McKinsey Cover Letter Sample and Writing Tips (10+ Examples)

McKinsey Cover Letter Sample and Writing Tips (10+ Examples) Youre applying to the worlds top consulting firm. In 2017, McKinsey attracted 750,000 applicants. Thats about the population of Seattle.Of those applicants, how many do you think were successful?Less than one percent.To become that one-percenter, your application doesnt just have to be good. It cant even be great.It has to be on fire. And a resume alone wont do the trick.You need a red-hot McKinsey cover letter. One thatll get you an interview faster than you can say entrepreneurial drive and leadership abilities.This guide will show you:How to write a cover letter for McKinsey to be in the one percent.A McKinsey cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 other cover letters.How to start and end a cover letter so it stands out.Templates and tips for writing the best McKinsey and Company cover letter in the pile.A cover letter McKinsey will love starts with one thing.A highly effective template.Here's one you can adapt to your own needs:McKinsey Cover Letter SampleTing Huang403 Argon ne StreetNewark, DE 19711302-309-5387tinghuang909@gmail.com10/03/2019William AkersThree World Trade Center175 Greenwich StNew York, NY 10007Dear William,I am writing to apply for the Associate position at McKinsey Company, Silicon Valley. I am confident your clients will be able to benefit from my unique skill set to help solve their complex challenges. My Ph.D. at Princeton on Linking Strategy with Inter-Organisational Relationships has given me deep insights into contemporary business trends like globalization, vertical disintegration, the reduction in supplier bases, and the focusing of operations and outsourcing of non-core activities. This specialist knowledge will be an invaluable contribution to McKinseys specific practice teams.In the pursuit of my doctorate, I have published three articles in the Academy of Management Annals on the topic of strategic planning and supply chain management. In a summer internship with BCG I was tasked with delivering creative solutions to a c lients corporate travel spend. This involved moving disparate procedures within different teams and offices into a single online solution that has resulted in annual savings of $1M+ and a weekly reduction of 50 hours in human resources. McKinseys clients look for tangible results and savings and I intend to deliver such value as an Associate.Working as a McKinsey Associate would be the ultimate achievement for me. My experience and academic record has had the objective of developing the exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment that are non-negotiables for McKinsey. This position is a perfect match for my laser focused and data driven mindset and my absolute commitment to a powerful esprit de corps.I would relish the chance to meet you to discuss how I can help to solve the most difficult business challenges such as leveraging my specialist knowledge of omnichannel integration to improve supply chain efficiency. Id be delighted to demonstrate how my academic and professional pursuit of excellence in management consultancy can help McKinsey deliver the best to its blue chip clientele.Sincerely,Ting HuangP.S. Id also be delighted to show you how my commitment to creativity and entrepreneurial spirit won me the Santos-Dumont Prize at Princeton for my project on standardized ERP systems.Thats a cover letter for McKinsey thatll get you to the top of the consulting tree in no time.Read on and well explain why.Want to write your cover letter fast?Use our cover letter builder. Choose from20+ professional cover letter templatesthat match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.Sample Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowWeve also got a mor e general guide for careers in consultancy: Consulting Cover Letter: Example Writing Guide1The Perfect McKinsey Cover Letter TemplateYour cover letter is going to be one of hundreds. Recruiters need a way of sorting the wheat from the chaff.The fastest way to do this? Immediately delete any cover letter that doesnt have the basic formatting right.Heres how to stop that happening:The Best McKinsey Cover Letter Template [Checklist]Your contact detailsThe companys detailsA salutation personalized to the hiring managerAn attention grabbing opening statement that highlights your achievementsA paragraph explaining why youre the perfect McKinsey candidateA paragraph showing your motivation to have this jobA closing statement with an irresistible call to actionFormal close (e.g., Sincerely,) and your nameA powerful postscript (P.S.) to seal the dealNow lets get writing.For more detailed information on cover letter formatting see our guide: How to Format a Cover Letter for a Resume2Add a He ader to Your McKinsey Cover LetterThis might seem obvious but youre applying for McKinsey. You need perfection from the outset.Remember, eye-tracking studies prove the top left of the page is the first thing people look at. So get this first impression right.Start you McKinsey cover letter header with:Your nameTelephone numberEmail addressDateHiring manager's name (and title)Company name and addressYou can also add:Your job titleYour addressLinks to your online presence (portfolio websites, LinkedIn, and Twitter)Lets put theory into practice:McKinsey Cover Letter Header ExamplerightTing Huang403 Argonne StreetNewark, DE 19711302-309-5387tinghuang909@gmail.com10/03/2019William AkersThree World Trade Center175 Greenwich StNew York, NY 10007Need some pointers? Check out our guide: How to Write a Cover Letter Heading3Give Your McKinsey Cover Letter a Professional SalutationWhat would you think if you received a letter addressed To Whom It May Concern?Impersonal, lazy. Heck, even downrig ht spammy.You wouldnt accept this and neither will the hiring manager at McKinsey. If you dont make it personal then you may as well not bother applying at all.Its essential to find out their name and use it. This is a powerful strategy that actually activates the readers brain in a powerfully unique way.Salutation on a McKinsey Cover LetterRIGHTDear William Shatner,WRONGDear Sir or Madam,Remember, McKinsey is a conservative and traditional company. Use both first name and surname. For more relaxed workplaces just first name will do.A whopping 84% of job seekers dont bother to personalize the job application. The 16% that do are already ahead of the game.What if you really cant find the hiring managers name? Dont sweat it, you can still make a smart and attention grabbing choice.Try these:Addressing a McKinsey Cover Letter Without a NameDear Consultant Hiring Team,Dear Associate Hiring Manager,Snap. Thats the sound of the readers attention being switched on.Youve made the salutation specific to the job being applied for and avoided the slumber inducing To Whom It May Concern.Learn how to find the hiring managers name in our guide: How to Whom You Should Address Your Cover Letter4Write an Incredible Opening ParagraphYouve hooked them with your salutation. Now you need an opening paragraph to your successful McKinsey cover letter.Before you begin, get yourself in the McKinsey mindset. Youve got to be Type A and youre in it to win it.Youre a unique and powerful individual at the absolute pinnacle of achievement. A king of consulting.You there? Good. Lets begin with a McKinsey cover letter sample for a Ph.D. graduate applicant.McKinsey Cover Letter Examples: Opening ParagraphsWRONGI am writing to apply for the Associate position at McKinsey Company, Silicon Valley. I believe I am an excellent candidate because of my proven ability to implement practical improvements, my capabilities in problem-solving, high-level communication skills and strong leadership profil e.You hear that sound? Thats the sound of your cover letter being balled up and tossed in the trash.This is dull, derivative and feels stock standard. Everything McKinsey isnt.RIGHTI am writing to apply for the Associate position at McKinsey Company, Silicon Valley. Your clients will be able to benefit from my unique skill set to help solve their complex challenges. My Ph.D. at Princeton on Linking Strategy with Inter-Organisational Relationships has given me deep insights into contemporary business trends like globalization, vertical disintegration, the reduction in supplier bases, the focusing of operations and outsourcing of non-core activities. This specialist knowledge will be an invaluable contribution to McKinseys specific practice teams.Much better. At McKinsey, it isnt enough to just have an Ivy League business degree. The competition is brutal.Here the applicant has highly specialized knowledge at a Ph.D. level. It's the crme de la crme achievement you need to turbocharge your McKinsey cover letter.Whats more, it shows insight and focuses on McKinseys needs.But what if you dont have a terminal degree? Dont sweat. But youll still need to start your McKinsey cover letter in style.Youll need to highlight significant achievements in your opening paragraph. Here are some ideas.Sample Achievements for McKinsey Cover LetterFounding a companyWork experience from a summer internship at one of the Big 3 consultanciesInventing a cutting edge new technology or processPro Tip: McKinsey has a global staffing model. You could highlight prestigious international experience or fluency in foreign languages. Think fluency in Mandarin with a summer internship at Deutsche Bank Shanghai.Find out more here: How to Begin a Cover Letter so the Hiring Manager Wants More5Explain Why Youre the Perfect McKinsey CandidateWere not kidding. For McKinsey, youve got to be perfect. Or at least give a damn good impression of perfection.But wait. Theres a trap.Dont just rehash your res ume in this part of your cover letter. Kick it up a notch by showing how you can help McKinsey. See how:Sample Cover Letters for McKinsey: Central ParagraphsRIGHTIn the pursuit of my doctorate, I have published three articles in the Academy of Management Annals on the topic of strategic planning and supply chain management. More specialist knowledge for the strategic planning team. In a summer internship with BCG I was tasked with delivering creative solutions to a clients corporate travel spend. This involved moving disparate procedures within different teams and offices into a single online solution that has resulted in annual savings of $1M+ and a weekly reduction of 50 hours in human resources. McKinseys clients look for tangible results and savings and I intend to deliver such value as an Associate.See what this does? This is top-notch experience. It includes quantifiable results and just like the example says it delivers value to McKinsey.WRONGMy work experience includes a sum mer internship at BCG. My duties included assessing business strategies of clients, including analysis of working capital, process workflows, financial inefficiency, and new business opportunities. I also provided advisory services in making decisions on mergers, acquisitions, and other financial opportunities.Its ok, but it wont make the person reading it sit up and say Theres our new associate!(Whats more, it reads like a rewrite of a resume experience section.)Remember, McKinsey values specialization and moves consultants into specific practices early on. With the first cover letter example theyre already planning what team to assign you to.6Show Why You Really WantThisJob With McKinseyWhat else does McKinsey need in a candidate? Its more than the sum of your experience and education.It wants commitment, engagement and focus. McKinseys work culture has been described as a religion due to the sheer ruthless commitment its consultants have to company values.And the firm is famed fo r its up and out policy where if you dont get promoted within a certain amount of time after joining, youre out.With McKinsey you have to get this right. So in your McKinsey cover letter body:Mention specific requirements in the job description.Say why they excite you.Explain how your skills can help.The McKinsey cover letter sample below shows how:Sample McKinsey Cover Letter: Your MotivationRIGHTWorking as a McKinsey Associate would be the ultimate achievement for me. My experience and academic record has had the objective of developing the exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment that are non-negotiables for McKinsey. This position is a perfect match for my laser focused and data driven mindset and my absolute commitment to a powerful esprit de corps.That put upon junior consultant? Theyre paying attention now.Youve demonstrated understanding of both the job requirements and the corporate culture. And youve shown real motivation.WRONGI am fully committed to McKinsey and its corporate goals. Seeking to leverage my experience to excel in the role of associate with McKinsey.This one doesnt work. Its too generic and feels like you didnt even read the job description.Pro Tip: McKinsey loves buzzwords. Their big 3 are structure, credibility, and credentials. Keep them in mind when writing your successful McKinsey cover letter.7Make Your Offer in the Closing ParagraphYour McKinsey cover letter is shaping up nicely.Incredible introduction? Check.Demonstration of a superior skill set? Check.Explaining how you want this job? Youve hit the ball out of the park.Now its time to go in for the kill. Make an offer thatll land you the interview.McKinsey Cover Letter Examples: Closing ParagraphsRIGHTI would relish the chance to meet you to discuss how I can help to solve the most difficult business challenges such as leveraging my specialist knowledge of omnichannel integration to improve sup ply chain efficiency. Id be delighted to demonstrate how my academic and professional pursuit of excellence in management consultancy can help McKinsey deliver the best to its blue chip clientele.This McKinsey cover letter example seals the deal. It shows a true understanding of McKinseys goals and how you can help to achieve them.That mention of specialist knowledge and savings? Just the sort of thing McKinsey wants from its associates.WRONGI look forward to discussing this role further with you in an interview. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application.Use this and youll only be consulting unemployment. Its generic and shows no understanding of either McKinsey or the role.Need more tips for ending your McKinsey cover letter? See our guide: How to End a Cover Letter: Complete Guide8Add P.S. to Your McKinsey Cover Letter To Land The InterviewNo, not P.S. I love you. Thats sweet, but it wont help here.This is a little known strategy that could be the final piece in the puzzle.Those two letters. P.S. Theyre a surefire attention grabber. That junior consultant is guaranteed to keep reading.Sample Postscript for a McKinsey Cover LetterP.S. Id also be delighted to show you how my commitment to creativity and entrepreneurial spirit won me the Santos-Dumont Prize at Princeton for my project on standardized ERP systems.Snap. Thats a prestigious award from a prestigious university. Innovation? Commitment? Thats McKinsey catnip right there.Who wouldnt want to get to meet you to know more?P.S. Dont forget to use the right formal closing for your letter before you use this trick. You know the drill. A Best Regards, Sincerely or Kind Regards will do nicely.You see. The P.S. trick works!Pro Tip: How long should a cover letter be? Short. One page, no exceptions. Three paragraphs are best. The first set of eyes to see it will be a junior consultant who has to review tons of cover letters. They wont read more.Key TakeawaysWriting a McKinsey cover letter doesnt h ave to be hard. Just remember these lessons-learned:Get the McKinsey cover letter header right and personalize your greeting. Be attention-grabbing from the outset.Start with impressive achievements and make them relevant to McKinsey.Explain why youre the perfect candidate and back it up with numbers.Show your motivation and explain why you want this specific McKinsey job.Finish with a call to action. Ask for the interview and offer something in return.Add P.S. Its the final attention grabber that will guarantee a call back.Want more advice on how to craft a perfect McKinsey cover letter? Ask away in the comments below. Wed love to help.