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Consulting Resume Template
A consulting resume is one page with no summary: Education first, then experience where every bullet shows an analysis and a business result, then leadership and a short Additional Information line. This free template follows that format, with a filled-in example you can overwrite.
No account needed for the download. Opens in Word, Google Docs and Pages.
What does a consulting resume look like?
Conservative and dense with results. Strategy firms read resumes as evidence of how you think, so every line has to earn its place. The feedback that repeats on r/McKinsey_BCG_Bain is blunt: delete the professional summary, shrink the skills section, add another leadership role. The sections, in order:
- Education: school, degree, GPA, honors, case competitions.
- Experience: 2–4 bullets per role, each with an analysis and a result.
- Leadership & Activities: roles where you led people or built something.
- Additional Information: one line each for skills, languages and genuine interests.
What do McKinsey, BCG and Bain look for?
Academic excellence
GPA, honors and a demanding major. Firms weigh academics heavily for entry-level roles.
Measurable impact
A number in almost every bullet: dollars, percentages, time saved, people affected.
Leadership
Leading people or a project, not just holding a title. Show what changed because you led it.
A distinctive “spike”
A competition win, a venture you started, a serious sport or skill that makes you memorable.
McKinsey describes its interviews as assessing problem solving plus personal impact, entrepreneurial drive and inclusive leadership. Each of those should have at least one bullet on your resume that a partner could ask you about.
How do you write consulting resume bullets?
Action verb + the analysis you did + the business result. Consulting screeners look for structured thinking and impact, so name the method and attach a number.
✗ Worked on market research for a healthcare client.
✓ Sized a $2.1B market for a medical-device client from 12 expert interviews; recommendation shaped its 3-year entry plan.
✗ Responsible for improving operational efficiency.
✓ Built a cost model across 14 plants that identified $9M in annual procurement savings, presented to the client COO.
How do you list consulting projects on a resume?
One entry per firm, then 2–4 bullets that each describe a project by industry, problem and result. Keep clients anonymous (“a Fortune 500 retailer”, “a medical-device client”) and pick the engagements with the clearest numbers rather than listing all of them. If you're at Big 4 or a boutique, use the same structure: screeners care about the work and the result, not the firm's name alone.
Why do consulting resumes get rejected at screening?
Volume. MBB firms receive far more applications than interview slots, and Reddit is full of strong candidates rejected before any test, even from target schools. The resume problems that show up most:
What gets cut
- Bullets that describe duties, not results
- A summary or objective at the top
- Two pages, or a long skills list
- Leadership titles with nothing achieved
What gets interviews
- A number in almost every bullet
- Evidence of leading people
- One clear spike that makes you memorable
- A clean single-column page
Many firms also receive applications through an applicant tracking system. In HAIRED's analysis of 10,000 CVs, PDFs with columns or tables failed to parse in 52% of cases versus 4% for a plain single-column file. Once yours is filled in, check it free against a fixed 14-point checklist.
Get the consulting template
Download it for Word and Google Docs, then check it free before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Should a consulting resume be one page?
Yes. For undergraduates, MBA students and most experienced hires applying to McKinsey, BCG, Bain and other strategy firms, one page is the standard. Screeners compare hundreds of resumes in the same format, and a second page signals you can’t prioritize, which is the core consulting skill.
Should I include a professional summary on a consulting resume?
No. It’s one of the most common pieces of feedback on consulting resumes: delete the summary and use the space for another quantified bullet or a leadership role. Your first Education and Experience lines already say who you are.
What do McKinsey, BCG and Bain look for on a resume?
Strong academics, measurable impact in every role, leadership (ideally leading people, not just holding a title) and something distinctive: a competition win, a venture you started, a demanding sport or skill. McKinsey describes its interviews as assessing problem solving plus personal impact, entrepreneurial drive and inclusive leadership, so the resume should give evidence of each.
How do I list consulting projects on my resume?
Keep one entry per firm and write 2–4 bullets that each describe a project by industry, problem and result, without naming confidential clients: “Built a cost model across 14 plants for an industrial client, identifying $9M in annual savings.” Don’t list every engagement; pick the ones with the clearest numbers.
Where should Education go on a consulting resume?
At the top for undergraduates and MBA students. Experienced hires with three or more years of relevant work usually move Experience first and keep Education short.
Should I include my GPA and test scores?
Include your GPA exactly as on your transcript if it’s strong. Consulting firms weigh academics heavily, so leaving it off draws attention. Add GMAT/GRE scores on MBA or experienced-hire resumes if they’re competitive.
Is this consulting resume template ATS-friendly?
Yes. It’s a single column with standard headings and no tables or graphics. In HAIRED’s analysis of 10,000 CVs, PDFs with columns or tables failed to parse in 52% of cases, against 4% for a plain single-column file.
Investment banking resume template → · Harvard resume template → · McKinsey consultant CV example →
HAIRED is not affiliated with McKinsey & Company, BCG or Bain & Company. Names and numbers in the template are placeholders.