Crafting an impressive consulting cover letter is your key to unlocking a highly rewarding role, where you can provide detailed analyses, expert insights, and strategic business recommendations.
We'll be your guide, offering important tips, illustrating via meaningful examples, and even suggesting accessible templates to make your journey into the realm of consultancy a smoother ride.
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In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as a consultant. Keep reading to learn about:
- Crafting a well-formatted consultant cover letter header & headline
- Creating a personalized greeting for your consultant cover letter
- Writing an engaging & eye-catching consultant cover letter introduction
- Showing your professional value as a consultant with accomplishments
- Ending your consultant cover letter with a powerful closing statement
- Accessing the best resources for job-seeking consultants
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1. Write a well-formatted consultant cover letter header & headline
The first two components to craft on your cover letter are your header and headline.
A cover letter header is a short block of text found most commonly in the upper left corner of the document that includes all the necessary applicant and company information. As for the cover letter headline, this is a brief title statement that helps to lead into the rest of the letter.
To better demonstrate how to format each of these elements, below are more in-depth explanations and examples of each:
Formatting the header
Your cover letter header can vary in format, style, and order of information. Some applicants will choose to include their name in larger font at the very top of the header, while others will create a more letter-style address in the header.
Regardless of what format you opt for, your header should always include:
- The name of the company (& department, when applicable) you are applying for
- Your name and professional title
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
Here is an example of a letter-style header on a consultant’s cover letter
To: Carhill Business Partners, Consulting Department
From: Joe King, Business Consultant
(123) 456-7890 | joeking@email.com | linkedin.com/in/joe-king
Writing the headline
When writing the headline for your consultant cover letter, you should consider how journalists use headlines and article titles to grab the attention of readers. Your headline should be eye-catching, while also offering an accurate preview of the information to come.
In your headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective headline from a consultant’s cover letter
My 3 Negotiation Abilities that Make Me the Perfect Consultant for Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: My 3 Negotiation Abilities
Keyword: Consultant
Adjective: Perfect
Promise: For Your Company – this addition at the end of the headline indicates to the employer that you will go beyond simply describing your skills by also relating them to the specific needs of the employer’s business.
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2. Create a personalized greeting for your consultant cover letter
Whenever you write a greeting on a consultant cover letter, it is crucially important to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person or department within the company.
By doing so, you show the employer that you not only have excellent attention to detail but also that you have taken the time to thoroughly research their company beforehand.
In the event that you are unable to uncover a specific person or department that will be reviewing your application, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Build an engaging consultant cover letter introduction
By the time an employer reaches the introductory paragraph of your cover letter, you should have already hooked their attention with the headline and greeting. To keep this attention intact, include the following details in your introduction:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a consultant cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am writing to you today to apply for the open Consultant position after receiving a recommendation to do so by your company’s VP, Jane Doe. As a Consultant with over 6 years of experience in the financial industry, I am certain I will bring a high level of professionalism and excellence to this role and your company.
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4. Show your professional value as a consultant with accomplishments
Once the introduction of your consultant cover letter is squared away, it’s time to provide a more in-depth look into your qualifications in the body paragraphs of your letter. A strong cover letter will typically contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Providing quantifiable accomplishments is particularly effective in a cover letter, as this gives the employer real-life examples of the value you can provide to their business.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a consultant cover letter
As the Digital Transformation Consultant for [Former Employer], I assisted more than 50 companies in the development and implementation of strategies to improve their digital infrastructure and online presence. In turn, these partnerships increased annual sales by an average of 30% annually for my former employer.
5. End your consultant cover letter with a powerful closing statement
The conclusion of your consultant cover letter should be just as compelling as the introduction. To create a powerful closing statement, you should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a consultant cover letter
Thank you for taking the time to read my cover letter and consider my application. As your new Consultant, I am certain I can elevate your business partnerships and increase your sales according to your company’s high standards of quality. To best reach me, call (123) 456-7890 any weekday during normal business hours.
If I do not hear from you within a week, I will reach out to touch base regarding my application.
Appreciatively,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
6. Top resources for job-seeking consultants
Exploring the job market for consultants might seem daunting, but with the right tools and resources, you'll find your way. Here are some top recommendations:
- Job platforms: Websites like Glassdoor and Indeed offer an abundance of job postings, customizable search options, and critical alerts for new opportunities.
- Professional networking sites: LinkedIn stands out in this category. Beyond networking, it's a hub filled with job listings, industry-related content, and helpful groups to join discussions and stay informed. What's more, you can turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume within a few seconds.
- Industry-specific job boards: Certain websites cater to specific industries, such as Dice for tech consultants or Idealist for non-profit consulting roles. Exploring these can narrow down your search to targeted opportunities.
- Company career pages: Never underestimate the power of direct applications. Websites of companies you're interested in likely have a careers section with job postings.
- Career counseling services: Many universities, and some private organizations, offer career counseling services. They can provide individualized advice, resume and cover letter reviews, interview practice, and more.
- Job search engines and aggregators: Google for Jobs, SimplyHired, and others pull postings from multiple sources to save you from visiting each site individually.
- Recruitment agencies: Firms like Robert Half or Michael Page specialize in placing candidates in jobs. They often have relationships with companies seeking consultants and can help match you to suitable openings.
Armed with these resources, your consulting job search becomes a planned mission instead of a scattered ordeal.
Note: These aren't replacements for a compelling consulting cover letter and a strategic networking approach, but support tools on your professional journey.
Consulting Cover Letter FAQ
What should be the structure of a consulting cover letter?
The recommended structure includes an opening salutation, an introductory paragraph, one to two body paragraphs explaining your qualifications and how they match the job requirements, followed by a conclusion and formal closing.
How long should my consulting cover letter be?
The golden rule is to keep it concise. Aim for no more than one page, and certainly no more than 400 words. Remember, hiring managers review several cover letters; short and impactful will get the job done.
Should I reuse a generic cover letter for multiple applications?
Avoid using a one-size-fits-all cover letter for all your job applications. Tailor-make each letter to suit the specific position and company. Mirror the language in the job description and demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with the role.
Do keywords make a difference in a consulting cover letter?
Absolutely. Keywords can act as a bridge between the employer's needs and your skills. They can also dutifully serve as trackers for applicant tracking systems. Identify the keywords in the job description — like 'team player', 'analytical skills', or 'project management' — and integrate them into your letter where relevant.
How should I address my consulting cover letter?
If you know the hiring manager's name, address them directly (for example, "Dear Ms. Johnson"). If you don't know their name, it's better to opt for a generic, yet professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Consulting Team".
