Consultant CV examples

Writing a CV as a consultant needs to showcase your ability to analyse problems and develop actionable strategies. Employers want to see evidence of your expertise, industry knowledge, and the tangible impact you’ve had in previous roles.

Following these steps will help you write a CV that demonstrates your consulting prowess and positions you as the ideal candidate for any consultancy project or organisation.

Your CV should be as organised and impactful as the strategies you deliver to clients. A clear CV structure ensures recruiters can easily navigate your experience and skills, so no jargon-filled walls of text here – we’re keeping the layout simple so the recruiter doesn’t need their own consultant to decode it.

Here’s how to structure your Consultant CV:

• Name and contact details – Keep contact details at the top so clients or recruiters can reach you quickly. Including a picture of yourself is up to you.
• Profile – Open with a summary of your consulting expertise, career highlights, and industry focus.
• Core skills – Outline your primary competencies, including your analytical abilities, strategic thinking, and project management expertise.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role.
• Additional info – This section is optional, but it’s a good place for hobbies or interests, memberships, and awards that complement your professional profile.

A messy CV is like a chaotic project kick-off meeting – confusing, overwhelming, and likely to lose everyone’s attention fast. Avoid simple mistakes and strive for a polished, easy-to-read CV format to ensure recruiters focus on your expertise.

Here’s how to format your Consultant CV effectively:

• Bullet points – Use these to break down your accomplishments and responsibilities for clarity.
• Divide sections – Create clear headings to organise your CV logically.
• Use a clean font – Choose a professional font to enhance readability and ensure your CV looks polished.
• Keep it the right length – Two pages are ideal – enough length to highlight your expertise while maintaining interest.

Your profile is your elevator pitch – a concise introduction that shows recruiters why you’re the consultant they need. In your CV profile, you’ll need to convey what benefits there would be to hiring you over.

Junior candidates can use a longer personal statement, along with an optional cover letter.

Here are some tips on what to include in your Consultant CV profile:

• Where you’ve worked – Name the general types of firms, industries, or clients you’ve consulted for.
• Your top qualifications – Make a note of your degrees, certifications, or training relevant to consultancy.
• Core consulting skills – Discuss areas like strategy development, process optimisation, or data analysis.
• Key achievements – Reference major successes, like driving revenue growth or implementing cost-saving strategies.
• Industry focus – Mention specific sectors, like healthcare, finance, or technology, to align with the role.

Your core skills section is like your consulting toolkit – it’s where you list the key abilities you bring to every project. For consultants, this section should balance technical skills, strategic expertise, and client-facing strengths.

Tailor your CV skills to match the job description, as different consulting roles may require specific expertise. For example, a technology consultant might focus on IT solutions, while a management consultant would highlight organisational strategies

Your work experience section is where you turn theory into practice and showcase the value you bring as a consultant. It’s not enough to say you can strategise, analyse, or deliver results – this is where you prove it. 

Remember to present your roles in reverse chronological order so they can see your most recent and relevant achievements first. Use bullet points to keep the section easy to read and focused on results.

• Outline – Describe the company or client, your role, and the type of projects you handled.
• Responsibilities – Highlight tasks like conducting analysis, delivering presentations, or managing teams.
• Achievements – Showcase measurable results, such as cost reductions, efficiency improvements, or revenue growth.

The education section highlights the academic foundation of your consulting expertise.

Briefly outline your degrees, certifications, and training relevant to consulting, such as an MBA or Lean Six Sigma training. If you’re new to consulting, focus on coursework or projects that demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving skills.

Always show off your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recently-earned.