Below is part 1 of the Top 10 mistakes in consulting resumes. Some are related to my Top 10 consulting resume tips, but most are unique.
1. Inconsistent spacing in the resume
You don't want recruiters to say your resume is too full of text. Reviewers will lose attention - which is not good when yours is 1 of 250 in their pile.
One effective remedy is effective line spacing. Shrink and expand lines as needed (by manipulating font size).
Some areas where spacing is critical:
-Between the section title (eg, "Professional experience") and the first description (eg, "Google internship")
-Between each clunk within the section
-At the end of a clunk and the beginning of a separate section
-At the page margins - nothing less than half an inch (vertically and horizontally)
Ignore it and your resume will be an eye-sore.
2. Insufficient data and numbers
Data and numbers are the most visible and eye-catching part of your resume - like your SAT score, GPA, quantitative results at work.
Numbers help you do the following:
-Highlight the main "takeaways" - you want at least 3 of these to have a strong resume
-Prevent your resume from suffering the "too full of text" disease
-Help your resume be more results-oriented
3. Missing a personal hobbies section
Self-explanatory - one line, make it specific, don't put more than 3-5 interests.
4. Insignificant awards/scholarships/fellowships
Point 4 and Point 5 fall into the category of "too much useless content in the education section".
Unless it's a nationally recognized award/scholarship/fellowship, refrain from including it. If you do include, explain how selective it is.
5. Coursework lists
It's great that you took "Information Management". Only:
-No one knows what that class is about
-No one cares about what you learned
-No reviewer will understand how that applies to consulting
It's ok to list tough classes taken on your resume for interviews (eg, Econometrics 101, Linear Equations 202). But include them only if:
-It's clear what the topic of the course is
-What the course is about is very technical and challenging
-You don't list more than 3-5 courses
1. Inconsistent spacing in the resume
You don't want recruiters to say your resume is too full of text. Reviewers will lose attention - which is not good when yours is 1 of 250 in their pile.
One effective remedy is effective line spacing. Shrink and expand lines as needed (by manipulating font size).
Some areas where spacing is critical:
-Between the section title (eg, "Professional experience") and the first description (eg, "Google internship")
-Between each clunk within the section
-At the end of a clunk and the beginning of a separate section
-At the page margins - nothing less than half an inch (vertically and horizontally)
Ignore it and your resume will be an eye-sore.
2. Insufficient data and numbers
Data and numbers are the most visible and eye-catching part of your resume - like your SAT score, GPA, quantitative results at work.
Numbers help you do the following:
-Highlight the main "takeaways" - you want at least 3 of these to have a strong resume
-Prevent your resume from suffering the "too full of text" disease
-Help your resume be more results-oriented
3. Missing a personal hobbies section
Self-explanatory - one line, make it specific, don't put more than 3-5 interests.
4. Insignificant awards/scholarships/fellowships
Point 4 and Point 5 fall into the category of "too much useless content in the education section".
Unless it's a nationally recognized award/scholarship/fellowship, refrain from including it. If you do include, explain how selective it is.
5. Coursework lists
It's great that you took "Information Management". Only:
-No one knows what that class is about
-No one cares about what you learned
-No reviewer will understand how that applies to consulting
It's ok to list tough classes taken on your resume for interviews (eg, Econometrics 101, Linear Equations 202). But include them only if:
-It's clear what the topic of the course is
-What the course is about is very technical and challenging
-You don't list more than 3-5 courses
About the Author:
Management Consulted is a resource for understanding business consulting. Written by a former McKinsey consultant, it covers topics including recruiting, resumes, interviews, and case studies. Read the consulting interview guide today!
