About this template
The ATS Corporate Grid template is a professional CV built on a strict consulting grid in IBM Plex with a corporate-blue accent. Every column starts on the same axis, every date aligns to a fixed gutter — McKinsey-style discipline, and still cleanly parsed by Workday, Avature, Greenhouse and iCIMS used by top-tier consulting firms and the corporate strategy teams of Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft Corporate Strategy, Apple Strategy, ExxonMobil Strategy, GE Strategy & Corporate Development).
Who is it for?
It suits management consultants at MBB and Tier-2 strategy houses, corporate development associates, in-house strategy operators, and post-MBA hires from Wharton, Harvard, Stanford GSB, Booth, INSEAD or LBS who target roles where presentation discipline is part of the dress code. The grid signals you already think in their language. Also fits consultants in transformation practices (Accenture Strategy, Deloitte Strategy, EY-Parthenon, KPMG Strategy) moving into pure-play strategy or in-house corporate development.
How to use it
Four blocks structure the document — Engagements led (by sector and type: growth, due diligence, transformation, restructuring), Frameworks and methods (Porter, McKinsey 7S, BCG matrix, war gaming, value creation plan), Education (top US/UK schools, top-10 MBA), Certifications. Respect the fixed gutter strictly — failing to do so is an immediate quality flag for an MBB partner or a Head of Strategy. For each engagement, give the triplet client / problem / outcome with a single quantified metric. Long-tail: « management consultant CV », « McKinsey post-MBA resume », « BCG Senior Associate CV », « Head of Strategy Fortune 500 CV », « Deloitte Strategy manager resume ».
Frequently asked questions
Does the grid really need to be pixel-aligned?
Yes — it is the quality signal an MBB partner is looking for. A misaligned grid (dates drifting, columns out of axis) reads as an immediate lack of rigour. The template handles alignment automatically through CSS Grid, but verify after PDF export that all dates sit on the same gutter. If a role carries a trailing « (ongoing) » that breaks the alignment, condense to « 2024 → ».
Does the template work for a candidate without consulting experience?
Yes, but only if the target role demands the presentation rigour native to consulting. Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development teams at large enterprises (Microsoft Corporate Strategy, Apple, ExxonMobil, P&G) expect this level of visual discipline. For a purely operational profile (IT project manager, marketing manager), prefer ATS Card Sections, which rewards thematic segmentation without imposing the rigidity of the grid.
How do I position an entrepreneurial experience inside the grid?
Adopt the same strict format as for a salaried role: precise dates, exact job title (« Founder & CEO »), legal entity (Inc., LLC, Ltd), revenue and headcount. For an exit or a closure, mention the outcome (acquisition by such-and-such group, amicable dissolution, Chapter 7 / Chapter 11). MBB associates and corporate strategy recruiters read this transparency as a method signal — a founder who owns their endings is more credible than one who hides them.
