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Can anyone help me with the Cover Letter for an Consulting internship

Hey together, I'm relatively new to consulting interview preparation and have not applied yet for any internships. Therefore, I wanted to ask what do you think are the most important things to be mentioned in a cover letter for an application?

Is it more general information about why I'm interested? Is it more about a specific story which makes me look attractive for the job? What are recruiters really looking for? 

Thanks for the help!

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Top answer
Deleted user
on Oct 09, 2025

Hi there!

Great questions, many applicants don't put a lot of effort into the cover letter as they think it's the least important. But that's not the case: you have to do it properly (there is a standard format) and make sure to stand out.

Structure should be as follows:

- Why are you a good fit / better than other candidates? 

  • Emphasize your past experience (university, internships / jobs, other extra-curricular activities)
  • Align your strengths to consulting roles
  • Mention something that sets you apart

- Why consulting?

  • Explain how consulting supports your career projections
  • Show that you know what consulting is all about 

- Why this specific firm?

  • Show that you know their principles / values
  • Mention something specific about them (e.g., marketing campaign, university career fairs)
  • Mention if you have had interactions with someone from the company

Hope this is helpful!

Feel free to reach out if you want to start preparing for case interviews :)

Giulia

12
on Oct 09, 2025
Most Awarded Coach on the platform | Ex-McKinsey | 90% success rate

Great that you're asking this and taking the cover letter seriously. It's one of the elements most often ignored in applications. 

In the cover letter you should aim to do well at least two things

1. Explain what sets you apart from other candidates. Specifically, focus on 3 skills / abilities that you have and then exemplify them through professional experiences you've accumulated e.g., breadth of analytical tools and explain how you know how to code, use visualisation software, computational software etc.

2. Explain why specifically you are interested in them. Here you should avoid writing things that anybody could copy after reading the firm's website. Instead, if you've had chats with consultants from that firm, focus on what you've learned from those discussions.

Best,

Cristian

K
Komal
Coach
on Oct 09, 2025
Consultant with offers from McK, BCG, and others. LBS MBA. Received interview invites from almost every firm applied to

Hi! A good CL should summarize your story - why consulting, why you, why the firm, why the location (if not obvious from your background) and anything else in your application that might benefit from an explanation. You can speak with the recruiters of firms you’re interested in for more specific guidelines on what they expect. If you need help with CL reviews, happy to support and feel free to connect. Best of luck!  

on Oct 09, 2025

Great question! I believe a strong consulting cover letter should clearly show your motivation, your understanding of the firm’s values, and how your past experiences demonstrate problem-solving, teamwork, and analytical skills. Just like in Subway Surfers, where every quick decision can change the course of the run, consulting also rewards strategic thinking and adaptability.

10
Alessa
Coach
on Oct 09, 2025
MBB Expert | Ex-McKinsey | Ex-BCG | Ex-Roland Berger

Hey there :)

For a consulting internship cover letter, it’s best to combine both: briefly explain why you’re interested in consulting and the firm, and highlight 1–2 specific experiences or stories that show structured thinking, impact, or leadership. Keep it concise, tailored, and results-focused. If you want, feel free to reach out and we can go through it together more specifically.

best, Alessa :)

on Oct 12, 2025
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Lukas
Coach
on Oct 13, 2025
~10yrs in consulting | ex-BCG Project Leader | Personalized prep & coaching | INSEAD MBA

Hi, 

great that you are taking this seriously.

Essentially you want to convey two things: WHY YOU (Motivation, Skills, Past experience) and WHY THIS FIRM (Motivation).

 Many coaches also offer support with cover letters. Let me know if that is something your are interested in. However, I think the free resources in this thread and on Preplounge should enable you to write a strong cover letter.

Best,
Lukas

Jenny
Coach
on Oct 09, 2025
Buy 1 get 1 free for 1st time clients | Ex-McKinsey Manager & Interviewer | +7 yrs Coaching | Go from good to great

Hi there,

Consulting cover letters mainly focuses on three things: motivation, fit, and impact. Briefly explain why consulting and why that firm, then highlight 1–2 experiences that show problem-solving, teamwork, or leadership skills. Keep it specific and structured as recruiters prefer concise, tailored stories over generic passion statements.