MBB Resume Tutorial
I landed interviews at 7 consulting firms, including all 3 MBB firms. This is the exact resume I used and my approach to crafting it.
Hey all, this was so much fun to make. I really hope you love it.
Here's a 20 min tutorial on how to build your resume and a written version if you are short on time (or don’t like my voice 😉):
🧠 How to Build the Perfect Resume for MBB
By Michael Riley
Hey everyone — I’m Michael Riley. I recently wrapped up a few years at McKinsey, and before that, I went through the intense consulting recruiting process. I landed interviews at firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Deloitte, EY, and more.
But rewind a few years… I remember sitting there, staring at my laptop, a bit frazzled and unsure about how to craft a resume that would stand out. If you’re in that same spot, I want to demystify the process for you. I’m sharing not just tips — but the actual resume that helped me break into top consulting firms.
Let’s get into it.
🚀 First, Understand What Consulting Firms Want
Your resume is your first impression. Think of it like a user interface — recruiters skim fast, so you want to guide their eyes toward your strongest selling points. Consulting firms are typically looking for:
Structured thinking
Clear leadership experience
Tangible impact
Academic success
Your resume should show, not just tell, these qualities.
🧱 The Ideal Resume Structure
I structured my resume into five key sections:
Education
Work Experience
Leadership & Entrepreneurial Projects
Languages & Interests
Contact Information (at the top)
👉 Pro tip: The size of each section matters. The most space went to work experience and leadership projects — these were my biggest selling points. Education and personal interests took up less space but still rounded me out as a candidate.
🎓 Education Section
Put this at the top unless your work experience is more compelling.
Include:
School name and degree
Key achievements
GPA (yes, list it if you're recruiting out of undergrad — aim for 3.7+, but context matters)
Dates and location
📍 I transferred to Columbia, so I wanted that brand name visible. But I also listed strong GPA and awards from Seton Hall to show consistency and success.
💼 Work Experience
This section should be quality over quantity.
❌ Don’t list every job or internship
✅ Highlight the top 2–3 and go deep on those
Each bullet should follow this format:
Action verb → What you did → So what? (Impact)
For example:
Conducted market research and developed insights to help [Company] make critical IT decisions.
Use strong verbs like “analyzed,” “developed,” “led,” and focus on results. Quantify impact whenever possible. If you supported 5 startups that raised $10M, say it. Don’t be vague.
💡 Even as an intern, you can still show impact — just be honest and strategic.
🏆 Leadership & Entrepreneurial Projects
This is your secret weapon, especially if you don’t have a lot of formal experience yet.
This section is:
100% in your control
A chance to show initiative, drive, and creativity
Often more impressive than paid jobs
Some of my examples included:
Starting a consulting club
Building a startup MVP
Cold emailing 5,000 students to acquire 800 new users
Raising $3,000 from my school’s dean to fund student travel
These bullets had real numbers, clear outcomes, and often stronger impact than my internships.
✍️ Tip: If you’re early in your career and don’t have internships yet, create your own experience. Lead a project, start something, build something. It will stand out.
🌍 Languages & Interests
This is where your personality comes in.
List:
Languages you speak
Hobbies or sports you play
Passion projects
It helps firms see you as a human being, not just a GPA and job title. Don’t underestimate this section — it makes you memorable.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about fluff. A great resume tells a clear, compelling story of who you are and the value you can bring. Make it:
Easy to read (third-grade language rule)
Focused on outcomes, not tasks
Sharp and intentional
And most importantly: Own your story. Whether you worked at Bain or built a startup in your dorm room, show what you did, what you learned, and how you made an impact.
You don’t need permission to lead. Just start.
—
🔥 If you found this useful, feel free to reply and let me know — or share it with a friend recruiting this year.
Until next time,
Michael
P.s. Can you reply to this email to confirm you received it? This will also help me avoid the spam box since I'm sending so many of you the same email 🙏