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Whether or not you’re a scholar or a longtime skilled, the trail to becoming a member of the ranks of prime consulting corporations like Boston Consulting Group will embody a compelling cowl letter. Candidates ought to goal to offer a concise, personalized cowl letter for every main consulting agency utility, and it needs to be tailor-made to your expertise to showcase your distinctive story.
Rationale Behind Consulting Cowl Letters
Let’s begin with a number of the fundamentals.
First, does BCG require a canopy letter?
Sure, BCG does require a canopy letter. Cowl letters are important for filtering functions and gauging an applicant’s curiosity and talent for the place. Some geographies will point out that the quilt letter is non-obligatory, so that you would possibly ask us, “Ought to I nonetheless write a canopy letter if it seems non-obligatory?” Our emphatic reply is – sure! Cowl letters are an effective way to face out on this extremely aggressive discipline.
Second, perceive who shall be studying your resume.
At a agency like BCG, the quilt letter shall be most essential to recruiters and to hiring managers, and, to a lesser diploma, the consultants that interview you. BCG, and most different administration consulting corporations, usually are not utilizing AI readers for canopy letters that come by way of campus recruiting, so write your cowl letter planning for a human to learn it.
Lastly, acknowledge that your cowl letter is essentially a filter.
It is because the quilt letter and resume are each used to display screen candidates, however as soon as you might be into the interview stage, case interviews and behavioral interviews govern most of your consequence. With that stated, put your finest foot ahead to get within the door.
What’s BCG searching for?
BCG needs inventive candidates who exhibit an understanding of industries mixed with a talent set that features problem-solving, analytical pondering, management acumen, and efficient communication.
Almost about tales, BCG needs to see your particular contributions and influence on initiatives. Recruiters are extra interested by your particular person capacity to drive income than within the complete undertaking dimension that you just participated in. Each metrics are useful, however the first shows your influence in a private method.
Learn how to Write a BCG Cowl Letter
Writing a BCG cowl letter entails 5 key steps.
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Know your story
Recruiters are attempting to grasp what kind of a advisor you is perhaps, so that you need to deal with who you might be in easy and direct phrases, crafting a memorable and constant narrative of your self.
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Establish particular conditions of distinctive success out of your story
Spotlight episodes that replicate your problem-solving skills, management roles, or communication abilities. The quilt letter lets you go deep the place the resume was broad, so choose two to a few particular “hero tales” and describe them intimately.
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Observe a construction to make your story simpler to learn
The format of your cowl letter is just not the time to be inventive. You usually need 4 essential paragraphs: an introduction, first hero story, the second hero story, and a conclusion, along with salutations.
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Be quantitative in your tales and outcome
Present specifics on the outcomes you’ve delivered. Whether or not it’s a 20% improve in gross sales or lowering undertaking supply time by three weeks, numbers converse louder than phrases to consultants, and numbers will give the recruiters confidence that you would be able to assume like a advisor.
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Handle potential purple flags in your story
Take into consideration spinning. When you’ve got a spot in your resume, now’s your likelihood to clarify the hole and doubtlessly make it a compelling a part of your story. In a single instance, a latest new rent at BCG took a spot 12 months to coach and declare Ok-2, usually known as the toughest mountain climb on the earth. Addressing this in his cowl letter was an effective way to speak the explanation for this hole and spin it to a constructive story of dedication and endurance.
The above objects needs to be achievable, no matter your circumstance. Along with these, additionally attempt to add reference to people who have referred you inside the BCG. This can be a element so as to add to your concluding paragraph. You can even add any BCG occasions that you’ve got joined or observe BCG initiatives that you’re conscious of that uniquely resonate with you.
BCG Cowl Letter Format
Now let’s discuss some tactical particulars.
- Size: All the time preserve it to at least one web page. Recruiters begin to go to sleep after one web page.
- Font: use 10–12-point skilled, readable fonts like Arial, Occasions New Roman, or Calibri.
- Spacing, Margins, and Alignment: Persist with 1-inch margins, 1-1.5 line spacing, and guarantee your content material is neatly aligned.
The above format is the business normal. There may be nearly no purpose to veer from this, except you’re a seasoned govt coming into consulting on the associate stage, during which case you’ll embody an additional web page and dialogue of your imaginative and prescient for the function, along with quite a lot of different necessities.
Resume + Cowl Letter Edits
- 2 Rounds of Edits every on 1 Resume and 1 Cowl Letter
- Digital go: 24 templates, 5 e-books
Black Belt
- 8 hours 1:1 Zoom classes with MBB coach of your alternative
- All entry go: 600+ circumstances, 10K+ math/construction drills, 9 video programs, 18 chatbot circumstances
- 2 Rounds of Edits every on 1 Resume and 1 Cowl Letter
- Unique group coaching (Dec. 19, 1-3PM ET)
Widespread Errors To Keep away from
Now that you’re outfitted with a information on the way to efficiently craft your BCG cowl letter, let’s discuss frequent errors to keep away from to your cowl letter draft.
Writing a couple of web page for a canopy letter.
That is the largest mistake that most individuals make once they draft their cowl letter. The straightforward actuality is that most individuals will cease studying after one web page, and a few recruiters will dock factors in opposition to you for this straightforward mistake. Preserve it to 4 paragraphs on one web page.
Failing to quantify your outcomes
Consultants like numbers. They need numbers in your interview solutions, in your resume, and in your cowl letter. Every “Hero Story” wants metrics. Gross sales metrics, workforce members led, even the variety of PowerPoint pages that you just constructed are inspired on a canopy letter.
Not ending with a compelling name to motion
You need to attempt to finish your cowl letter politely, but additionally with a transparent subsequent step. A few of our favorites are “Thanks to your consideration; I stay up for listening to from you quickly,” and “Thanks upfront for the time; I stay up for discussing my utility additional.”
BCG Cowl Letter Suggestions
- Salutation Do’s and Don’ts:
Handle the hiring supervisor if you realize the hiring supervisor that may evaluation your resume, in any other case, use “Pricey Hiring Supervisor” or “To whom it could concern.” Don’t use “Mr.”, “Ms.”, and never “Mrs.” within the salutation.
- Tailor for every agency:
A one-size-fits-all method gained’t minimize it. Customise your cowl letter for BCG particularly, utilizing the title “BCG” and calling out particular BCGers that you just’ve met.
- Keep concise:
Persist with related particulars and keep away from the fluff. Something earlier than college is probably going irrelevant.
- Closing:
Reiterate your curiosity and clearly point out a aim for additional dialogue.
- Suppose long-term motivations:
Present how your long-term targets align with BCG’s imaginative and prescient, or how your passions align with BCG’s mission.
- Proofreading:
A easy typo can price you dearly. Double-check, triple-check, and have a pal re-read it earlier than sending if you’re susceptible to typos.
- File Format:
Sometimes, a PDF format is preferable because it retains the unique formatting.
BCG Cowl Letter Instance
Relying in your expertise, your particular achievements will range. Contemplate the next examples.
Undergrad:
Focus in your management in college over tutorial achievements. Tales about main a membership or one other scholar group are extra fascinating than getting an A in a tough class. Name out your extracurriculars for a similar causes, focusing in your management and your influence. Make sure you name out any related internships, particularly any direct influence that you just contributed.
MBA / Superior Diploma:
In case you’ve labored full-time, considered one of your two “hero tales” have to be out of your most important skilled function. In case your work expertise is analysis centered, attempt to talk the influence of your analysis expertise in layman phrases.
Skilled Rent:
Emphasize related job roles, particularly something with analytics or problem-solving. The large query with skilled hires is often, “are you able to assume like a advisor?” Management positions and key accomplishments are additionally useful, as they present you’ll be able to carry these abilities into BCG.
For Cowl Letter examples and template, take a look at our thorough information on writing any cover letter.
Conclusion
Crafting the proper BCG cowl letter is a mix of placing your finest foot ahead, understanding the BCG, and speaking your story. Do not forget that it is a screening train, so particulars matter and formatting can price you. In case you’re aiming for a seat on the BCG desk, guarantee your cowl letter stands out. And for these in search of customized steerage, MC’s interview teaching and resume modifying can provide the definitive edge.
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