Resume and Cover Letter Coaching

Question

Dear coaches,

As I prepare my consulting applications, I feel that I’m currently in a strong position to apply to higher-tier firms such as MBB. If anything, this seems like the right moment to try—given the increasing difficulty of my remaining courses, it may become harder to maintain my current grades over the coming year.

I’ve drafted my CV and a cover letter, but I’m not entirely confident that they are strong enough to pass initial screening. I’ve incorporated feedback from a few peers that did land offers or internships, but I would really value input from someone with more experience in the field.

Unfortunately, my finances are quite tight at the moment, so professional coaching isn’t really an option for me, or at least not with an upfront fee. I was wondering whether there are any free (or low-cost) ways to receive coaching, or at least feedback on my CV and/or cover letter. I’ve tried reaching out to a few people at MBB firms, but haven’t had much success so far, and I’m unsure whether it’s even appropriate to ask them directly for feedback on my application materials.

I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have.

Thank you very much in advance for your time and help.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Send it through, happy to take a quick look for free. Whatever I notice at a glance, I'll flag. Full line-by-line review and edits would be a coaching session, but the quick scan costs you nothing. Post it here or shoot me a message!

On reaching out to MBB folks for feedback, smart instinct, but low response rates are totally normal. It's bandwidth, not rejection. Keep trying.

If you want a structured, self-guided approach to the whole applications process — resume, cover letter, networking — I built a course that covers all of it and is affordable: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/prep-guide/applications

Answer 2

hey there :)

Your approach actually makes a lot of sense. Applying to MBB while your grades are still strong is usually a good idea, and many people underestimate how important timing can be. For feedback without paying for coaching, the best options are usually peers who recently went through the process, university consulting clubs, or alumni from your university working at consulting firms. It is absolutely fine to ask them politely for quick CV feedback, many people are happy to help if the ask is small and specific. Another option is posting your CV anonymously in consulting communities or forums where people sometimes give detailed comments. If you want to increase your chances, keep the message short, attach your CV, and ask for 2 or 3 minutes of quick feedback rather than a full review. That usually works much better. If you have more questions feel free to reach out anytime.

best,
Alessa :)

Answer 3

A few genuinely useful free options worth trying.

First, keep reaching out to MBB consultants on LinkedIn but change your approach. Do not ask for CV feedback directly. Ask for a 15 minute coffee chat to learn about their experience. Build the relationship first. Feedback often comes naturally once there is a connection.

Second, look at your university's career center. Most have consulting-specific advisors who have seen hundreds of MBB applications. Underused and completely free.

Third, PrepLounge has a CV review section where experienced members give feedback. Hit or miss on quality but worth trying.

Fourth, post your CV here anonymously with personal details removed. You will get mixed feedback but some of it will be genuinely useful.

On the cover letter, the most common mistake is writing about why you want consulting. Write about why this firm specifically and what you will bring. That shift alone improves most cover letters significantly.

Answer 4

Thanks for sharing your situation. I appreciate you being open about it.

You might get help from free if you keep asking around, but the issue is always the quality of the feedback. Esp when feedback is provided with confidence and authority, we tend to take it as a given, even if it's actually wrong.

So even though coaching might be prohibitive at this point, see if you could get some financial support from family or others you trust around you. Especially since it's an investment, it's something that will help you over the long-run.

Best,

Cristian