How to Build a CV

and Cover Letter

​The BCG View
These qualities will drive your success at BCG

Passion Collaboration Humility Initiative Excellence

Intellectual Empathy Responsibility Ownership Development

curiosity
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What consulting companies are looking for is strictly related to
our daily job
​What characteristics we look
​How we work for on the CVs ​What you need to put on your application

Small teams • Analytical • Are you good at solving problems?

in a short time • Exceptional • Is there evidence of accomplishments?

• Communicator • Can you communicate with clarity?

With the client
• Interpersonal • Do you get together with people?

• Flexible • How do you deal with uncomfortable situations?

As a team
• Not stubborn • Do you have team experience?

Convincing others • Leadership • Have you led teams?

of our ideas • Trust • Can I trust you?

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Your CV is assessed in terms of form and content
Both are key in the evaluation: 73% of the cvs don’t get an interview

CV
Form
Structure

Completeness Content

Precision Academic record

Appearance Business experience

Interest International experience

Extracurricular activities

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Form is key to make your story understandable

​Structure ​Completeness ​Precision ​Appearance ​Interest

• Is it well ordered? • Are there time gaps? • Are there typos? • Does it look nice? • Based on the CV, do
I want to get to
Questions • Is it action-oriented? • Are there relevant • Is the wording • Does it appear clean know this person?
information precise? Is it clear? (not "crowded")?
to answer • Can entries be missing? • Is it appealing?
when you compared along • Is it professional? • Does it give an
prepare same dimensions? • Do I have an overall impression of self- • Does it have
a CV picture of the • Do not write too confidence (without something different?
candidate? many acronyms exaggerating)?

• “I evaluate 10 CVs • “The CV must give • “In the end I always

per day. Structure is me a complete • “Typos indicate • “Lengthy prose, ask
key to navigate” picture of the carelessness” crowded pages, myself: would
person” multiple fonts just I be interested
Significant • “I need to • “We need to annoy me” in meeting the
quotes immediately grasp • “If information is precisely understand candidate?”
from BCG the four main missing, we think what is behind each • “Believe it or not, I
recruiters categories of a CV” the candidate: a) line without too value CVs which
doesn’t care, b) many words” appear nice”
hides something”

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You have to tell us your story
We are not looking for a specific background, we want exceptional people

• Which university and program 1 2 • Which companies, which

• Which grades and duration? functions and challenges?
• Which ranking among peers? Academic Business • Something about the company if it
• Do not put non-relevant info for Record Experience is unknown
consulting (i.e., Cobol • Which responsibilities?
programming) • Quantify your experiences: we
want achievements!

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• Which activities and which role? • Which international exposure?
1–2 lines at most Extracurricular International • Which languages and how well
• Do you have any Activities Experience are they known?
accomplishment? • Have you seen anything else than
• Do not exaggerate regarding your family and city for the last 12
personal topics months?

Does s/he have something different to offer us?

If you have exceptional awards, underline them
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The cover letter gives the opportunity to show that you have
done your homework
Not all consulting companies are the
same BCG has peculiar characteristics
​ Brand vs. experience Collaborative with the client, Business thought
​ vs. long-term career jointly discovered insight leadership

​ Worldwide ​International exposure

​ presence

Open Culture Wide Learning

Opportunities
​ Industries/Expertises

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Take advantage of the cover letter to tell us
something more

Do's Don'ts
• Keep it on one page • Be generic Copy/paste from one company to another
(believe me, it happens)
• It must show why you want to work for BCG
• Stress qualities not mirrored on your CV
• It must show why BCG would want to work
with you • Compare the employer with its competitors

• Describe your personal motivation

• Have others say if they "see" you in the letter

• Explain the rationale behind your career choice if it is not obvious

• Also explain your geographic preferences

if they are not clear

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

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Cover letter nº 2

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Cover letter nº 2

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bcg.com