About this template
The Exec Consulting template is an executive cover letter in Source Sans 3 with a navy header strip and a four-block grid: contact, situation, evidence, ask. Reads like a one-page consulting deck rather than a narrative letter. Compatible with ATS systems at major strategy consultancies (Workday at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Strategy&, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Kearney, Accenture Strategy).
Who is it for?
It suits senior consultants and partners targeting strategy, transformation and operations advisory roles. Engagement managers, principals, partners and ex-MBB candidates who pitch with structure rather than prose, and want the letter to mirror the deliverables they will produce on the job. Also fits lateral moves between consultancies and exits from consulting into corporate transformation roles.
How to use it
The Situation block describes the current context in 2-3 lines (engagement in progress, planned career move). The Evidence block aligns 2-3 quantified achievements ("Led post-merger integration for a Fortune 500 industrial, scope 1,200 FTEs, structural savings 18% over 18 months"). The Ask block makes the next step explicit: preliminary interview with the relevant partner, availability window, geographic mobility conditions. Avoid narrative — each block is concise, factual, structural. For partner-track applications, attach a 2-3 slide teaser with focal areas, track record and project references.
Frequently asked questions
Should I attach a slide or teaser beyond the letter?
For partner-track applications, yes: a 1-2 slide teaser (focal areas, track record, project references) as an attachment complements the letter. For Principal and below, the letter + CV suffices. Never attach more than 3 pages in total — the receiving partner reads in 90 seconds or less.
How do I respect client confidentiality?
Describe by scope and impact, never by client name unless the engagement has been published (in-firm press release, official client communication). For the sector, stay generic ("Tier-1 European energy major", "Fortune 100 industrial supplier"). Check the current firm's confidentiality contract before any submission — most major consultancies have explicit clauses on cover-letter wording.
Does the format suit industry applications?
For Strategy or M&A roles at large corporates, yes. For Operations or Engineering in industry, prefer letter-prof-board-room which carries a less pure-consulting register. The Exec Consulting model remains a clear signal of consultancy origin — useful for adjacent moves, decoded as such by industry HR.
