Necessary hardskills to pass the CV round

Question

Apart from some soft skills people are talking about (problem solving, communication, critical thinking, creativity....), what are some hardskills that are needed to be shortlisted?

I have been working on case interview for the past 1 month and started to think whether or not I should equip myself with certain valuable hardskills (E.g. Data analysis skills) in order to pass the CV rounds. I am currently a last year students at an economic school in my country and is working as an intern for my first job so I don't have much to be outstanding on CV. That's why I am considering of spending more time to work on personal projects and learn more hardskills before applying.

Is this neccessary? Are should I just need to focus on my case interview and test round only?

Answer 1

Hi there,

You’re thinking about this the right way, but for the CV stage, firms care much more about evidence of problem-solving and impact than specific technical skills. You don’t need advanced hard skills to pass the screening.

That said, having some familiarity with data analysis, Excel, and PowerPoint is helpful because it shows you can handle quantitative work and present insights clearly. If you want to add something tangible, a short online course in data analytics (Excel, SQL, or basic Python) or financial modeling can strengthen your profile.

However, don’t let that distract you from the core priorities: strong grades, leadership or initiative in internships or projects, and well-written bullet points that show results. Hard skills are a nice plus, but they won’t make or break your CV: clarity, structure, and measurable achievements will.

Answer 2

Hi there,

For most entry-level consulting roles, firms don’t expect deep hard skills beyond solid Excel and PowerPoint proficiency, plus some comfort with data interpretation. What really matters at the CV stage is demonstrating impact, leadership, and problem-solving through your experiences. Building extra skills (like analytics or basic SQL) is nice, but not essential. You should still focus first on crafting strong, results-driven CV bullets and preparing well for tests and interviews.

Answer 3

Hi there,

those are nice to have, not a must. Suggest to focus on the core skills that would affect your interview performance, and don't stretch yourselfe too thin.

Best,

Emily

Answer 4

Good for you to be thinking so strategically about the CV - screening :) The thing is, it is not any particular hard or technically skills that will push you over the edge and have the recruitment team calling you for an interview.

What you need to focus on is your story arc.

How can you show progression even if early in your career? (e.g., responsibility in student clubs, internships, leadership in sports etc.)

In recruitment for consulting they are looking for well rounded, intelligent, perseverant individuals who excel both as part of a team and stepping up to lead when it is time.

This is what you need to focus on when building your consulting CV and cover letter :)

Hope that helps!