Whether you are writing your first CV or updating it to apply for a role in consulting, correctly formatting your CV can be a challenge. It is your opportunity to make a positive initial impression on our recruitment team and thus we want to help you with some useful hints, tips and reminders to help you succeed.
Be concise and structured
- Your CV should usually be 1-2 pages long, anything else you want to mention can be discussed at later stages in the process
- Try to avoid long paragraphs and use bullet points to break up text
- Have more bullet points focussing on your more relevant and most recent experience. For example, if you’re applying for a graduate or intern role – focus on any work experience, internships or position of responsibilities gained during your university experience; positions at school are usually less relevant
- Use a template. There are lots online or your university careers service may have a suggested format
Highlight your impact
- Don’t describe what your role was, focus on what you accomplished and the impact that had on the situation
- For example, instead of “I was the Head of Events for my University Charities Committee and was responsible for organising several fundraisers across the year raising money and awareness for our chosen charities” try “I was the Head of Events for my University Charities Committee, organising several events which increased our membership by 35% and raised over £10,000
Tailor your CV
- Look at the job description and make sure you have flagged examples of the skills that the company looks for
- If you choose to include an introductory statement at the top of your CV, make sure it is specific to the company and industry
Pay attention to the details
- Spelling, grammar, or formatting errors on a CV are surprisingly common and easy to miss, so make sure you triple-check your CV before submitting it
- You can always ask a detail-orientated friend or family member to check it for you too
Format it correctly
- We always suggest submitting a PDF not a Microsoft Word document to ensure none of your formatting changes as formatting can alter depending on the version of Word used to open your CV
