We interviewed Afzal Hussein, YouTuber, CV expert and ex-Goldman Sachs investment banker. Here is what he said about writing a the best CV for a consultant job at a top firm.
Afzal Hussein is a CV expert and career mentor. He managed to gain early experience at BlackRock, EDF Trading, PwC, and RBS during his time at university. He then went on to start a career at Goldman Sachs after graduating.
How to Create the Best CV for a Consultant Application
Why Personal Bios Are Outdated in Consultant CVs
Interview Excerpt:
“Personal bios are a thing of the past. Don’t use precious space on your CV to explain how driven and motivated you are. The reader should be able to gather such information from the rest of your CV.”
This advice means that rather than wasting space on a paragraph that describes your personality or motivation, you should let your experience and achievements speak for themselves. In a consulting CV, your skills, results, and impact are far more important than broad statements about your traits.
Focus on the important bits
Focus on quantifiable achievements, specific skills, and experiences that showcase your motivation and drive. Instead of saying “I am motivated and driven”, highlight instances where your determination led to measurable success, like exceeding sales targets or leading successful projects. Let your accomplishments demonstrate these qualities.
The Ideal Length for a Consultant CV: Keep It to One Page
Interview Excerpt:
“Keep your CV’s length to 1 page of A4. Nothing more, nothing less. The latter pages of a CV that extend beyond 1 page will likely receive no attention from the reader. A CV with not enough information to fill an A4 page is likely to tell the reader that the candidate has a lack of experience and work to talk about. Therefore, please keep your CV to 1 page.”
Consulting recruiters often have limited time to review each application. A concise, one-page CV forces you to be selective with your content, ensuring only the most relevant experiences are included. This helps keep the reader’s attention on your key strengths.
One page limit
Limit your CV to one page by focusing on experiences and skills that are directly relevant to the consulting role you are applying for. Use short, impactful statements and bullet points to communicate your value clearly and effectively. Prioritize achievements that are most aligned with consulting competencies, such as problem-solving, analytical thinking, and leadership.
How to Make Your Consultant CV Stand Out in 30 Seconds
Interview Excerpt:
“Employees reviewing your CV will give it between 30 seconds and a minute before moving on. They have thousands of CVs to look through as well as their own to-do lists. Make sure your CV grabs the reader’s attention and stands out immediately. Italicize or make bold key points/achievements. I often tell students to ask a family member, friend, or sibling to spend 30 seconds reading their CV and have them recall the things that stood out within those 30 seconds.”
This advice emphasizes the importance of making a quick impression. In the fast-paced consulting world, a CV that fails to catch the eye of a recruiter within seconds is likely to be overlooked.
Text formating adds personality
Use bold or italicized text for your most significant achievements to make them stand out at a glance. Position your most impressive and relevant experiences at the top of the CV. This could include high-impact projects, quantifiable results, or leadership roles that highlight your consulting potential.
Best Structure for a Consultant CV: Key Sections to Include
Interview Excerpt:
“Structure is key. Your CV should include four main sections: Education, Relevant Experience, Extracurricular Activities and Positions of Responsibility, and Skills & Interests. Dedicate most of your CV’s content to the ‘Relevant Experience’ section.”
A clear and logical structure is essential to guide the reader through your CV smoothly. Each section should tell a different part of your story, showcasing your suitability for a consulting role.
How to edit each section:
- Education: List your academic achievements, especially if they are relevant to consulting (e.g., degrees in business, finance, or engineering). Include honors, awards, or notable projects.
- Relevant Experience: Focus on professional experiences that demonstrate problem-solving, analytical skills, and teamwork. Prioritize consulting-related roles or internships.
- Extracurricular Activities and Positions of Responsibility: Highlight leadership roles and activities where you made a significant impact or developed key consulting skills.
- Skills & Interests: Include skills that are directly relevant to consulting, such as data analysis, presentation, or project management. Mention interests that show a well-rounded personality or a passion for the consulting industry.
Writing Powerful Bullet Points to Boost Your Consultant CV
Interview Excerpt:
“Powerful bullet points turn average CVs into strong CVs. Start with a powerful verb followed by an explanation of the experience and end with either a result achieved or a skill learned. For example, ‘Engaged and worked with senior management on various projects; enhanced and developed interpersonal and time-management skills.”
Effective bullet points are crucial in communicating your achievements succinctly. They make it easy for recruiters to identify your accomplishments and understand the value you bring.
Structure of a bullet
Structure each bullet point in three parts:
- Action: Start with a strong verb that captures what you did (e.g., “Led,” “Developed,” “Analyzed”).
- Task: Briefly describe the task or project you worked on.
- Result/Impact: End with a quantifiable result or the skills gained (e.g., “increased client satisfaction by 20%,” or “developed data analysis skills”).
This method ensures that each point on your CV is focused and impactful, showcasing your contribution clearly.
Fonts and Formatting Tips for a Professional Consultant CV
Interview Excerpt:
“A good rule of thumb is to keep your CV black and white and avoid font sizes below 10 and above 12. Arial and Calibri fonts are acceptable, however, Times New Roman is your safest bet for a professional-looking CV.”
Consulting firms expect a professional and clean CV that is easy to read. The choice of font and formatting can significantly impact the visual appeal and readability of your document.
Stick to the standards
Stick to standard, professional fonts like Times New Roman or Calibri in sizes between 10 and 12. Avoid fancy designs or colors that could distract from your content. Consistency in formatting is key, so ensure your headings, bullet points, and spacing are uniform throughout the document.
How to Adjust Margins and Spacing for a Clean Consultant CV
Interview Excerpt:
“Last but not least, adjust margins and spaces accordingly. You don’t want your CV to look too cluttered and cramped nor do you want it to look empty by being full of white space. Simply follow these tips when writing your cover letter and CV, and you’ll be receiving interview invitations in no time!”
Balanced spacing makes your CV easier to read and more visually appealing. A cluttered CV can be overwhelming, while too much white space may suggest a lack of experience.
Make it neat
Adjust your margins to fit all content neatly onto one page without making the text look cramped. Use a margin of around 1 inch but feel free to reduce it slightly if needed to fit in critical information. Make sure there’s enough space between sections and bullet points to make your CV look organized and well-structured.
About Afzal Hussein: CV Expert and Career Mentor
Afzal Hussein is the Founder and CEO of Simpley App (www.simpley.io), a marketplace for career advice where mentees can book mentors for 30-60 minute video calls. Afzal secured spring weeks with BlackRock, EDF Trading, PwC, and RBS during his time at university. He then went on to start a career at Goldman Sachs after graduating.
Afzal left Goldman Sachs in 2018 to pursue his entrepreneurial passions full-time. He runs a career-focused YouTube channel with over 152,000 subscribers (https://www.youtube.com/@AfzalHussein) and a career consulting business (www.officialcvdoctor.com) where you can find useful free resources.
Final Thoughts
These tips from Afzal Hussein are proven strategies for crafting a CV that stands out in the competitive world of consulting. You’ll significantly increase your chances of landing interviews with top firms.
But before you put these tips into action, ask yourself:
Are you really aware of what consultants do and what it takes to excel in this field?
Understanding the demands and expectations of the consulting industry is just as crucial as having a polished CV. Are you ready to take the next step in your consulting journey?
If you plan to have a go at applying at McKinsey, we have a helpful article exactly for that process.
