How To Write a Consultant Cover Letter (With Examples)

If you're applying for a consultant job, your cover letter is an essential part of your application. It needs to highlight the skills and experiences that identify you as a worthy candidate, and provide the recruiter with some insight into your personality. This is why it's worth taking the time to learn how to write one effectively to increase your chances of getting hired, whether you're applying as a management, strategy, business or any other type of consultant. In this article, we explain how to write a consultant cover letter and provide you with some examples.

Related: Q&A: Should You Include a Cover Letter?

What to include in a consultant cover letter

It's important to know what to include in a cover letter and what to omit. Aim to write a cover letter that is no more than one page long. The requirements detailed in the job description are your main guide when it comes to determining what is relevant. Once you've shown that you meet the requirements for the consulting role, you can move on to detail the skills and attributes that make you stand out as an individual.

It's usually better to use stories, as opposed to descriptions. There is a big difference between a candidate claiming to have leadership skills and another claiming to have successfully led a team for three years. In addition to qualifications, there are certain skills consultants need to demonstrate, such as leadership, communication, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. With consulting work, offer measurable results wherever possible in your examples.

Related: Interpersonal Skills: Definitions and Examples

How to write a consultant cover letter

Whereas the previous section contains guidance on the important things to include in a consultant cover letter, below is a list of steps to follow. You can adapt these as needed, and they can serve as a good template for writing an effective consultant cover letter. The steps are as follows:

1. Research the company

Before you write the first word of your cover letter, do as much research into the company you're applying to as possible. A good consultant cover letter is tailored to the job opening and company in question. Researching them allows you to do this, and demonstrate your diligence and seriousness.

2. Address the recruiter directly

Your research may have included finding out the recruiter's name so you can address them directly. If you're unable to find their name, begin your cover letter with 'Dear Hiring Manager', as 'Dear Sir/Madam' is quite generic. You may also address the letter to the company or the department within the company you're applying for.

3. Express your interest in the role

Once you've addressed the recruiter directly, state your interest in applying for the role within the first sentence. This can be useful to the recruiter, who is likely receiving applications for many roles. You can also introduce yourself within the first sentence or two, and mention how you found the vacancy.

Related: 7 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples)

4. State your qualifications

The more relevant something is to your application, the sooner you can mention it in your cover letter. Your relevant qualifications are among the first things you can detail, along with any skills or experience that are required. After this, you can include your other skills, qualifications and attributes, as long as they have some relevance to the role. This could be anything from academic qualifications to additional languages.

Related: How To Become A Consultant (With Roles and Responsibilities)

5. Explain why you are an ideal candidate

This is the part that involves the most persuasiveness. Using examples and stories, detail why the recruiter ought to consider you as a prime candidate. Talk about how your unique set of experiences and skills are a great fit for the consulting role in question, and the company you're applying to. In your research, you ought to have taken note of the company's core values and goals. In your cover letter, you can highlight where these align with your own.

6. Conclude

Towards the end of your consultant cover letter, thank the reader for their time and consideration. You can also take the opportunity to reiterate how interested you are in the role. Then you can politely close the letter and add your full name, email address and contact number. If you're submitting your cover letter through an online application process, you're usually asked to submit your contact details in another step. In this case, just close with your name.

7. Re-read your cover letter

Re-read your cover letters at least once before you send them. If possible, don't re-read it immediately after you finish writing. When you come back to it, check for any grammatical or spelling errors, overly long paragraphs or unsuitable language. Also try to determine how persuasively you've written, and make adjustments wherever you feel it necessary. If you have doubts, ask a friend or relative with relevant experience to read your cover letter and offer constructive criticism.

To help you assess your cover letter, we have provided a checklist below of three important things to look out for. When re-reading your consultant cover letter, make sure that it is:

• Concise: An ideal cover letter is no longer than one page, even if you use increased spacing. Stick to straightforward language and remove anything that is too flowery or ambiguous and ensure that paragraphs are no longer than four or five lines and are regularly spaced.

• Relevant: Your cover letter must be specifically written for the job and company in question. Make sure that all examples, stories, skills and experiences you talk about are relevant to the job and if you feel like your cover letter appears generic, do some additional research on the company and amend it.

• Persuasive: If the role of a CV is to inform the reader, then the role of a cover letter is to persuade them. Your cover letter needs to reflect this and actively persuade the recruiter that you're the right candidate.

Related: How to End a Cover Letter

Example consultant cover letters

Here are some example consultant cover letters to help you write your next cover letter:

Example 1

Dear Ms Collins,

I'm writing to you to register my interest in applying for the position of senior consultant at the Mantzoukas Consulting Group. I believe that my unique set of skills and experiences make me an ideal candidate for the position.

I've been in my current role as a junior consultant for three years. During this time, I have consistently solved problems, shown initiative and demonstrated flexibility. I have successfully helped our partners streamline their processes by introducing them to data analytics services that can better inform decision making. In one case, a client was able to reduce unnecessary spending by 20%. I have also been involved in helping partners improve their recruitment processes.

Over the years, I have continuously honed my communication, leadership and critical thinking skills. I am especially interested and experienced in business analysis and performance monitoring. I also have an MBA from KCL, speak German and know how to use data analytics and visualisation software packages.

I would very much appreciate the opportunity to talk to you further about my interest in this exciting role. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

David Lyndhurst

dlyndhurst@email.co.uk
0111 2222 333

Example 2

Dear Mr MacDonald,

I'm writing to you with regard to the junior consultant position at La Rousse Business Consultants. I wish to submit my application for this position, which I came across on the Indeed UK website.

I have recently concluded my undergraduate studies in business with finance, where I received an upper second. As per your requirements for the position, I have completed courses in business planning and development, operations management, decision making in business and corporate financial management. I've also completed two internships. The first was at a marketing firm, and for the second I assisted a management consultant with research.

My second internship convinced me that consulting was the career choice for me. I have a knack for research and analysis, and my boss even had me write draft proposals that she amended and submitted to clients. These were usually well-received, despite me only being a student at the time. I'm also an excellent communicator, possess a great mind for numbers and have a very strong work ethic. La Rousse's emphasis on client satisfaction and sustainable relationships is something that resonates with me personally, as I believe that long-term working relationships are key to a firm's longevity.

Thank you very much for considering my application, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Susan Murray