- A cover letter usually includes key sections, such as an introductory paragraph, career history and relevant skills.
- It can be helpful to use examples and templates as inspiration when writing your own cover letter for a consulting position.
- Customize your cover letter for each position you apply for and use this as an opportunity to showcase your communication skills and quantify your achievements.
What to include in your consultant cover letter
Here are some key elements to include in an effective consultant cover letter:An introductory paragraph
Begin your cover letter with a brief introduction about yourself. Introduce who you are and the job title you're applying for. Explain how you heard about the position and highlight any key information about your qualifications. Hiring managers may skim over cover letters quickly, so try to concisely communicate the most important details of your background in your opening paragraph.“Maintaining a high GPA while working a part-time job or as a student athlete is a great accomplishment that is highly respected by the larger consulting firms.”—Kathy Gusich, executive recruiter
Summary of your career history
You can use your cover letter to highlight your career history. You don't need to go into all the details, as they are likely already on your resume. Highlight a recent accomplishment that aligns with the job requirements. Aim to explain why you chose consulting and what makes this position especially attractive to you, relating this information to your previous work experiences to highlight your qualifications. If you're just beginning your career, you can discuss your education as it relates to the position or any internships you've completed.Highlight your relevant skills
You can highlight your key consultant skills by discussing them in your cover letter. Include examples of how you used these skills in previous positions to demonstrate your qualifications. Here are some consultant skills to consider including in your cover letter:- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Negotiation
- Business acumen
- Analytical skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Leadership
- Project management
Professional connections
If you have a contact at the firm you're applying to, mentioning their name in your cover letter may be beneficial. This could help you stand out to the hiring manager and showcase how you found out about the position. Try to include your contact’s name in a natural, professional way. For example, it may be appropriate to explain in your introductory paragraph that a recruiter you met at a job fair at your university recommended you apply.Consultant cover letter template
Here is a template of a cover letter you can use when writing your own: [Your Name][City, State]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address] [Today's Date] [Recipient's Name]
[Company's Name] Dear [Recipient], [State your name as well as the position you're applying for. These second and third sentences can mention how you found the position and express enthusiasm for the job. You can also mention if you heard about the position from a friend or if a colleague referred you.] [This first sentence in your second paragraph can introduce the skills you've gained from previous jobs, educational courses, volunteer experience or extracurricular activities. You can feature examples of these specific skills and tie together how you can apply them to this job in the next few sentences. Mention any other related achievements or awards and how they may benefit the company.] [Your next paragraph can explain why you're the best candidate for the role. Mention any details you noticed on their website that you believe reflect your passion or motivations. You can also explain your dedication to learning more about the role and your willingness to develop new skills in the position.] [In your closing paragraph, explain your excitement for the role one last time. Thank the employer for their time and request an interview. Mention that you look forward to hearing from them soon.] Sincerely, [Your Name] The model shown is for illustration purposes only and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards. To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file. Related: Career Options for Consultants Chuck Ferris
Chicago, IL
344-555-0192
chuckferris@email.com May 9, 2025 Bob Richardson
ABC Company Dear Bob Richardson, My name is Chuck Ferris, and I'm a recent graduate of ABC University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. After four years at the top of my class and two internships with consulting firms, I'm eager to begin my career helping businesses reach their goals. I'm writing to express my interest in the consultant position at ABC Company, which I learned about after meeting your recruiter, Jane Doe, at a career fair at my university. During my internship with Acme Solutions, I assisted a team of four consultants with research, data analysis, documentation and brainstorming. Together, we helped our client reduce costs by 14% and increase revenue by more than $900,000. While pursuing my degree, I scored better than 99% in three classes: business writing, introduction to management and business ethics. I study data closely to ensure I'm giving clients strategic, informed recommendations. I won the Excellence in Senior Business Projects award for my thesis, a presentation that analyzed energy use in campus buildings and recommended a new budget to minimize costs and environmental impact. I'm passionate about helping businesses replace their processes and resources with more environmentally friendly solutions without sacrificing profits. I know ABC Company specializes in sustainability, and I'm confident my enthusiasm and experience in sustainable business practices could be an asset to the team. After my semester with Acme Solutions, leadership chose to extend my contract through the summer and promoted me to lead intern. In this role, I oversaw a team of six new interns, assigned tasks based on their capabilities and created a library of resources to help them navigate their roles successfully. I'm excited about the opportunity to grow my career with ABC Company, and I believe my analytical skills and work ethic can help your team build lasting client relationships. I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter and consider my application. I'll email you in 10 days for a status update on my application. Sincerely, Chuck Ferris