1.
Bain Cover
Management
Letter Sample
Consulting
Resume Sample

2.
Bain’s rigorous screening process
•
Bain & Company is a world-renowned strategy consulting firm. They have been ranked the #1 best
firm to work for by Consulting magazine for the past nine years. This leading firm works with large
corporations and multinationals across industries throughout the world.
•
With such a prestigious reputation, it is not surprising that many aspiring consultants want to jump
start their career at this organization. Because this job market is so competitive, failing to submit
an eye-catching consulting cover letter would be a huge mistake. Recruiters at top-tier consulting
firms, such as Bain, will not spend a lot of time reviewing your application, so a well-written and
complete application is a must.
•
A complete consulting application includes more than an impressive resume; you also need an
equally remarkable cover letter. In fact, the results from a recent survey revealed that 75% of
employers indicated that a well presented cover letter can significantly improve the chances of a
less eligible candidate landing an interview, and that 53% of employers favor applications with both
a resume and cover letter.
•
A cover letter provides you with an
opportunity to highlight your relevant skills
and experiences as well as convey your
enthusiasm for the consulting industry, so take
advantage of it. You can look online for Bain
cover letter samples to guide you in writing
your application.
In this presentation, you will learn:
•
•
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What Bain looks for in applicants
Bain cover letter structure
Common Bain cover letter mistakes
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3.
What Bain looks for in applicants
Bain looks for candidates who can demonstrate they possess qualifications imperative to consulting such
as the following:
Sharp problem
solving skills
If you are not sure how to incorporate your problem solving skills in your cover
letter, begin by providing short yet specific accomplishments from your previous
roles that demonstrate this skill. Remember, you need to exhibit this capability in
order to move on to the case interview. Although your problem solving skills and
thought process will be further evaluated during the case interview, you must
first give them a glimpse of your potential in order to get to the next stage.
Result oriented
track record
You do not need to list all of your previous successful projects in your cover
letter, simply highlight the most impressive one.
Strong leadership
qualities
The firm explicitly states that they seek out candidates with proven leadership
experience. Whether your experience in this area is school or work-related or
even through your extracurricular activities, make sure your application displays
this necessary trait.
Genuine passion
for consulting and
life in general
Bain also appreciates enthusiastic candidates who want to make a change in the
world. You can demonstrate your passion for consulting through the relevant
experience or achievements you include in your application. You can also
demonstrate your passion for change by citing your activities outside the office
such as volunteer work.
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Bain cover letter structure
Your consulting cover letter should only contain three to five paragraphs, and the information needs to
be presented in a concise yet comprehensive manner.
Contact
information and
salutation
The most important thing you need to remember for this section is accuracy. As
the recruiter will use the details you provide here to notify you, ensure that your
email address and phone number are functional and accurate. Double check your
contact information before you send your application.
Moreover, do not forget to address your letter to the correct person and list his
or her title at the company. Many candidates overlook this simple detail when
writing their cover letters. In fact, according to feedback from top employers
listed in the book, The 100 Best Companies to Work For, 91% implied that
addressing a cover letter to the appropriate individual improves an applicant’s
chances of getting an interview. This is because it reflects the extra time you
took to research and personalize your letter as well as your great attention to
details. Failing to address these aspects in your cover letter may hurt your
application.
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5.
Bain cover letter structure
Introduction
The first paragraph is where you mention the purpose of your letter, which is
applying for the consulting position. It needs to be interesting enough to
encourage the screener to read the rest of your application. Basically, this
section of your letter should address the question, “Why this job?” Explain how
you came to know about the job opening and briefly state why you are interested
in the position. Sound sincere and do not just repeat their publicity materials. A
good Bain cover letter demonstrates that you have done your research and that
your letter is targeted toward the organization and have not simply sent out the
same cover letter to other employers.
To convey an original, targeted, and interesting voice, you can mention any of
the following: networking, articles, or events. If you happen to have a
conversation with a Bain employee, you may mention how that person has
inspired you to pursue consulting. You may also refer to an event, such as an
inspirational talk, wherein you learned the value of working at Bain. And you may
state a particular case Bain handled that has inspired you to get into consulting.
I am interested in the Associate Consultant position at Bain & Company. I have
an avid interest in management consulting, and my conversation with Mr. X,
one of your senior consultants, has further inspired me to seek this position. I
believe this opportunity will provide me with unparalleled experience in
business consulting.
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6.
Bain cover letter structure
Middle
paragraphs
The middle section of your consulting cover letter should answer the question,
“Why me?” This section can be either one or two paragraphs and convey all your
significant work experience and how it relates to the vacancy. Explain briefly and
clearly why you are suited for the position without using the exact same words or
phrases on your resume. Refer to your most relevant skills and accomplishments
and match them to the requirements of the consulting position.
My economics studies at Toronto University have provided me with analytical
skills which I will apply to diverse business scenarios. My three years of
experience as a marketing manager at Accelerator honed my ability to
develop and implement marketing campaigns, as well as how to effectively
collaborate with a team. I led a team which devised marketing initiatives for
a global campaign for Z Brands, which resulted in a 25% increase in sales
after three months.
I enjoy working with teams and hold several leadership positions within my
various extracurricular activities. I am currently the Vice President for X
Group, and I also participate in a non-profit organization that tutors local
youth in math and reading. I believe that my strong work ethic, analytical
skills, and initiative have given me the requisite skills and ability to
contribute to the growth and success of your firm.
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7.
Bain cover letter structure
Conclusion
The closing paragraph of your Bain cover letter should reaffirm your suitability
for the role. Demonstrate your enthusiasm about the possibility of working as a
Bain consultant and state that you are looking forward to hearing from them.
Statistics from the survey mentioned earlier revealed that 88% of employers
agree that applicants should mention their interest in being interviewed in their
cover letters.
Finally, do not forget to sign your letter. If you are submitting a paper
application, you must place your handwritten signature above your name. This is
a sign of proper business etiquette and professionalism. If you are sending an
email application, a signature may not be necessary; however, you must not
forget to write your name at the bottom of your letter.
I look forward to the opportunity of being interviewed in order to share more
about my experience and skills that I could bring to your company. Thank you
for your time and consideration.
“A dream doesn't become reality through magic;
it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
Colin Powell
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8.
Common Bain cover letter mistakes
A Bain cover letter needs to be perfectly written and presented. If you want to land a consulting job
with this prestigious firm, avoid committing the following mistakes:
Name dropping
If you have never talked to or met the person, do not mention them.
Lengthy cover letter
Never let your letter run over one page—brevity is best. Screeners will
not spend a lot of time on your application, and if your letter exceeds
one page, the recruiter may question your written communication skills,
which are a critical requirement for aspiring management consultants.
Exclamation points
Mind your exclamation points. You can demonstrate your enthusiasm in a
more professional way.
Lack of evidence
for your claims
Ensure that whatever you put in your letter is supported by the details in
your resume.
Typos and grammatical
errors
Such mistakes imply a lack of attention to detail, therefore you must
proofread your letter.
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9.
Common Bain cover letter mistakes
Poor formatting
The standard font size is 12 with 1″ margins. Ensure there are enough
white spaces as hurting the reader’s eyes will hurt your candidacy as
well.
Wrong firm name
and/or position
This is a no brainer—mistakes like this will ruin your chances.
Rehashing your resume
Do not waste the recruiter’s valuable time by providing two similar
documents to review.
Unclear statements
Read your cover letter and ensure everything makes sense.
Lack of numbers
Failing to include quantifiable accomplishments will not help your
application stand out.
Insignificant details
Only mention things that are relevant to consulting such as academic
excellence and outstanding social involvement.
Omitting power words
and keywords
Ensure to sprinkle your letter with active and strong words like
“managed,” “organized,” “implemented,” etc., and incorporate
keywords related to the consulting position.
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10.
Free Guide: Learn How to Break Into Consulting
Do you want to break into consulting? Download our free PDF guide, which
will show you the necessary steps and best practices on how to prepare.
1
2
3
Consulting Interview Process: Get an overview of the
application and interview process when applying to
management consulting firms. Receive tips on how to write
your cover letter and resume and get prepared for the
written tests and interviews once you get there.
Interview Preparation: Learn what you need to practice to
receive an offer from one of the top-tier consulting firms.
See our step-by-step framework to case study solving, learn
how to develop your own frameworks and get mental math
tips.
Case Study Example: Know what to expect from a case
study interview round. Read a real-life case study interview,
which includes a variety of topics. See the practical
application of the step-by-step framework to case study
solving.