords can be readily found on the internet at websites such as the following (https://www.myconsultingcoach.com/consulting-resume) however use with caution, as you do not want to use all the same words as other people if possible. This will make your application blend in with the crowd, and as it is estimated 60% of graduate applicants don't get past the CV or cover letter stage, blending in is not going to be helpful.
3. Always include data
While this could be taken to the extreme, it is extremely beneficial to include lots of data points when referring to previous experiences. For example, instead of saying 'managed a team when tasked with raising capital' say 'managed a team of five when tasked with raising capital and exceeded the target figure by X%'. Consultants often need to be very data driven when working on projects as ultimately they need to use data to evaluate the effectiveness of solutions. If you can demonstrate this skill early on in the application process with your CV, it will instil a positive image in the recruiters mind.
4. Include interests and achievements
Including interests and achievements serves two key purposes. The first purpose is that innovation and creative problem solving is a vital skill for consultants, so if you can illustrate that you have a wide range of experiences, which means you can consider problems from a wide range of perspectives, this will likely be beneficial. Secondly, towards the later stages of the recruiting process, companies and interviewers want to see whether you would be a good fit to the culture of the firm and a fun, interesting person to work with. Showing that you have interests outside of consulting is one way to achieve this.
5. Tailor the skills highlighted in your CV to the firm
While lots of consultants look for many of the same key skills (such as problem solving, leadership, teamwork, analytical skills, communication and an entrepreneurial mindset) different firms have different priorities. Your chances of success are higher if the main skills that your CV highlights match the main skills the firm are looking for. The best way to understand what skills a company is looking for is by attending an event, such as an insight day or [virtual] campus event. However, if this isn't possible, a combination of using the firms website and networking with employees of the company is suitable. One thing to make sure of when emphasising skills is to not forget about some of the softer skills. It is easy to get absorbed into the analytical world of a consultant, but it is always important to remember that a large percentage of a consultants career is spent working in teams.
6. Use a fresh pair of eyes
Whether it is a friend, family member, or yourself after not having looked at it for a few days, having a fresh pair of eyes can be extremely beneficial. Spelling and grammar mistake can be fatal, so it is vital to avoid these. As well as this, reading out loud can sometimes be beneficial to see how the CV flows.
Don'ts
1. Don't lie
Generally speaking, one thing in particular can't make your CV or wider application so it is unlikely that lying will improve your chances of success in any significant way. However, if it is found out, it will almost certainly result in immediate rejection.
2. Don't waffle
There is only so much information that can be put onto one page, so be concise to show off your skills in as many ways possible. Beyond this, waffling can sometimes give the impression that there was a lack of thought put into the CV. If this gives the impression that you don't really care about your application, chances of you passing through to the next round will be minimal.
3. Don't use third or first-person pronouns
This is a minor point, but it is common practice.
4. Don't use an embarrassing email
It is a professional document and therefore you should present yourself as professional.
Hopefully you guys have found this useful and good luck with all your upcoming applications!
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