how to write a cover letter for bcg

BCG Cover Letter: Our Step-by-Step Guide + Examples

Last Updated March, 2024

Former McKinsey and Bain recruiter

The most common question I was asked as a recruiter, and now as a recruiting coach, is “Do I need to write cover letters for my consulting applications?” This is usually followed up with “And do I need to tailor my cover letter for every firm?”

I think most people hope I’ll say no to both questions, as writing a cover letter can be pretty daunting, and tailoring it for every firm seems way too time-consuming to be worth the effort.

At My Consulting Offer, we’ve helped over 600 clients land offers with consulting firms. Our approach to how to write a great consulting cover letter has, for many, been a deciding factor in them landing interviews.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

What makes a great consulting cover letter.
How to tailor your consulting cover letter to what BCG is looking for – a step-by-step guide.
How BCG and other consulting firms review your cover letter.
A sample BCG cover letter that successfully landed an interview.
5 tips for writing a BCG cover letter.

Let’s get started!

What Makes a Great Consulting Cover Letter

The consulting cover letter works alongside your resume to show the firms you’re applying to that you have the potential to be a great consultant.

Think of it as a flashy introductory accessory to your resume that highlights your most impressive and unique qualities, and grabs the reader’s attention so they’ll be excited to read your resume.

However, it’s important to get it right.

A Strong Consulting Cover Letter: The Basics

As a recruiter, I saw way too many examples of applicants who had clearly not put any effort into their cover letter. Getting the basics right, such as ensuring the company name is correct, is essential (but not everyone gets that right).

On the flip side, I received cover letters from applicants who were perhaps a little too eager to stand out. Poetry and “love letters” were not uncommon but a little ill-judged. The urge to be distinctive should not outweigh your consideration of the audience. Professionalism and appropriateness are key.

The consulting cover letter not only needs to have the impact required to engage the reader, it also needs to show them that you’ve done your research and thought about how you’re a great fit for consulting, and for their particular firm. It must also show how you’ll bring value to the role through your experiences and appetite to learn relevant skills.

You definitely can’t send the same cover letter to every consulting firm you’re applying to and assume that you’ll be successful. You’ve got to show each and every firm that you’re worth an interview.

That’s a lot to think about, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

A Strong Consulting Cover Letter: Stand Out from the Crowd

After you’ve got the basics right, you need to identify what the consulting firm you’re applying to is looking for. Consulting firms typically seek candidates with great problem-solving, analytical, creative thinking, communication, team working, and leadership skills.

So how can you include these in your cover letter while also tailoring it to an individual firm?

We recommend you focus on the firms’ values. These are how consulting firms distinguish themselves from other consulting firms.

You can easily find out what a firm’s values are by either typing “[firm name] values” into your search engine or by visiting the firm’s career page where they typically list these and provide detail on what they mean.

Now think about your own professional and personal experiences. Focus on experiences that you are proud of, received great feedback on, or demonstrate how you overcame a particularly tough challenge. Give some context of the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome that was reached, quantifying the results where possible. Try to ensure they include at least one of the consulting skills mentioned above.

Once you’ve outlined a few stories, you can then see how they might fit with the values of the firms you’re applying to. You may need to tweak some slightly, but you’ll probably find it pretty easy to link your stories to each firm’s values.

And you don’t necessarily need to address all of the values, particularly if a firm has more than four, as you don’t want your cover letter to be more than a page.

The additional benefit of approaching your cover letter in the way we recommend is that you don’t need to explain your “why” for each firm. It will be clear by how your experiences resonate with their specific values. This shows how you’re a great fit.

You can find out more about writing consulting cover letters by reading A Consulting Cover Letter that Lands Interviews: Our Complete Guide . For this article, we’re going to break it down by focusing on just one firm – BCG.

Tailor Your BCG Cover Letter to What BCG is Looking for

Step 1: Find out who to address your cover letter to at BCG.

It may differ between offices, depending on size, but you can usually find the key recruiting contact on the career page or by searching on LinkedIn. It may be a recruiter who handles recruiting for your university across regional offices for instance, or perhaps a recruiter who manages experienced professional recruiting for the office you’re applying to.

Addressing your cover letter to someone specific and relevant helps to show that you’ve done your research and that you care about the impression you’re making. Firms often display their key recruiting contacts on the careers pages of their websites. Alternatively, you could search LinkedIn for roles such as Talent Acquisition Manager, Recruiting Manager, or Senior Recruiter and then locate the relevant person who looks after either the stream you’re applying through (for instance, experienced professional, undergraduate) or the office they recruit for, which is usually detailed in their profile.

Step 2: Create your opening paragraph.

Keep it concise, ideally no more than four or five lines. Introduce yourself and express your interest in applying to BCG and the specific role you’re applying for, which will typically be Associate or Consultant but may be a more specialist role, for instance, within BCG Gamma. You may also want to write a short sentence on “ why consulting ” here. Talk about how your experiences resonate with their values and state specifically which ones.

You can find BCG’s values by Googling “BCG values” or by visiting their “ our people and culture ” page directly. This content gives you a really good feel for how having the right people and developing a unique culture is so important to BCG.

Scroll down to where they talk about the values driving their culture. There’s a great mini slideshow of their values and what they mean. Here’s a snapshot:

Integrity – as an expression of courage and accountability
Diversity – of thought, expertise, experience, and background
Respect for the individual – as their capacity for desire and personal growth
Clients come first – we measure our success by our clients’ success
The strategic perspective – enabling clients to deliver superior results in a sustainable manner
Value delivered – in the form of tangible, positive, and lasting change
Partnerships – a long-term view guides BCG’s relationships both internally and with clients
Expanding the art of the possible – because the goal is not simply to apply best practice but to invent it
Social impact – make the world a better place

These values are created to be meaningful and inspiring, representing what BCG stands for, and making you want to be a part of BCG’s unique culture.

BCG has more stated values than most other firms, but this can actually make it easier as you can select the ones that resonate most with your own values and the stories you’ve written. I’d recommend choosing three or four, depending on the length of your stories.

Step 3: Organize your stories for the greatest impact.

Once you’ve chosen your stories to meet the values you’ve selected, list your strongest first and the weakest in the middle (although it should still be strong). List your stories in bullet point format and use the value as a heading.

Step 4: End your cover letter by reiterating your interest in BCG and how you appreciate their consideration. And don’t forget to sign off. Electronic signatures are the norm these days, just don’t use a script font here as this can look too artificial.

In addition to this publicly available information about what BCG looks for in its candidates, my colleague Valentin has written an article with the insider perspective on what’s important to BCG . This includes drive, a tailored approach, and the BCG attitude. Check it out to make your BCG cover letter to be extra special.

How BCG & Other Consulting Firms Review Your Cover Letter

As a recruiter for seven years with McKinsey and then a recruiting manager for nearly five years with Bain, both in London, I’ve read tens of thousands of resumes and accompanying cover letters. London is one of the most coveted offices, so applications came in thick and fast during recruiting season and continued throughout the whole year.

I received cover letters from undergraduate students, postgraduate students, MBA students, and experienced professionals throughout my recruiting career, all eager to impress, but not always getting it right.

I had letters consisting of just a few lines that didn’t tell me anything about the person, and others that provided their life story across multiple pages. Some were addressed to another company, others had lots of spelling mistakes or poor grammar. I’ve read very entertaining letters (although perhaps not always appropriate) as well as letters that were lacking in any engaging content at all.

The ones that grabbed my attention in a good way, were those that were concise, clearly laid out, showed me that the applicant had done their research on the company I worked for, demonstrated their unique qualities, and told me how they would be a great fit for us.

To make it easier for recruiters who read hundreds of cover letters every year, follow these basic principles.

And to ensure your cover letter then stands out from the competition, I recommend you use My Consulting Offer’s approach. The more experienced a recruiter is, the easier it is for them to skim through cover letters, so you need to be able to impress them really quickly.

Successful BCG Cover Letter Samples

5 tips for writing a bcg cover letter that stands out.

Find out who at BCG will be reviewing your application and address your letter to them (and their team).
Research BCG’s values and select the 3 or 4 that resonate with you and your experiences.
Create or adapt your stories to fit the values you’ve chosen, focusing on specifics and structuring them so that they include the context, challenge, actions you took, and the results you reached.
Ensure you’re also demonstrating relevant skills in your stories such as problem-solving, leadership, and communication.
Get the basics right. Ensure you’re referring to BCG in your letter throughout, keep it to one page, use bullet points for ease of reading, and check for spelling and grammar errors.

In this article, we’ve covered:

What a consulting cover letter looks like
A step-by-step guide to how to tailor your cover letter to BCG
How recruiters at consulting firms review cover letters
A sample cover letters that landed our client an interview with BCG
Our top 5 tips for writing a successful BCG cover letter

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the Boston Consulting Group cover letter, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s recruiters will answer them.

Other people looking for advice on BCG cover letters found the following pages helpful:

Consulting Cover Letters
Consulting Resumes
Consulting Networking
BCG Recruiting
BCG Case Interview

Help With Your Consulting Application

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on case study interview prep. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Afrah Arif was able to get her offer at Deloitte .

3 Things Consulting Firms Actually Look for in Your Application

We are sharing our powerful strategies to get your foot in the door, even if you have a low GPA, have little to no business experience, or study a non-business-related major.

No thanks, I don't want free strategies to get into consulting.

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Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

Today we’re going to explain everything you need to know about writing consulting cover letters.

We’ll start by reviewing an example cover letter that got interview invitations from ALL the MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain).

And then we’ll explain exactly how you should write your own cover letter to land consulting interviews. Here’s a full list of the topics in this guide:

Example cover letter

How to write your consulting cover letter

Consulting cover letter tips.

The skills consulting firms look for

Consulting cover letter screening process

Get help with your cover letter

Let’s get to it!

Click here for a consulting letter/resume review with an ex-MBB consultant

Example cover letter (which got interviews at mckinsey, bcg, and bain).

Below is an anonymised cover letter from a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. So you can trust that this template works.

The image here highlights the different sections of the cover letter, but we’ll dive deeper into the text later, and you can also get a downloadable copy below.

Free download of the consulting cover letter example, here.

In the next section, we’ll go step-by-step through each part of the cover letter and explain how to go about writing it. But before we dive in, please note the following points about the above template:

A lot of people use this template. Get inspiration from it, but every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.
This cover letter might sound impressive. It's one of the best ones we’ve seen. But even if you have not achieved as much as this person, you can still get an interview.

With that said, let’s dig into the cover letter writing process!

As a starting point, this video provides a nice overview of the full writing process for a consulting cover letter.

Now let’s break things down further.

1. Introduction

Example - Introduction

Mary Taylor - [email protected]

DD / MM / YYYY

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to apply for an Associate position at McKinsey in London.

This section is a formality. It should simply state the following information:

Your name and email address. You can replace your email address with a postal address although those are not commonly used anymore.
The date on which you are sending your letter
The position, company, and office to which you are applying

Keep it short and sweet.

2. Why you?

Example - Why you?

I started working as an Analyst at Big Finance in New York in September 2020 and was quickly promoted to Associate in a year and a half instead of the average four years. While at Big Finance, I advised a broad range of clients who constantly gave me positive feedback and regularly asked to work with me again. Before joining Big Finance, I graduated as the top student of my MEng in Chemical Engineering at Prestigious University in the UK. While studying, I received two competitive scholarships and awards. In addition, I developed my leadership skills as the President of the Prestigious University Consulting Club. High energy was essential to lead a team of 5 managing the club and growing the number of members by 20%.

This is your "GOLD MEDALS" section. It is the first section of your cover letter and therefore the most important one.

It should state the TOP 3 achievements of your life to date that are relevant to consulting. These achievements should be as unique and as memorable as possible. When your reviewer reads them they should think "Wow, that's impressive. I want to know more about this person."

To write this section you need to step back and ask yourself "What are the most impressive things I've done with my life so far?" This is not an easy question to answer.

In our experience discussing this with a close friend can help. It's sometimes easier for them to quickly point out the impressive things you have done as they are an external observer.

In addition, notice how achievements are QUANTIFIED in the example above. Saying you have been promoted "in a year and a half instead of the average four years" is much more powerful than saying you have been promoted "quickly." You should quantify your achievements whenever possible.

This section is your chance to grab the reader's attention. If there's nothing impressive in it, they will stop reading and just scan the paragraphs. So don't miss your opportunity!

3. Why consulting?

Example - Why consulting?

There are several reasons why I want to pursue a consulting career. To start with, I know I will enjoy being a strategy consultant because I have already worked in a strategy team in the past. This was in summer 2019 when I was a Strategy Intern at Big Grocery Retailer in London. In addition, I think consulting is a unique opportunity to comprehensively learn about business management by working on a variety of company situations. Over the past two years, I have started building my business skills while advising clients on financial matters at Big Finance. I now look forward to learning more about companies’ management at McKinsey. Finally, I want to work in consulting because I truly enjoy interacting with clients. Throughout my work experiences I have built a successful track record of developing and maintaining relationships with clients including, for instance, the senior strategy team at Big Grocery Retailer.

Once you have convinced your reviewer that you have impressive achievements under your belt they'll be thinking: "Ok, this person is impressive. But do they REALLY want to be a consultant? Or are they just applying because they're not sure what to do with their career."

The third section of your letter should therefore answer the "Why consulting?" question . But here is the thing about this question: There are some reasons to go into consulting that you should tell your reviewer about. And some reasons that you should really keep to yourself.

For instance, one of the mistakes candidates commonly make in their cover letter is to write something along the lines of "I'd like to spend 2 or 3 years in consulting to learn more about business in general and then decide what I want to do." This is a HUGE mistake.

Consulting firms want to hire FUTURE PARTNERS. Not employees who will stay for a couple of years. You can watch the video below for more details about this.

The best approach for your "Why consulting?" section is to write about past experiences that really show you know what you are getting into. The perfect situation is if you have done an internship in consulting or in corporate strategy and have enjoyed it. If that's the case, this is the perfect section to write about it.

But even if you haven't done related internships, there are plenty of angles you can use to connect your past experiences to what you will do as a consultant. For instance:

You might have enjoyed working with clients when you were in M&A or in Sales
You might have enjoyed structuring and solving tough problems as an engineer

You should use these experiences to say that "working with clients" or "solving tough problems" is something you KNOW you enjoy doing; and you look forward to spending more time doing this as a consultant.

When they read this section, your reviewer should think: "Ok, this person is impressive AND they know what they are getting into."

4. Why McKinsey / BCG / Bain / Other?

Example - Why McKinsey?

McKinsey appeals to me for three reasons. To start with, the different people from the company I have met and worked with all told me they had truly enjoyed their time there. For the past two years, I have worked for Michael Smith, a former Engagement Manager from the London office, who now works for Big Finance. Additionally, I regularly read McKinsey’s reports on financial services and think the insights delivered by Sarah James and others in the Finance practice are truly superior to that of other consultancies. By joining McKinsey, I therefore think I would have an opportunity to work with and learn from the best consultants in the industry. Finally, the fact that McKinsey was selected by Finance Supercorp to shape its digital strategy also played an important role in my decision to apply. This was a first-of-its-kind contract in finance and it shows that while at McKinsey I could get the opportunity to work on truly unique projects.

If you have managed to convince your reviewer that you have an impressive background and that you really want to be a consultant, you have a VERY HIGH chance of getting an interview.

The only question that's left for you to answer is: " Why McKinsey / Why BCG? / Why Bain? "

Top consulting firms have a lot in common. In most regions, they cover the same industries and work for similar clients. They also pay similar salaries, and the career path is more or less the same from firm to firm. So what should you write about in this section?

In our experience, the most efficient way to set yourself apart in this section is to write about three specific elements:

When you write "I've met with Michael Smith," or "I've read report X," or "I've heard about project Y," you are making an argument that's SPECIFIC enough for your reviewer to think: "Ok they've done their homework."

If you stay too GENERIC, your argument will be much less credible. For instance, writing something like "While at McKinsey, I'll be exposed to a broad range of industries which I'm excited about" is a weak argument because you could swap McKinsey for BCG or Bain in that sentence.

In fact, this is the ultimate test. If you can swap McKinsey with another name in your "Why McKinsey?" section you are not being specific enough. You need to work on your paragraph again and mention SPECIFIC people, reports, or projects that you find interesting.

5. Conclusion

Example - Conclusion

For all these reasons, I am very enthusiastic about the chance to work at McKinsey. I am available for an interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Taylor

The last section of the cover letter is a formality again. It should include the following elements:

A sentence or two saying that you are enthusiastic and available for interviews at any time
Your final signature

So how do you make it easy for your reviewer to put your cover letter on the "Accept" pile? We have put together the 10 tips below to make sure you can achieve this and avoid common mistakes.

Tip #1 Don't use a template letter

Writing cover letters is painful. But trust us, reading hundreds of them can be at least as painful. That's why you should make every effort to make your letter interesting and genuine.

It's ok to get inspiration from templates such as the one we provide in this guide. But every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.

Tip #2 Keep it to one page

One of the unwritten rules of consulting cover letters is that they should not be longer than one page. The trick to achieve this is to only select the MOST RELEVANT experiences from your resume and to summarise them.

The points you decide to highlight should clearly demonstrate that you would make a great consultant.

Tip #3 Standard format and font

It's tempting to use an eye-catching font and format. But that's actually a bad idea. You only risk your interviewer thinking: "I've never seen this font, it looks really weird. Who is this person?" Your cover letter should stand out because of its content, NOT because of its format.

Tip #4 Not the time to be shy

Your cover letter is not the time to be shy. If you went to Harvard and have three Olympic medals, now is the time to say it! Most of us don't, and that's fine. But the point is that you should really push yourself to bring your most impressive accomplishments forward.

Tip #5 Network, network, network

This might sound surprising, but a big part of the cover letter is how much networking you have done . Having networked with people from the firm you are applying for pays dividends for multiple reasons.

First, they might recommend you to the HR team. But most importantly, these people will give you insight into what makes their firm UNIQUE. Then you can quote what you've heard in your cover letter (and name drop the person you heard it from) to show that you really understand the firm you are applying for.

Tip #6 Read, read, read

Unfortunately, networking is not always easy or possible. In these cases, your second best option is to read as much as you can on the firms you are applying for. You should read about the firm's projects, reports, and partners and find pieces of information you are really interested in.

For instance, if you did your master thesis on electric vehicles, try to find who works in this area at the firm and what they have to say about it. And then mention what you have found in your cover letter.

Tip #7 One letter per firm

One question we often get is: "Should I write one letter per firm?" The answer is YES. But it's not as hard as it might sound.

Every cover letter needs to answer three questions: Why you? Why consulting? And why this firm? The only paragraph you will need to change in every letter is the one about "Why this firm?" For each firm, you will have to do the networking and reading mentioned above.

Tip #8 Start writing early

Writing an outstanding cover letter is VERY HARD. Most candidates underestimate how much time it takes and start this process too late. You'll need to take a step back and reflect on everything you have done to date to highlight your most relevant experiences.

This takes multiple iterations. Start early.

Tip #9 Get feedback

In our experience, great candidates all look for feedback and iterate on their cover letter until it's truly as good as it can get. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.

It’s best to get feedback from peers or consultants. These people will be able to point out which parts of your letter they don't get or don't find impactful enough. If you’d like to have an expert review your cover letter, check out our team of ex-consultant coaches .

Tip #10 Proofread multiple times

Finally, you should check and double check your letter for typos and grammar mistakes - multiple times. A cover letter is (not so secretly) a writing test and you should really treat it like one.

What consulting firms look for

To get multiple interviews at top consulting firms , it’s extremely important to understand what those firms are actually looking for.

The good news is that most of the leading consultancies are looking for basically the same skills.

To illustrate this point, here’s what McKinsey and Bain say that they’re looking for in candidates, along with our own translation of what they mean:

There are also a few unofficial items that consulting firms will look for on your resume, and you can read about those in our consulting resume guide .

Next, let’s talk about the typical cover letter screening process.

Screening process

Now let's talk about HOW your cover letter will be handled once you send it. Here's how it works.

Your application will be sent to a JUNIOR CONSULTANT who recently graduated from your University. They will score your documents based on a grid provided by the HR team.

Consultants usually have to score 200 to 400 applications in about 2 weeks. And this is sometimes on TOP of their normal project. It's not uncommon for them to leave the job to the last minute and to have to do it on a Friday night just before the deadline.

Why is this important? The point we are trying to make is your application is part of 100 other applications. And the person who will review it will be tired by the time they get to your cover letter. If they don't understand something, they won't Google it. It's your job to make their job easy.

Why consultancies ask for a cover letter

There are two main reasons why consulting firms ask for cover letters.

First, partners bill several thousand dollars per day to their clients. The opportunity cost of interviewing you is HUGE for the firm. Put yourself in the shoes of a consultancy for a second. What are the top 3 questions you want to answer before investing money in interviewing a candidate?

Have they demonstrated the skills needed to be a consultant?
Do they know what consulting is and what they are getting into?
Are they genuinely interested in working for our firm?

If you don't answer these three questions in a structured and impactful way, your chances of getting past the screening process are very low. This is why every cover letter should be structured as follows:

Why consulting?
Why this firm?

The second reason consulting firms ask for a cover letter is to test your writing skills. Consultants write all the time: emails, PowerPoints, Word documents, etc. They spend about 50% of their day writing. And a lot of the time their job is to summarise very large quantities of information in a succinct way.

This is exactly what you have to do in your cover letter. You have to a) look back on all your past experiences, b) select the relevant experiences to convince the reviewer that you are the right person for the job and c) summarise all these experiences in a way that's easy to read and digest.

Cover letters are a disguised writing test. Candidates who end up getting invited for interviews recognise this early on. Making a good impression on paper is way harder than making a good impression in person.

Are many candidates ready to invest HOURS in writing the perfect cover letter? No. That's the whole point. That's how you can set yourself apart. If you spend enough time making sure that your letter is as impactful as it can be, you stand very high chances of getting invited for interviews.

Another reason that it can help to have a cover letter is to explain anything on your resume that may look unusual to a reviewer, such as a time gap or a non-traditional background for consulting.

Whatever your unique situation is, if you’re not confident in how your cover letter looks today, then we can help you.

Get an Ex-MBB consultant to review your cover letter

The guide above, in addition to our guide on consulting resumes , should go a long way in helping you craft documents that will get you interviews.

But if you still feel you need additional help, we have a team of ex-MBB recruiters and interviewers who would be happy to provide feedback on your cover letter.

You’ll get feedback on how to immediately improve your cover letter, including what experience to focus on, how to optimise your phrasing, formatting, etc.

Start by browsing profiles for available coaches.

BCG Cover Letter

Written by . Posted in Cover Letter

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been recognized as one of the most prominent consulting firms in the world. Its prestige places it, along with McKinsey and Bain, in what’s known as the “Big Three” of the industry. Currently it has approximately 78 offices located in 43 countries across the world.

The firm recruits exceptional graduates and working professionals to join their team. They visit colleges and universities to find passionate individuals who are capable of developing recommendations after thoroughly analyzing a business case. Recruiters employ various tools for screening applicants, but the first document they check is your BCG cover letter .

If you’re in the process of crafting an impressive cover letter, here are some pointers to follow:

Research and Network

In order to write a letter that creates value to BCG, research the firm and network with people who are or were connected with the firm. The information you learn from the firm’s website, books, magazines, and employees will guide you in finalizing the content of your letter. A letter will only pique the interest of the recruiter if it’s customized to the company’s direction, goals. and needs.

Think of a Structure

Before you turn on your computer and start typing, think about how you will structure your BCG cover letter. To simplify things, follow this outline:

First Paragraph	Explain how you came across the vacant position. State whether you read it in a newspaper or heard about it from a connection on LinkedIn.
Middle Paragraphs	Summarize your qualifications for the position. You can state your total years of professional experience or highlight two or three accomplishments.
Last Paragraph	State your expectations from the firm. Do you wish to be contacted for an interview via your mobile phone? Will you follow up after two weeks?

A cover letter must only contain relevant information. Remember, BCG receives numerous applications each year. Recruiters only have a short time to review your document so it must expertly convey your qualifications.

Mentioning the name of a key person in the management consulting firm or industry can make your cover letter unique. However, when you do this, explain how your encounter with the consultant has convinced you to pursue a career at BCG. Were you motivated by his or her description of the company’s culture and goals? Are you interested in the challenging working environment? Recruiters are interested in this type of information.

Explain Issues

If your work history listed on your resume has noticeable gaps, or if you are shifting careers, you should explain these issues in your BCG cover letter. Recruiters might question why you stopped working for a couple of years or why you decided to leave sales and pursue a career in management consulting. Your explanation will help recruiters understand where you came from and how you can contribute to their goals. Everything must be clear from the beginning; otherwise, you could be instantly rejected for the opening.

Proofread Your Letter

Review your cover letter a few times before you send it to BCG. Make sure the content is relevant, interesting, and substantial. Furthermore, it must be free from spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. Mistakes give recruiters the impression that you are not meticulous with details and/or you have poor communication skills. If you want objective feedback about your BCG cover letter, ask a friend for help or contact an expert.

You’ll need a well-crafted job application whether you’re seeking for a position as a teacher, engineer, or receptionist. The cover letter is a very useful document for this. You’ll have a far better chance of finding your dream job if you include a professional cover letter with your CV.

BCG Cover Letter: 4 Templates and Email

We are extremely careful about providing our readers with the content they need. These samples of BCG cover letters will surely help you. Make sure to insert your personal details at the required places.

Letter Template: 1

BCG Cover Letter

[ your name]

[ your address]

[ your contact information]

[ recipient’s name]

[ recipient’s address]

[ recipient’s contact information]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Recently, I have seen the information for the requirement for the post of [mention the position] in BCG on their website which is [mention the URL] on [mention the date]. I desire to work in this reputed company like BCG and find the requirements posted on the website is absolutely matching my educational background and experience.

I am interested to work with the team of BCG as I have seen them taking a different approach to every problem. Instead of fixing the issue in the current framework, they would rather look in to the problem from the starting level and resolving it from start to finish. I am very much interested to delve in to deeper analysis in to the career as a [mention the position] and therefore I would like to apply for it at BCG.

BCG as we know is highly recognized at a global level and well reputed firm and committed to serve with high quality standards. I am confident that I would be able to deliver the best with the support of my excellent educational background and quality experience. I had done my graduation in [mention the subject] from the university of [mention the university name] in the year [mention the year]. It had been [mention the time period] years of program.

I had also done short term computer course from the well known institute of [mention the computer institute]. Over there, I got the opportunity to learn the latest software program like [mention the software program]. With the help of these software programs, I am very capable of designing projects for industrial activities.

Regarding my professional experience, I have overall [mention the experience period] years. Initially, I had been appointed as an intern and I got the opportunity to work with excellent performers of [mention the company name].

I deserve to work in BCG in the post of [mention the position] and therefore I would request you to call me for the interview. I will be able to explain further in a better way about my skills and academic background and justify my employment with you. Kindly give me a call at my contact number which is [mention the contact number] for further discussion.

I would be waiting for your response.

Thanking you,

Yours Faithfully,

[Mention your name]

Download Template : ( pdf, docs, ODT, RTF, txt, HTML, Epub, Etc )

Letter Template: 2

It will be a great opportunity for career growth for me when I would be joining the BCG consulting group. I got the encouragement to apply for the post of [mention the position] as I the requirement for it on the website of [mention the website]. In fact, it is continuously posting the information of this vacant post not only on the website but also in the journal of [mention the newspaper] dated on [mention the date].

I am quite thrilled and excited to see the advertisement as I find it matches my educational background and experience in the field of [mention the field].

I am very much aware of the fact that BCG Consulting Group is a reputed firm and recognized all over the world due to its excellent business networks. It is one of the Big trees of the industry and it has 73 offices in 43 countries of the world.

As I know that staff members of the BCG consulting group are highly qualified and well-skilled to contribute in the industry. I would prefer to work with this team who is specialized in resolving the tasks from the grass-root level.

With my in-depth researching ability, and excellent communication and leadership skills, I will definitely qualify for the post of [mention the position] at BCG Consulting Group. I am highly suitable for the post as I am a graduate of [mention the university name] .

I had been a topper in my college as I had scored above [mention the percentage]. After that, I did join [mention the previous company name] in the position of [mention the position]. I had worked for a period of [mention the time period] years. Over there, I was performing the tasks of [mention the activities].

I do believe that with my qualification and experience as mentioned above, I do stand as a deserving candidate for the post of [mention the position]. For further details, you can get in touch with me on my contact number which is [contact number].

Thanking You,

Yours Sincerely,

Letter Template: 3

Currently, I am pursuing my master’s program in [mention the subject] at the University of [Mention the university] and an advertisement for the requirement of the management consultant at BCG Consulting Group has actually struck my interest.

I had seen this advertisement on the website of [mention the website] of BCG Consulting Group on [mention date] and found it quite promising for my career. I would love to grow in this industry if I get the opportunity to grow over here.

BCG Consulting Group is known to recruit candidates who had been bright students in their academic careers and brilliantly performing in their respective fields. I find myself among the brilliant performers and excellent students. I would like to inform you as to why am I very much suitable for the post of management consultant in BCG Consultant Group.

I would like to inform you that I have been working as an intern in [mention the previous company] for a period of [mention the time period] months. Due to excellent performance, I have been absorbed in the team of [mention the name of supervisor] as a junior management consultant.

I was responsible for interviewing staff members of the client, assisting my supervisor in preparing the presentations, and arranging meetings with the leaders of different industries. Over there, I had been appreciated for my contribution with my effective communication and leadership skills.

I had been awarded as the best employee of the year in the company last year. I would like to invest my efforts over here along with the team of BCG Consulting Group who are actually specialized in providing quality solutions by working from start to finish.

I had done graduation in [mention the subject] from the University of [mention the university] and a 6 months diploma course in [mention diploma course] from the Institute of [mention the institute name].

I am confident that with my experience of [mention the experience period] years and academic background, I will be able to do justice to the job as a management consultant in your reputed company.

Kindly contact me on [mention the contact number] or send me an email to [mention email id] to know further about my interest to work as a management consultant in BCG Consulting Group.

Yours faithfully

Letter Template: 4

[recipient’s contact information]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to inform you that job posting for the post of [mention the position] in BCG Consulting Group on its website and also the [mention the job portal name] has attracted me and inspired me to apply for it. I find myself perfectly eligible for this post.

The reason for choosing BCG Consulting Group over any other company for my career growth is due to its unique way of resolving problems. The team of BCG Consulting Group is always focusing on resolving problems from the grass-root level.

The work culture has deeply impacted me and I want to grow in this professional environment with my skills. It will be an intellectual pursuit for me by working in the position of [mention the position].

I have taken the decision to apply at BCG Consulting Group because of its global presence in 43 countries and its commitment to providing high-quality services.

I am very much confident that my educational qualifications and industrial experience of [mention the experience period] is perfect for the challenges faced by BCG Consulting Group in the various segments of the business. I do have the potency to tackle the issues with my analytical and reasoning skills. I am capable of collaborating with the members of the organization and also with the clients of the other industries.

I know how to handle a team of 50 people and provide them with appropriate training for increasing the productivity of the company and boosting the career growth of every employee. I have worked with sincerity, honesty, and following the quality standards of [mention the previous company name] and achieved 100% client satisfaction in the last [mention the experience period] years.

I have earned a bachelor’s degree in [mention stream] with a specialization in [mention the subject] from the University of [mention the university name]. If I am hired by BCG Consulting Group then I commit to doing best. As I am keen to apply for the post of [mention the position], kindly give me a call on [mention the contact number] or send me an email to [mention email id]. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours Faithfully

{Mention your name]

Career in Consulting

All About The BCG Recruitment Process

If you want to get a job at BCG, you might ask yourself how does the BCG recruitment process work ?

Or if you would fit with the Boston Consulting Group culture?

Creative. Team player. Impactful. Passionate .

These are the characteristics of a Boston Consulting Group consultant.

Do these characteristics describe you?

The second largest of the prestigious “MBB” ( McKinsey , The BCG , or Bain & Company ), Boston Consulting Group is one of the most selective of the Top 3 consulting firms, just behind McKinsey, using a rigorous and challenging hiring process .

In this article, I will remove the mystery of the BCG recruitment process , including the resume and cover letter screening, an aptitude test to screen candidates, the One Way Interview, the behavioral interview, and the case interview.

Let’s get started!

Get the latest data about salaries in consulting, an overview of the bcg recruitment process.

From the time you apply until the moment you accept the job offer, you will have to progress through a series of steps in the BCG recruitment process.

Most of the time, the BCG recruitment process takes between two and three months, often 14 days between steps on average.

However, the two rounds of interviews can be planned for two consecutive days.

Ultimately, the Partners and Principals are involved in compiling and reviewing scores to make an offer decision.

Let’s see which deviations from the standard BCG recruitment process, as shown in the picture above, can happen.

For instance, your interview process may vary if you apply to positions outside of the core consulting practice at BCG Digital Ventures.

In fact, BCG has three major business units outside consulting: BCG Gamma , BCG Platinon , and BCG Digital Ventures . BCG also owns three standalone strategic consultancies: Expand , INVERTO , and BrightHouse .

Each separate strategy group emphasizes different competencies, such as analytics, design thinking, early-stage ventures, and more.

For instance, your interview could include coding tests and project discussions with product engineers, portfolio reviews with other designers, or discussions about coaching and agile methodologies with our agile coaches.

It’s even possible that some interviews outside the core consulting practice do not have case study interviews.

Show Your Uniqueness: The Resume And Cover Letter Screening

Your resume , with a cover letter , is the first step to a very lucrative job at BCG.

Yet, less than 30% of applicants receive a call for an interview.

So, what is BCG looking for when screening your resume and cover letter ?

First, BCG Is Looking For Academic Performance

A recent study from poetsandquants.com shows which schools are the top MBA feeders in the consulting industry .

For instance, top MBA programs with good placement in the consulting industry include MIT, London Business School, INSEAD, and Columbia Business School.

Secondly, BCG Is Looking For Specific Qualities

Boston Consulting Group is looking for people with certain characteristics and skills .

BCG describes ideal candidates as “ passionate , open-minded individuals” with “ curiosity to ask the right questions, the courage and creativity to blaze new paths, the ability to collaborate with colleagues and clients, and the leadership skills to transform your ideas into action.”

Characteristics of a good BCG Consultant

Therefore, all your resume and cover letter content should demonstrate that you have mastered these skills .

To be more precise: your resume and cover letter content must show how you used these skills and the IMPACT you had .

Lastly, BCG Wants To Understand Your Motivation To Join The Firm

BCG wants to understand your motivation to join BCG : Are you genuinely interested in joining BCG over McKinsey or Bain?

Thus, your cover letter must show that you have researched the firm , talked to its consultants, and have persuasive and tailored arguments about why BCG is your first choice .

Are your cover letter and resume ready for applications?

Check these 2x articles to learn how to write winning resumes and cover letters and get lots of examples: consulting resume: 17 advanced writing tips , and how to write a persuasive and customized cover letter .

Don't Stress Out: The HR Screening Interview

In most cases, the HR screening interview is conducted by phone and is aimed at briefly reviewing your background.

For instance, the HR screening interview can include a list of questions such as :

Background questions include “Tell me about yourself” or “Describe your work history.”
Motivational questions include “Why are you interested in consulting?” and “Why BCG”?
Specific skill-based questions include “Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem in a team”

For this stage, you can expect a 20-minute interview.

Note : This guide will teach you how to answer those questions later.

Alternatively, to a phone screen, you may be asked to complete the One Way Interview (or One Way Video Interview) .

The BCG one-way interview is a series of 3 interview questions asked (similar to the questions above) and answered via the video interview website Spark Hire.

Hence, you won’t be speaking with a live interviewer.

Instead, you’ll receive the interview questions when you log onto the site from your laptop.

Spark Hire will record a video of your answers for a BCG recruiter to review at a later time.

To conclude: you won’t have a case interview at this stage .

Get 4 Complete Case Interview Courses For Free

You need 4 skills to be successful in all case interviews: Case Structuring, Case Leadership, Case Analytics, and Communication. Join this free training and learn how to ace ANY case questions.

Show Your Logical Reasoning: The BCG Aptitude Tests

All candidates applying to BCG must take an aptitude test.

The type of test depends on the office you are applying to.

However, you can expect one of these 3 tests:

A GMAT-like test (the BCG Potential Test)
An online case
Or a Pymetrics Test

Let’s explore each of these 3 tests.

The BCG Potential Test (or BCG online test)

As an Associate at BCG, you will spend much time reading and analyzing data (from a graphical chart or an Excel spreadsheet).

Besides, you will have to derive insights from these data and connect these insights to your client’s problem.

The BCG Potential Test tests your ability to complete these tasks well.

In other words, the BCG Potential Test assesses your ability to do the job:

Doing well on the BCG Potential Test indicates that you will perform well as an Associate .

Indeed, this test has been designed to assess how you use deductive, inductive, and quantitative reasoning abilities to solve problems logically.

How Does The BCG Potential Test Look Like?

First, the BCG Potential Test is an online test that takes 45 minutes to answer 23 multiple-choice questions, with a similar feel to the GMAT and GRE.

Secondly, the two most common types of questions you can have are:

Calculate X, Y, and Z given the following data
Which of the following conclusions are accurate given the following data

Thirdly, no business background is required . You only need your common sense to answer the BCG Potential Test questions.

Lastly, you can’t use a calculator or anything else , just your natural abilities. Math questions are solvable with simple math or approximation.

To conclude, the most challenging part of this test is the time management . You must answer each question is less than 2 minutes. It is very unlikely that you’ll be able to answer all the questions, and BCG doesn’t expect you to do so.

In fact, wrong answers are penalized, while not answering is not.

Examples Of BCG Potential Test Questions

Important : check with your contacts to understand the number of questions you’ll have to answer and the allocated time for the test (it changes quite often!)

Related article : 3 strategies to ace the BCG potential test

The BCG Online Case (chatbot interview)

The BCG online case is a business problem you’re asked to solve on a computer rather than in a one-on-one discussion with an interviewer.

Via the computer, BCG candidates are given an overview of a client, their business problem, and data relevant to the client’s business and the overall market (revenues, costs, business lines, market size, etc.)

They’re asked questions with multiple-choice answers. Many of the questions in the online test are quantitative.

The BCG Pymetrics Test

The BCG Pymetrics test is a series of short mini-games you can take on your smartphone.

The objective?

To assess if you have the personal characteristics of the best-in-class BCG consultants.

There are 12 mini-games, which take 2-3 minutes each.

And these mini-games assess 91 skills and traits.

Overall, the BCG Pymetrics test takes 25 minutes to complete.

Do NOT Neglect It: The Behavioral Interview

After the screening process, there is a selection process consisting of multiple interviews.

This section will tell you everything you need about the behavioral interview .

But, before we start, I want to point out a mistake made by too many candidates: do NOT neglect your preparation for this part of the interview.

Indeed, the behavioral interview counts for 50% of your assessment. In other words, candidates often fail to secure an offer after falling flat on the behavioral interview – even with perfect case-cracking skills.

What To Expect During The Behavioral Interview

During each of your behavioral interviews , you can expect the four following types of questions :

First, “ Tell me about yourself ” or “Walk me through your resume.”

Then, “ Why Consulting? “.

Thirdly, “ Why BCG? “.

Finally, behavioral interview questions .

You can expect the behavioral interview to last between 15 – 20 minutes.

Now, let’s go through these 4 questions.

Tell Me About Yourself

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

This question, or common variants such as “Walk me through your resume,” is an easy and open-ended start to a conversation where your interviewer wants to know the following:

What are your motivations, and what drives you?
Which problems you had to solve, and how you solved them ?
What is your academic background?
How do you deal with people ?
What impact have you had in the past?

Related article : Tell Me About Yourself: How to Answer This Question .

Why Consulting?

A natural question following “Tell me about yourself” is “ Why consulting? ” .

Because the second most important thing that BCG wants to know after who you are is:

if you understand what Consulting is,
and if you are truly interested in pursuing a career in that industry .

Why’s that?

Because BCG doesn’t want you to leave after 6 months when you would have realized that the consulting lifestyle doesn’t fit your objectives.

So, whether Consulting is a thoughtful career choice or an “I don’t know what to do, let’s try” career choice, there are many good reasons why Consulting can be a good opportunity.

Check this article to learn how to craft a compelling answer to the “Why consulting?” question.

7 Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity

#1 - It's a good career choice after University if you don't know what to do : if you don't know what to do after University or after your MBA (you're not alone!), then Consulting is a safe bet. You'll have the opportunity to explore which career, sector or specialty is right for you
#2 - You'll have a strong impact : you'll have the opportunity to work on and solve the most pressing problems faced by big corporations
#3 - You'll have a strong exposure to C-level Executives : early on in your career, you'll work directly for CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, etc. and start developing the soft skills to become a senior Executive later
#4 - You'll learn a lot : Consulting firms invest a lot in training their consultants. In addition, the feedback culture is very strong and you'll get full performance reviews regularly
#5 - You'll work with bright people : consultancies pride themselves on hiring bright and interesting people. Plus, with 3-month projects on average, you'll meet a lot of different people in consulting
#6 - You'll have the opportunity to work in an international environment : large consultancies sell work to businesses and governments all around the world
#7 - You'll have access to an amazing alumni network : having worked in a consulting firm will give you access to its alumni network that will help you throughout your career

2 Other Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity (But You Can't Tell Them To Your Interviewer)

#8 - You'll have great exit opportunities : headhunting firms or big corporations love ex-consultants. Even now, 5 years after I left Consulting, head hunters still contact me on Linkedin to point out interesting opportunities
#9 - You'll earn a lot of money : consulting is also known as a very well-paid industry. The average base salary for a McKinsey Associate is $127,000 a year according to Glassdoor. Plus, your salary will increase between 10% and 25% each year

Besides listing a couple of reasons why you want to pursue a career in consulting, a compelling answer should explain WHY these reasons are important for you .

Next, “Why BCG?” : This question evaluates your motivation to join BCG.

I have explained in this article how to have a compelling answer to this question.

Behavioral Interview Questions

Finally, your interviewers will ask you several standard behavioral interview questions such as:

Describe a challenging situation when you have had to work hard to achieve something in a limited time, outside your comfort zone
Tell me about a time when you have had to work with someone with an opposing opinion
Describe the greatest challenge you have had to overcome when working effectively together with a group of people

I recommend preparing between 4 and 6 potential stories to ensure every interviewer hears a different story .

Finally, I recommend reading this article to learn how to structure your answers to these behavioral questions.

Be Exceptionally Structured: The Case Interview

The case interview is another problem-solving test.

BCG believes the best way to assess your problem-solving skills is to discuss a real client scenario with you .

This helps them understand how you structure tough, ambiguous business challenges, identify important issues, deal with all the implications of facts and data, formulate conclusions and recommendations, and articulate your thoughts in a fast-moving discussion.

For instance, you can watch this BCG video that outlines what to expect during the case interviews:

Besides what is outlined in the BCG video, you can watch what a real interview looks like in the next video:

Interviewer Led vs. Candidate Led

The BCG-style case interview follows the BCG candidate-led case study interview format .

What does that mean?

First, your interviewer will present a problem . After asking clarifying questions, you must structure an approach to solve this problem.

Secondly, it is up to you to determine the course of the conversation – with some help from the interviewer.

Here are the steps BCG evaluates:

Problem structuring – organize the problem into an issue tree
Hypothesis – direct the conversation by choosing a logical path to follow
Analysis – review a graph and synthesize information relevant to the client
Quantitative analysis – solve a simple mathematical calculation without a calculator and synthesize the results for the client
Synthesis – the partner or client CEO is in the elevator with you. What do you recommend they do?

Your interviewer knows the details you learn by asking good questions.

But don’t worry.

The interviewer won’t let you get stuck.

Good examples of interviewer-led cases can be found in the sample cases on the BCG website.

Furthermore, you can read my free case interview in-depth guide .

Other consulting firms, such as McKinsey & Company, might use interviewer-led case study interviews , in which the interviewer asks a series of formal questions about the case.

BCG Wants You To Succeed

Unlike in many industries, management consulting firms tell you exactly how to interview.

The challenge is meeting BCG’s level of excellence.

To help you and other candidates meet baseline expectations, BCG provides these resources to candidates :

Online interactive practice case studies with a personal score and feedback
Feedback phone call with one of your interviewers

The interactive case studies scores your abilities in four categories – Structuring, Synthesis, Rigor, Business Judgement – as a percentile ranking against other candidates.

I want you to succeed, too: you can find a list of 250+ practice cases on this page.

Related article : 11 must-know frameworks to ace your case interviews.

You’re Almost Done: Ask the Interviewer Great Questions

You’ve made it through the behavioral and case study portions.

Now, the interviewer asks if you have any questions.

BCG is genuinely interested in your questions.

Interviewers want to know you are passionate about consulting and working at BCG.

Here are some ideas for great questions:

Make a connection with your interviewer . Ask questions about their background and their current work that interest you
Explore the culture of the office at which you are interviewing
Clarify the structure of the office, BCG, or client engagements

You can read this article to build your list of smart questions to ask at the end of your interviews.

The Infamous Blacklist: Does It Exist? And How to Overcome It

The jury is out on if there is a BCG blacklist.

Here’s what I do know: only apply if you are ready to interview .

Remember, management consulting is a destination job for university programs and experienced hires. Competition is strong .

For instance, if you do not pass the interviews, consulting firms will request you wait 12-18 months until you reapply .

Even then, BCG may want to see a significant career change as evidence your skills have improved to pass another set of interviews, such as through a graduate degree, significant promotion, or work at a top-tier company.

Don’t dwell on the question of the blacklist, but remember, competition is tough. Be confident before you interview.

Offered an interview but not feeling ready? I can help you prepare in as little as 4 weeks .

An Interview With An Ex BCG Project Leader

Clément was a project leader at the Boston Consulting Group.

In this video, Clément shares his view on what makes BCG unique, the key skills you must have to land a job in Consulting, and many more tips to go through the hiring process successfully.

Enjoy this video:

The BCG Recruitment Process: Conclusion

To conclude, you now better understand the essentials of the BCG interview process.

Curious about the recruitment process for other top firms? Read more here:

Bain & Company

Now I want to hear from you:

Do you have any questions about the process?

With which part of the process do you struggle the most?

8 thoughts on “All About The BCG Recruitment Process”

One day I will be part of BCG after my graduation from MBA, I promise and strong believe, wait for me. Anything I can do to show my competence？

Pingback: All About Bain Recruitment Process - Career in Consulting

I would like to thank you for your quality contents and resources. Is the process the same for a industry-related professional who want to join BCG or Mckinsey as a projet leader or principal after some year of experiences? Do we have to be prepared for some case studies or be more focused on interviews round ?

Hi Jennifer. The process is probably the same, with the exception of the quantitative test that is mainly for young graduates. But you need to be prepared for case interviews.

Pingback: How to answer “Why McKinsey?”, “Why BCG?”, or “ Why Bain?” questions - Career in Consulting

Good post. I agree that the BCG recruitment process is long, but it’s also one of the most selective. The average time between steps in the process is 14 days, and you should expect to spend at least 2x months preparing for your interview. But don’t worry – with a little preparation and organization, you’ll be able to ace the BCG recruitment process!

I’m glad you liked this article!

I recently got an offer from McKinsey in Singapore – thanks to case interview resources and online materials purchased on Carousell.

Can you recommend me any books / courses to study to excel after I start? So that I can do better

How to write a killer cover letter

November 16, 2017

Keith Bevans , the head of Bain & Company's global consultant recruiting, warned that a poor cover letter can hurt an applicant's chances of getting the job. "The cover letter becomes an important data point on how good they are at certain skills that might be relevant to the job they're applying for," he said.

S14E4: BCG cover letter - out of style or still required?

Send us a text

Cover letters may seem antiquated, but if you’re applying to Boston Consulting Group, you’ll need a killer cover letter to apply. BCG is one of many firms that still prefers a cover letter, so today we’ll walk through how to shine in your cover letter through the structure, content, and format. Lastly, we’ll mention a few cover letter pro tips as well as red flags to avoid at all costs. Relevant Links Get expert coaching to break into BCG by joining our premium case prep program - Black Belt Get a BCG resume & cover letter edit Free BCG cover letter guide

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Show Strategy Simplified
Frequency Updated twice weekly
Published 22 May 2024 at 10:00 UTC
Length 12 min
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Sample cover letter for Full Time position at Boston Consulting Group

Dear Recruiting Manager:

I first learned of the Boston Consulting Group when I visited the Forbes website and read through the list of “Best Companies to Work for in 2015.” I immediately visited the company’s website only to find myself impressed by the values statement and approaches used sections. Rather than try to mold a client’s problems into an existing framework, BCG deconstructs the problem and finds solutions from the ground up. I have decided to apply for a position as a management consultant at BCG for its well-established reputation internationally and commitment to its nine values.

I believe that my professional experiences have prepared me for the detailed, analytical and interpersonal components of compliance. This past summer, I worked with McKesson Corporation as a Public Affairs intern. During this time, I was tasked with writing draft comment letters, as well as researching and analyzing policies that I later briefed to the public affairs team in the form of a memorandum. Also this summer, I interned with the nonprofit organization Enterprise for High School Students where I designed and analyzed a survey using Qualtrics that was administered to over 300 past participants to gauge the effectiveness of the program in several key areas. Additionally, in previous summers I served as a policy intern at San Francisco City Hall where I was tasked with researching existing policies in the city and working with legislative aides to identify ways to improve them. Also during this internship, I had to establish a task force of government agencies, contractors/developers, community stakeholders, and residents to resolve the issue of construction noise in the city. This required me to research city noise ordinances, identify possible places of conflict between these ordinances and the actions of contractors, and create a compromise between residents, contractors, and stakeholders.

I believe that in addition to my internship experiences and skillsets, I possess leadership skills from a variety of extracurricular activities as an undergraduate that will make me an asset to your company. My optimistic attitude, resourcefulness, detail oriented behavior and unwaivering determination are derived from a variety of life experiences and will be beneficial in the consulting setting.

I look forward to showing you my commitment and preparation to starting a career in management consulting with the Boston Consulting Group.

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How to Write a Cover Letter

Advice for tackling one of the toughest parts of the job-hunting process.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesn’t allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format you’re given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.

No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé , prepping for grueling interviews — none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system?

Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, cohost of the Women at Work podcast , and the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict . She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics. Watch her TEDx talk on conflict and follow her on LinkedIn . amyegallo

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I reviewed 587 résumés to help people who were laid off. Here are my best tips on how to build one that stands out — along with the best examples.

Eugene Hayden is a senior knowledge analyst at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
He reviewed hundreds of résumés in 49 hours to help people who were impacted by layoffs.
Hayden recommends following five rules to significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job.

A couple years ago in 2020, I organized a résumé marathon to help people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The idea came to mind when I asked myself: How can I help young professionals and students in my network? What will be my direct and positive impact on someone's life?

I posted on LinkedIn : "Hey everyone, I want to do something amazing! I will review your résumé and provide feedback for free. This offer is limited, please submit your résumé via Google Forms within 24 hours and I will review them as soon as I can."

24 hours later, I got 587 résumés.

People from 30+ countries reached out to me, all with different backgrounds ranging from 0 - 28 years of experience. All dreamed of the same thing — a better career.

My average work week is usually 40-50 hours. At the time, in addition to my full-time job, I was working on my masters degree in engineering at University of Toronto. So, I briefly calculated that I'd at least 5 minutes to review each résumé and share my feedback. For 587 résumés that totals at least 49 hours of productive time, and the only way to fit this amount of time into my agenda was to cancel all my side activities on weekends.

My typical résumé review included three parts:

A 20-second look at the résumé (this is an amount of time that recruiters usually spend on each one)
A list of issues and inconsistencies that could be improved
Suggestions on how to further improve the résumé with examples and templates

I've personally created more than 480 versions of my own résumé for tech and management consulting companies, and I've learned many lessons. Some of these lessons helped me get offers from prestigious companies like Boston Consulting Group.

And so, after 49 hours of reviewing other peoples' résumés, here are my 5 rules and recommendations on how to make yours stand out.

1. Start with your contact details

We underestimate this part of the résumé, but this is what recruiters see first.

2. Write a brief summary statement.

Introduce yourself and tell me about your passion in three lines, no more. Here's an example:

After the summary statement, you should continue with your Professional Experience, not Skills. Put your Education on top for internships, otherwise move your education to the bottom.

3. Use active verbs describing achievements, not processes

Use these verbs: managed, led, spearheaded, cofounded, developed, created, implemented , etc. instead of passive verbs like monitored, analyzed, assisted, helped, etc.

Make your achievements measurable by using absolute values, percentages, dollars, and any other quantifiable information. Use these words to quantify your impact.

4. Integrate your tech skills into your experience (see my Business Insider article on how to do it)

Show only advanced skills and tools. Here's an example:

5. Add "Leadership Experience" or "Volunteer Experience" (if applicable)

Share more personal achievements, not titles or responsibilities.

If you need extra space, reduce the number of bullet points, but don't use another page if you have less than 50% of the text on it.

Your résumé should fit one page if you have less than 7-10 years of experience.

My rule of thumb: add one extra page for each seven to 10 years of experience. One applicant shared with me an 8-page résumé, and this is not what recruiters and hiring managers want to see.

Be considerate of the 20-second rule and their time. Recruiters are busy and, if you help them to review and understand your résumé faster, you'll win. Here's an example:

Here are more examples of good résumés:

1. for mba students, 2. for undergraduate and graduate students with < 3 years of experience, 3. for professionals (3-7 years of experience), 4. for professionals (7+ years of experience).

Overall, it was really eye-opening to see that 85% of résumés had the same type of mistakes, such as incorrect header formatting, missing contact details, and no summary statement.

I'm happy that I spent my free time helping people fix their résumés and hopefully land their dream jobs. In my mind, the hours spent were worthwhile.

Eugene Hayden is a senior knowledge analyst at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where he spearheads initiatives on emerging tech and innovation on the Technology Advantage team.

Watch: Apple, Google, 23andMe, and others are fighting COVID-19, from wearables to faster CT scans to contact tracing

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How to write a killer cover letter

Anyone who's ever applied for a job knows how stressful it can be. And for some, the hardest part is the cover letter.

It should be professional, but make you stand out. It should be short, but not too short.

While a cover letter can seem like a formality, it's an important first step in the process.

"It's your personal sales brochure," said James Innes, chairman of the James Innes Group and author of several career books. No wonder it's so daunting.

Here are a few tips to help you pen the cover letter most likely to get you hired.

Read the job posting closely

"The things that come at the top of the job description are the most important," said Martin Yate, career coach and bestselling author of the Knock 'Em Dead series.

To make sure you highlight the traits your potential employer really cares about, refer to the skills listed in the job posting to inform how you talk about yourself in your letter.

Yate suggested going a step further by reviewing job listings at several companies, and seeing if any skills or traits are repeated across an industry. "I would recommend collecting half a dozen job postings," he said. "Look at what they have in common."

Quality over quantity

When you're first looking for jobs, it can be tempting to send out a generic cover letter to as many employers as possible. But that doesn't work, Innes said. Recruiters can tell, and they don't like it.

Keith Bevans, head of Bain & Company's global consultant recruiting, warned that a poor cover letter can hurt an applicant's chances of getting the job. "The cover letter becomes an important data point on how good they are at certain skills that might be relevant to the job they're applying for," he said.

Related: How to answer the salary question during a job interview

Make a good first impression by ditching "to whom it may concern." Instead, look for the name of a hiring manager and address it to them. You should also try to find out a little bit about them, and say something nice about their achievements. "If you can flatter someone in the opening line and create a connection, you've got their attention," said Yate.

Tell a good story

Once you've determined what matters to employers, figure out what type of story you want to tell about yourself -- and be succinct.

"The best cover letters tend to be short and to the point," Bevans said. You don't want to repeat what's in your résumé.

Rather than telling employers what you think you're capable of, tell them what you've already achieved. "People are hired on credentials, not potential," said Yate. "We want to leave out things like 'I think I could do a great job.'" Offer specific, relevant examples, Innes added.

Related: What top employers look for in new college grads

Bevans noted that if you're going to use buzzy terms to describe yourself, you should be able to back them up. "A lot of students write cover letters that are like treasure maps with no treasure," he said. "If you say you're a good team player" you should have a specific example to back that up, said Bevans.

Stick to clean templates

Yate recommended using one of two possible cover letter formats. The first is a simple letter, made up of a few paragraphs and lasting no longer than a single page. First get your reader's attention with a personal reference, then name the position you're applying for. In the following paragraphs, lay out your relevant skills and experiences. Conclude by outlining an actionable next step. Rather than telling the reader you look forward to hearing from them, say you'll reach out by a certain date to follow up.

The second format is called an executive briefing . You still write a paragraph at the top explaining what you're applying for, and one at the bottom with a plan of action. But instead of writing out some paragraphs in between, set up two columns: One with a list of requirements pulled form the job posting, and one with a list of your corresponding skills and achievements. This format lets recruiters see clearly why your experience makes you a good fit for the job.

Check your work

"Presentation is important," said Innes. That means not only that your cover letter should be cleanly laid out, but also that your spelling and grammar have to be perfect.

"Recruiters sit and read through a lot of résumés," Innes said. "You become very good at spotting those errors." Chances are, he said, recruiters will just trash a cover letter with spelling or grammatical errors.

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COMMENTS

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BCG Cover Letter: Our Step-by-Step Guide + Examples. Write a BCG cover letter that sets your application apart from the competition! Tip: you can't just send the same letter to every consulting firm.
BCG Cover Letter: Your Guide to Success
Yes, BCG does require a cover letter. Cover letters are essential for filtering applications and gauging an applicant's interest and ability for the position. Some geographies will indicate that the cover letter is optional, so you might ask us, "Should I still write a cover letter if it appears optional?".
Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)
Below is an anonymised cover letter from a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. So you can trust that this template works. The image here highlights the different sections of the cover letter, but we'll dive deeper into the text later, and you can also get a downloadable copy below. Free download of the consulting cover ...
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A cover letter must only contain relevant information. Remember, BCG receives numerous applications each year. Recruiters only have a short time to review your document so it must expertly convey your qualifications. Namedrop. Mentioning the name of a key person in the management consulting firm or industry can make your cover letter unique.
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3y. Put up a case study on BCG.. or be all praises for Mck and Bain!! Honestly no idea 🤓. Like. Reply. Share. Engineer 1. 3y. My (successful) cover letter was very standard—overview of my background; brief narrative about why I'd be a good fit/why I want to work at BCG.
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BCG Cover Letter [ your name] [ your address] [ your contact information] [ date] [ recipient's name] [ recipient's address] [recipient's contact information] Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing this letter to inform you that job posting for the post of [mention the position] in BCG Consulting Group on its website and also the [mention the job ...
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Thus, your cover letter must show that you have researched the firm, talked to its consultants, and have persuasive and tailored arguments about why BCG is your first choice. Are your cover letter and resume ready for applications? Check these 2x articles to learn how to write winning resumes and cover letters and get lots of examples ...
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BCG Resume Tips. Here are some key BCG resume tips when it comes to formatting your BCG resume. 5 Sections Max; Be sure not to go over five different sections—you don't want the reviewer's eyes to glaze over before they're done considering you. A solid resume would include these sections: Personal Profile (only if you have 10+ years of ...
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Cover Letter Content Cover letters are written in a business letter format. A cover letter should not exceed one page in length and should consist of three to five paragraphs. oPening ParagraPH use the opening paragraph to introduce your-self. state your reason for writing and how you learned about the organization and/or position.
How to write a killer cover letter
How to write a killer cover letter. Keith Bevans, the head of Bain & Company's global consultant recruiting, warned that a poor cover letter can hurt an applicant's chances of getting the job. "The cover letter becomes an important data point on how good they are at certain skills that might be relevant to the job they're applying for," he said.
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The cover letter gives you an opportunity to share your most impressive achievements and expand the bullet points on your résumé. The one-pager should be packed with 2-3 stories detailing how ...
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Middle paragraph (s) Closing paragraph. Letter ending and signature. Your cover letter should be one page long and use a simple, professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, 10 to 12 points in size. Your letter should be left-aligned with single spacing and one-inch margins. Show Transcript.
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The first is a simple letter, made up of a few paragraphs and lasting no longer than a single page. First get your reader's attention with a personal reference, then name the position you're ...

BCG Cover Letter: Our Step-by-Step Guide + Examples

What Makes a Great Consulting Cover Letter

A Strong Consulting Cover Letter: The Basics

A Strong Consulting Cover Letter: Stand Out from the Crowd

Tailor Your BCG Cover Letter to What BCG is Looking for

How BCG & Other Consulting Firms Review Your Cover Letter

Successful BCG Cover Letter Samples

Help With Your Consulting Application

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3 Things Consulting Firms Actually Look for in Your Application

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Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

How to write your consulting cover letter

Consulting cover letter screening process

Click here for a consulting letter/resume review with an ex-MBB consultant

1. Introduction

2. Why you?

3. Why consulting?

4. Why McKinsey / BCG / Bain / Other?

5. Conclusion

Tip #1 Don't use a template letter

Tip #2 Keep it to one page

Tip #3 Standard format and font

Tip #4 Not the time to be shy

Tip #5 Network, network, network

Tip #6 Read, read, read

Tip #7 One letter per firm

Tip #8 Start writing early

Tip #9 Get feedback

Tip #10 Proofread multiple times

What consulting firms look for

Screening process

Why consultancies ask for a cover letter

Get an Ex-MBB consultant to review your cover letter

Related articles:

BCG Cover Letter

Research and Network

Think of a Structure

Explain Issues

Proofread Your Letter

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Table of Contents

Show Your Uniqueness: The Resume And Cover Letter Screening

First, BCG Is Looking For Academic Performance

Secondly, BCG Is Looking For Specific Qualities

Lastly, BCG Wants To Understand Your Motivation To Join The Firm

Don't Stress Out: The HR Screening Interview

Get 4 Complete Case Interview Courses For Free

Show Your Logical Reasoning: The BCG Aptitude Tests

The BCG Potential Test (or BCG online test)

How Does The BCG Potential Test Look Like?

Examples Of BCG Potential Test Questions

The BCG Online Case (chatbot interview)

The BCG Pymetrics Test

Do NOT Neglect It: The Behavioral Interview

What To Expect During The Behavioral Interview

Tell Me About Yourself

Why Consulting?

7 Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity

2 Other Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity (But You Can't Tell Them To Your Interviewer)

Behavioral Interview Questions

Be Exceptionally Structured: The Case Interview

Interviewer Led vs. Candidate Led

BCG Wants You To Succeed

You’re Almost Done: Ask the Interviewer Great Questions

The Infamous Blacklist: Does It Exist? And How to Overcome It

An Interview With An Ex BCG Project Leader

The BCG Recruitment Process: Conclusion

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