It takes a lot of knowledge and experience to become a consultant, but you still need the right resume to land the best consulting positions. Whether you want to be a business consultant or a medical consultant, the best resume is the one that shows hiring managers you are worth following up on.
When you start to write your professional resume for a consultant role, there are several elements you should keep in mind. First and foremost, you need to show that you have the professional experience, know-how, and skills that match the requirements of the role. You should also think about how you can distinguish yourself from other applicants. Whether you have experience in business development or secondary skills in marketing, these details can often put a job application over the top. Consider free resume samples to find out how others have successfully landed consulting roles.
The basic structure for any consultant resume should include the following elements to give recruiters the information they need:
Your resume header should contain a job seeker’s full name, phone number, and email address. You can also include your professional links (e.g., online portfolio) if you feel they will be valuable.
At the top of your resume, but below the header, your resume should have either a resume summary or a resume objective statement. A resume summary should be a quick rundown of your best skills, competencies, and experiences, while a resume objective statement also contains a statement of your career goals. The resume summary is best for those with many years of experience, while the resume objective is ideal for those who lack professional experience. As such, a consultant resume summary is expected rather than an objective statement.
Your resume skills section should include all of the skills that will help you to fulfill the job description you are applying for. The average skills section for a consultant job should contain between 8 and 12 bullet points detailing relevant skills. Examples of resume skills for an IT consultant include:
The work experience section of a resume should include up to 10 years of work experience and be presented in reverse-chronological order. The only time that you should include more is if the consulting firm you are applying to wants proof of more experience. For each job you’ve held, provide examples of major successes and achievements.
Your education section should provide the details of any academic achievements and awards that you have. While this will not be overly important if you have a wealth of experience and consulting skills, it can help distinguish yourself from other candidates. Remember to include only your most advanced, relevant educational achievements and certifications.
Yes, you should include a cover letter for any job application. It is especially important for specialist roles in consultancy as it allows you to provide additional information. Consider the ResumeNerd cover letter builder to make it easier to create a great consultant cover letter for your next job application.
If you lack experience as a consultant, you can still write a great consultant resume. All you have to do is focus on your previous achievements and emphasize the skills you have.
Scan the job description for required skills and experiences. Once you have done this, you should get these keywords into your resume when listing your skills and experiences to show that you have the right competencies for the role. You can also frame your past achievements to show how your skillset can be useful in the new job. Consider using the ResumeNerd resume builder to create an attractive, editable resume document.
