Every year, thousands of graduates apply for jobs in consulting, and almost every firm requires a cover letter as part of the application. ✉️ Since you’ll need to write multiple cover letters during your recruiting journey, knowing how to craft a strong one is essential. A generic or average cover letter can easily cause your application to be rejected, as recruiters review hundreds of candidates and often use mistakes or weak letters to narrow down the pool.
In this article, we’ll explain how to write a successful consulting cover letter and share proven cover letter tips to make your application stand out. And the best part? At the end, you’ll find free, customizable cover letter templates for consulting that will help you highlight your strengths, impress recruiters, and land your dream job! 🫶
A cover letter is a key part of your consulting application and should not be confused with a personal statement or the summary on your resume. Its role is to complement your CV by highlighting the most relevant skills, experiences, and motivations while also showing your genuine interest in working in consulting. Just as important, a strong cover letter explains why you want to join that specific consulting firm. Whether it’s because of their prestigious reputation, exciting projects, or innovative approach to problem-solving.
Traditionally, a consulting cover letter format follows the structure of a formal letter. This means including your own address as well as the company’s address at the top. The letter should be short, clear, and to the point, avoiding unnecessary detail. The goal is not to repeat your resume, but to spark the recruiter’s interest and make them want to learn more about you as a candidate.
Top consulting firms receive thousands of applications each year, but only a small fraction of candidates make it to the interview stage. A consulting cover letter is one of the most effective ways to differentiate yourself early in the process. Recruiters often use it to quickly assess three key factors:
A strong cover letter for consulting not only emphasizes these three aspects but also helps you stand out from a crowded applicant pool and move one step closer to landing an interview.
A consulting cover letter can make or break your application. To stand out from thousands of candidates, your letter needs to be clear, concise, and tailored. Below are five proven tips to help you craft a winning cover letter for consulting:
1) Make It Unique
One of the biggest mistakes is being too generic. Recruiters immediately notice copy-paste applications, and that reduces your chances. Visit the company’s website—especially the “About Us” or “Values” page—and reference what resonates with you. Showing that you’ve done your research proves genuine interest.
Example for Oliver Wyman:
2) Keep It to One Page
Recruiters review hundreds of applications at once. If your consulting cover letter is longer than a page, you’re asking for more time than other candidates. Consultants value conciseness—so keep your letter to a single page while still making it impactful.
3) Be Bold
Most cover letters are skimmed quickly, which means you need to make your achievements stand out. Mention if you were on the dean’s list, if you contributed to a record performance during an internship, or if you had another outstanding accomplishment.
Being bold doesn’t mean exaggerating or lying. Honesty is key, but don’t downplay your successes.
4) Name Drop
Networking is powerful in consulting. If you’ve spoken with current employees, mention them in your cover letter:
“A conversation with [Name] reinforced my desire to work at [Company Name]. I was particularly impressed by your collaborative culture and the training opportunities for junior consultants.”
If you haven’t connected directly, you can also reference firm publications, interviews, or thought leadership pieces. This shows recruiters that you’ve taken the initiative to learn about the firm.
5) Get Feedback and Proofread
A single typo can weaken your application. Always have your consulting cover letter reviewed by multiple people—mentors, peers, or career services. Feedback helps you sharpen your message and catch errors you might miss. Only implement recurring points that make your letter stronger.
Once you’ve gathered all your content, ensure your cover letter is clearly structured. This allows you to highlight the three key factors consulting firms look for: potential, understanding, and motivation.
A typical cover letter format for consulting includes:
When applying to different firms, the Company Highlights section will be the one you adapt most often. This part should always be tailored to the firm you’re targeting, showing recruiters exactly why you want to join them.
The cover letter should be written in a classic letter format. Your name, address, email, and phone number should be at the top right of the page, and the address of the company comes below it on the left, right under the date when you wrote the letter.
Address the reader in a gender-neutral manner. For example, you can start with "Dear Sir or Madam." The first line should clearly state the purpose of the letter (application), for which role you are applying, with whom, and at which company.
Here you can mention the names of current employees you have spoken with or refer to the company's mission or values that caught your attention on their website. Everything you include in this section demonstrates your interest in the company—and it's even better if you can explain why it aligns with your motivations and career ambitions. ✨
In this section, you can boldly present your achievements without going into too much detail. Since consultants prefer it short and snappy, we recommend writing 2-3 highlights in bullet-point format. This way, they catch the eye immediately and will definitely be read, no matter how quickly the person reviewing the letter skims through the page.
The personal highlights can be anything—from academic achievements to awarded scholarships to musical accolades. If you can later connect these successes to the consulting field, it will improve the flow of your writing. Use the limited space wisely to support one section with the next, thus communicating as much value as possible.
Consultants do not expect you to claim you want to stay with the company for the next 30 years. They are often open to a door policy. Due to the pyramid structure, they cannot promote all employees, and those who switch to other professions are seen as potential future clients.
Nevertheless, you should clearly explain why you believe consulting is the next logical step for your career. Think about what you have learned during your studies, what interests you, what experiences you have had, and how they have led you to consider a career in consulting. Show how your previous experiences have brought you to this path—it will leave a good impression! 🚀
We recommend ending your cover letter with "Sincerely." Even if you have spoken to the person you are sending it to before, others may read the letter as well.
These days, it’s very easy to add an electronic signature next to your name, and we advise you to do so. Almost all PDF programs offer the option to place a signature on the page. This adds a personal touch to your letter! ✍️
When applying for a position that is not in your hometown or study country, it’s important to address this in your cover letter. Show that you have the right to work in that country, or specify what support you need for your visa. It’s in both your interest and the company’s to clarify this right from the start, saving both parties time. Additionally, make clear how your grades are recognized in that country. Sometimes grades from other countries are accepted, but clarity from the beginning is crucial.
It’s easy to think that you don’t have relevant experience as a PhD candidate—but that’s not true! Instead of focusing solely on your work experience, highlight the important aspects of your PhD: data collection, problems solved, and collaboration with other researchers. In the consulting field, data and big data are highly sought after, and as a PhD candidate, you often have an advantage here. Mention in your personal highlights section what data you have collected, cleaned, and analyzed. This quickly shows that you have what it takes to become a great consultant!
Feel free to download our cover letter template! 📝 However, keep in mind that this template has already been used by others. Therefore, we recommend customizing it to make your cover letter unique. The template includes our suggested format with bullet points for your personal highlights.
Now that you have put together your cover letter, make sure to align the other steps within your application process. This means you should also prepare your CV as well as get started with your case interview preparation. Here is a list of resources that will help you get started:
👉 Read our Consulting Resume Guide and follow the step-by-step guide that shows you how to put together the perfect consulting resume.
👉 To continue your successful journey, your next step will be to start with your case interview preparation as soon as possible. Make sure to read our comprehensive case interview guide to get started!
👉 On PrepLounge, you will find everything you need to be fully prepared for your case interview. The vast PrepLounge community makes it easy to find case partners to practice cases with who have the same ambition to become an experienced case-solver like you!
A strong consulting cover letter is a crucial part of your application, as it quickly demonstrates your potential, your understanding of the industry, and your motivation to join a specific firm. The key is to keep it tailored and concise, highlight your achievements with confidence, and avoid formal mistakes. A clear structure improves readability, while adjustments for your personal situation, such as applying from abroad or with a PhD background, can further emphasize your fit. Free templates are a helpful starting point, but they should always be personalized to ensure your application stands out from the competition.
