Leland+ for Management Consulting

Resume Best Practices: Tips to Take Your CV From Meh to Magnifico!

After 15+ years of reviewing more applicant resumes than I care to count as a recruiter/hiring manager/talent leader at McKinsey and Bain, these are the core tips I coach my clients to always consider when crafting their CV.

How to Stand Apart in Consulting Recruiting

Consulting recruiting is intensely competitive, and standing apart requires more than strong case skills. This session breaks down what top firms actually look for, how to differentiate your profile through storytelling, judgment, and communication, and how to signal readiness across resumes, networking, and interviews. You’ll learn common mistakes that hold candidates back and practical strategies to position yourself as a clear yes.

Sample Resume Bullet Points

This guide includes a set of résumé bullet points designed to showcase a wide range of skills and industries. Each bullet uses a strong action verb and highlights a quantifiable outcome.

The Elements of a Successful Case

What separates an average case from a memorable one? This session focuses on the specific elements interviewers look for when evaluating consulting cases—and how to consistently demonstrate them. You’ll break down how to drive the case forward, ask sharper questions, synthesize insights, and communicate recommendations with confidence. We’ll also highlight where candidates often lose points and how to course-correct in real time. Whether you’re building case fundamentals or aiming to refine your performance, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how strong cases are actually judged—and how to deliver one.

Inside MBB: Interview Processes and Day-to-Day Work

Curious what it actually takes to land an offer at McKinsey, Bain, or BCG, and what life looks like once you’re inside? In this session, we’ll break down the full MBB interview process, from resume screens to final rounds, and demystify what firms are truly evaluating at each stage. We’ll also dive into the day-to-day realities of consulting work, including project structure, client interaction, travel, and career progression. You’ll leave with a clearer picture of both how to break in and what to expect once you do.

Here’s what really works in networking

Understand when location matters for referrals and when it doesn't. Learn to stay flexible and build connections across different offices.

Case Walkthrough with a Former Bain Interviewer: Mergers and Acquisitions

M&A cases are a core part of consulting interviews, but many candidates struggle to structure them clearly and communicate their thinking under pressure. This session is for candidates preparing for consulting interviews who want a better approach to tackling mergers and acquisitions cases. You’ll learn how to break down an M&A prompt, structure your analysis across synergies and risks, and walk through a case the way interviewers expect to see it.

Real MBB + Big Tech Resume: Bain AC to LinkedIn Strategy & Operations

This is a real resume from someone who successfully recruited into Bain & Company out of a Big 10 non-target school and subsequently landed a Strategy and Operations role at LinkedIn. It is not a template or a fabricated example. It is the exact resume used to secure these offers, formatted and structured the way MBB recruiters expect to see. Use it to understand how to frame internships and experiences with quantifiable impact, how to structure bullet points that signal analytical ability, how to present a non-linear background in a way that reads as an asset rather than a liability, and what a clean, one-page consulting resume actually looks like in practice. Whether you are preparing your application for MBB firms or targeting Big Tech strategy roles, this resource gives you a concrete, real-world benchmark to pressure test your own resume against.

Wanna Make a Difference? Corporate to Social Impact Pathways

If you are considering a move from corporate consulting into social impact, this session will help you identify which of your existing skills transfer directly and which gaps you need to close before making the leap. You will learn how social impact organizations actually evaluate candidates from the private sector, what signals separate strong applicants from ones who stall in the hiring process, and how to position a consulting background for roles in nonprofit strategy, impact investing, or mission-driven advisory work.

How to Lead the Room with Executive Presence

Executive presence is one of those phrases that gets thrown around a lot in leadership conversations. You've probably heard it. You may have even been told you need more of it. But here's the problem: most people can't tell you what it actually means. It's not charisma. It's not being the loudest person in the room. It's not even being the most polished. Executive presence is the ability to make people feel — in your presence — that things are under control, that someone capable is leading, and that their time and attention is being respected. It's a signal. And like any signal, it can be developed, sharpened, and directed. This guide is built around three pillars that I've seen transform how executives show up: Clarity, Credibility, and Confidence. They're related — and yes, they overlap. But they each do distinct work, and understanding the difference matters.

Big 10 to MBB + Big Tech: Positioning Yourself to Get Offers

This guide was written by a former Bain & Company Associate Consultant, now in a Strategy and Operations role at LinkedIn, who went through the full MBB recruiting process out of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. It covers everything that actually matters when you are trying to break into a top consulting firm or land a Big Tech strategy role from a non-target school. Inside you will find a no-nonsense breakdown of how MBB firms actually differ, what a competitive application looks like, how to build a resume that passes the ten-second scan, and the networking approach that moves the needle versus the one that wastes your time. The guide goes deep on case interview preparation, including the pyramid framework approach and what interviewers are genuinely evaluating in the room, and covers the behavioral and fit interview with the same level of honesty. The final chapter covers what transfers from consulting to Big Tech, how that recruiting process works, and how to negotiate an offer once you have one. This is not generic advice. It is based on having gone through the process recently, having sat on the other side of the table at Bain, and having made the transition to Big Tech firsthand.

Your Roadmap to a Career in Consulting

Breaking into consulting can feel confusing when there are multiple entry points, recruiting timelines, and expectations that aren’t always obvious. This session is for candidates who want a clearer roadmap for building a strong path into consulting. You’ll learn how successful applicants position their experience, how recruiting typically unfolds across firms, and what skills and preparation tend to matter most during the process.

MBA to Consulting: How to Nail the Interview

Consulting interviews are some of the toughest in the MBA world—and breaking into a top firm requires mastery of both case and behavioral components. In this workshop, Erik Z. —a former Bain consultant and manager who spent three years on the “other side” of recruiting—will walk you through exactly how to prepare. Having conducted 300+ mock interviews, authored an MBA interview case at Bain, and coached candidates (including many from non-traditional backgrounds) into MBB, Erik brings insider knowledge of what firms truly look for. He’ll cover networking strategy, resume positioning, case frameworks, behavioral excellence, and the nuances that help you stand out during recruiting season. Whether you're prepping for on-campus recruiting or pivoting into consulting post-MBA, this session will give you the clarity and confidence to excel.

Land a Consulting Offer Week: Kickoff Panel [5/4/2026] (Recording)

Breaking into consulting isn’t just about working harder—it’s about knowing where to focus your effort. This kickoff session is for candidates looking to land consulting offers with a clearer, more strategic approach. You’ll learn how successful applicants prepare across resumes, networking, and case interviews, what timelines to expect, and where to focus to maximize your chances. Join live to hear directly from experienced consulting coaches and ask your questions about breaking into consulting. The panelists regularly work with candidates through recruiting and will share the patterns they see across successful applicants and what stands out from the hiring side. It’s a strong way to start with the right plan and perspective.

What a Career in Consulting Actually Looks Like [5/7/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES. After this session, you'll have a clear picture of what consulting work actually demands day-to-day and what distinguishes candidates who break in from those who don't. We'll cover how Bain evaluates potential during the recruiting process, what the associate to partner trajectory looks like in practice, and where most candidates misread the role before they've even started. Attending live means you can bring your specific background or situation and get a direct read on how it maps to what firms are looking for right now. This coach comes from a background at Bain, and the patterns they share about what moves candidates forward reflect the kind of judgment that only comes from being on the other side of the table.

Consulting Recruiting is Starting Earlier Than Ever: Start Preparing Now

Consulting timelines continue to move up, leaving less room for last-minute preparation and more pressure to be ready from day one. In this session, you’ll learn how early recruiting cycles are evolving, what firms expect at each stage, and how to build a proactive plan that covers networking, resume positioning, case prep, and behavioral readiness. Whether you’re months away or just beginning to think about recruiting, you’ll leave with a clear strategy to get ahead before the window closes.

Bain vs BCG vs McKinsey Debate Panel

Thinking about a career in consulting but not sure which of the MBB firms is the right fit for you? Bain, BCG, and McKinsey are all world-class consultancies, but each has its own culture, recruiting process, career paths, and approach to client work. ​In this panel, Erik Z. (Bain), Christina B. (McKinsey), and Timothy F. (BCG) will break down the similarities and differences between the three firms, offering candid insights into what it’s really like to work at each. You’ll hear perspectives on firm culture, project types, advancement opportunities, work-life balance, and exit options—along with advice for navigating the application and interview process. Whether you’re aiming for MBB or just exploring your options, this session will help you make a more informed choice about where you want to start your consulting career.

Don’t ask "Can you refer me?" - Ask this instead

Earn referrals naturally by building trust first. Learn what questions to ask and how to make consultants actually want to help you.

Not sure who to network with? Start here

Learn who to contact first, how to use your existing connections, and when to reach out for the best results.

Bullet Proof Inc: Grow and Diversify

An walkthrough of the Bullet Proof Inc: Grow and Diversify case for management consulting.