Consulting Cover Letter Bain

Are you trying to get into the youngest of the MBBs? One pivotal document you will need is your Bain cover letter. Bain & Company uses these letters to filter out the most promising candidates from the multitudes that apply and reject the rest. But what does an effective Bain and Company cover letter look like, and how can you craft one that stands out?

Rationale Behind Consulting Cover Letters

Why does Bain require a cover letter? It is first and foremost a screening mechanism. Bain and similar firms use the cover letter to identify candidates that can take the job seriously, know how to put their best foot forward, and have interesting stories to tell.
While it’s not always mandatory, it’s undeniably beneficial. Cover letters are read by hiring managers and recruiters, and occasionally the consultants that are interviewing you. So, if the application says that a cover letter is optional, you should still include a cover letter because it is a great way to stand out. Cover letters let recruiters see a glimpse of your writing skills, your motivations, and it lets you show your understanding of the Bain’s ethos and how you will fit into its framework.

What Is Bain Looking For?

Bain is often called the “fun one” of the MBBs, though a lot of the coaches at Management Consulted coaches would fight for this accolade. With that comes a few differences in how you should think about your cover letter. As always, you want to address the core consulting skillset of problem-solving skills, analytical skills, leadership qualities, and communication strength, but Bain also wants to see creativity and individual passions.

Let’s be clear, you want to tell stories on your successes in organizations and your professional life, but don’t be afraid to include your proudest achievements if they are on topics that don’t directly connect with consulting, like hosting an art workshop or self-publishing a novel.

How To Write A Bain Cover Letter

Now we’ll talk about the five essential steps in writing a Bain cover letter. These are must-haves, and anyone should be able to include these five steps.

1. Know Your Story

Reflect on your own achievements and career progression and craft a story that will be remembered. You want to make it easy for the interviewer to connect the dots in your professional background, and this will make you more memorable.

2. Identify Specific Situations

Next, you need to think about two to three specific “hero stories,” events where you contributed substantially or had a significant achievement. This is the core of your cover letter and is where you should spend most of your effort.

3. Follow a Structure

Now isn’t the time for a creative approach. Your cover letter should be four to five paragraphs long and include: an introduction, your first “hero story”, your second “hero story”, and a conclusion. Consulting firms are expecting these sections. If you decide to break the box, you will likely just hurt your chances.

4. Be Quantitative

Highlight tangible results that you have achieved with metrics. Did you boost sales by X% or lead a team that improved efficiency by Y%? Did you lead a team of 10 or release 350 features per year? Include these metrics – consultants love to see numbers.

5. Address Red Flags

Do you have gaps in your resume or an unrelated degree? Address them honestly, but don’t be afraid to spin them as well. If you took a year off work to backpack across Europe, address what you learned from this experience.

Apart from the above must-haves, you should also include references to any conversations that you’ve had with current Bain consultants or alumni. You can also include how your passions relate to specific projects or values at Bain that you’ve heard of or discuss a Bain event that you attend.

Bain Cover Letter Format

Like the must-haves above, the following formatting steps are not guidelines, they are rules!

• Length: Always keep it to one page. Recruiters start to fall asleep after one page.
• Font: Use 10–12-point professional, readable fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.
• Spacing, Margins, and Alignment: Stick to 1-inch margins, 1-1.5 line spacing, and ensure your content is neatly aligned.

There is almost no reason to veer away from the above format. Hiring managers and recruiters expect to see these, so make their life easy.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

With the above two sections, you should be well-equipped to write your cover letter, but we’ll also give you a couple of warnings on things to avoid.

Exceeding One Page

The reality is that most people start to fall asleep after reading more than one page of a cover letter. The key here is to not boil the ocean. Think about just a couple of “hero stories” and focus on those.

Failing To Quantify Your Achievements

It’s so important, we are saying it again. You need to quantify your results in your cover letter!

Neglecting To Conclude With A Compelling Call To Action

Every cover letter should end politely with a push for the next step. Some of our favorites are “Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon,” and “Thank you in advance for the time; I look forward to discussing my application further.”

Bain Cover Letter Tips

As you get to writing your Bain cover letter, a lot of the things above will start to fall into place. In addition to each of these, here are a few quick tips that will help make your life easier.

1. Salutation Do’s and Don’ts

If you know the name of the hiring manager that will read your cover letter, feel free to use that. Otherwise, use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom it May Concern”. Never use “Mr.”, “Ms.”, and never use “Mrs.” on your cover letter.

2. Tailor for Each Firm

Make it evident that your letter is crafted specifically for Bain, including using the Bain name, calling out Bain company values, and referencing your connections at Bain.

3. Keep to the Point

Stay on the topic of your strengths as you write your stories.

4. Closing

End on a powerful note, emphasizing your eagerness and appreciation for Bain.

5. Think Long Term

Showcase your motivations that align with Bain’s long-term goals.

6. Proofread and Edit

Ensure flawless grammar and syntax. If you are prone to typos, double-check, triple-check, use a proofreading software, and then have your roommate read the final draft.

7. File Format

Stick to universally accepted formats like PDF, unless otherwise required.

Bain Cover Letter Example

For undergraduates keen on joining Bain, your cover letter should function as a window into your academics, extracurricular, and early career to showcase your strengths. Start with a strong introduction, mentioning your degree. Dive into any leadership roles, case competitions, or internships that mirror the analytical and teamwork skills Bain values. Remember, you can only pick two, the rest are for the resume.

As an MBA or advanced degree candidate, your Bain cover letter should underscore your grasp of business and your outstanding performance in your career until now. If you’ve worked professionally, you must include at least one “hero story” directly in your professional role. If you’ve worked in research or a different highly technical field, ensure that you are communicating the impact of your role and be sure to use layman terms.

For those with extensive industry experience, the key to your Bain Cover letter is to demonstrate that you can think like a consultant, in addition to the impact you’ve already had in your career. Focus on highlighting key roles, achievements, and the impact you’ve driven. Furthermore, illustrate how your rich experience aligns with Bain’s ethos and how you envision furthering their legacy of transformative solutions.
For templates on a Bain cover letter example, check out our in-depth guide to writing cover letters.

Conclusion

Writing a Bain cover letter may seem daunting, but it’s a step that each consultant at Bain has taken. The key to writing an effective cover letter is to pick your areas of focus and deliver a succinct message on your professional story. With the above guide, you will be well prepared to tackle this challenge.