Secure a Job at PwC - Insider's Winning Cover Letter & Resume Strategy

Interested in working at PwC? Whether you are interested in Audit, Tax, Consulting or Deal's positions at PwC, this blog is your insider's information on how our Campus Recruiters evaluate your resume and cover letters. Make sure to include this in your checklist before you submit your information package to our website at: PwC Brilliant Futures - Application 

In developing your Cover letter, keep in mind the following:

1) Follow a letter writing format: Your coverletter is your first chance to showcase your personal brand and tell the recruiters what you have to offer. Adopt a formal writing precedent and format including appropriate salutations, date, address etc.

2) Address to a named individual: whenever it is possible, address your coverletter to a specific individuals in the company.

3) Ensure the company name is correct: It is rather hillarious to receive a coverletter addressed to another firm (particularly to the companies that are in the same line of business as PwC). Make sure to address it to PwC as it has replaced PricewaterhouseCoopers as our legal name.

4) Summarize key skills and interest: Your coverletter should briefly highlight skils and attributes and your interest in PwC. Be specific and demonstrate your research and insight into our firm.

*Do not exceed more than 1 page.

Your Resume should include:

1) Personal details/contact information: Make sure to have the correct information

2) Educational History: List them chronologically. If you are applying to our Management Consulting practice (i.e. Foundations of the Future), you will be required to show your transcripts so be factual.

3) Employment History: List the most recent experience first. List both responsibilities and your achievements at work.

4) Interest and extra-curricular experience: Stand out by addition a personal touch and letting the recruiters know your hobbies and volunteer experience. This is a great way to get noticed!

5) References: Ensure to acquire permission from your References. You wouldn't want us to call them and have them unprepared. Keep this as a separate document from your resume. Provide it when we ask you.

*Do not exceed more than 2 pages

Voice of our Recruiters - Top 3 areas where people go wrong

1) Spelling and Grammar

2) Not enough research on PwC and the different positions we offer (Audit, Tax, and Consulting & Deals)

3) Candidate has not shown how their previous work experiences are relevant to the job they are applying for These tips are directly from our Recruiters so keep them in mind in your next application for a position at PwC.

There you have it, an insider's look at what our Recruiters are looking for.  Happy applying.  Let me know if you have any other questions.  

Regards,

Comments

[JaniceQin]

Hello Michael,

Thanks for your blog! Your tips to resume/cover letter writing are very useful! I do have a question on the length of cover letter, I estimate my CL will be around 700 words/1 full page. Do you consider this too long?

Thanks,

Janice

[Michael]

Hi Janice,

Thank you for your question. Very tricky but good question. The bottomline is that if you think you are using your additional words wisely to add context rather than fill the page of your "story", then you are on the safe side. What I would suggest is to write everything that you think is pertinent to highlight your fit into the job profile then prioritize and synthesize your cover letter.

What I would do next is to see if the page is too busy. If you think it is, you might want to narrow it down further. My personal opinion is that the context and content is far more important the number of words.

Hope that helps. If you have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me further.

Regards,

Michael

[Malvika Pendharkar]

Thank You!

To hear it from someone from within the industry helps!
They say a hiring manager has precisely 20 seconds to decide if he/she wants to read the resume any further or not.
In such case is a 2 page resume a good option?
My second page speaks a lot about my professional journey, I don't want someone to miss it entirely.
Your insights will help.
Thank You.

Malvika Pendharkar

[Michael]

Hi Malvika.

Great question. It is true that they spend very little time reviewing resumes against hundreds and hundreds of applications. Thus, you must use your paper real estate wisely. What I have suggested to people is having a "Professional Summary (or Highlight)" section at the very top of their resume. This will essentially help the recruiters to quickly know your skills and if you fit the job profile. This will also encourage them to read further into your resume.

As for your 1 vs 2 page dilemma, I would suggest to put your professional accomplishments first on the first page. Just out of curiosity what do you have on your first page? are you graduating/graduated or an experienced person?

[Malvika Pendharkar]

Thanks for the reply Michael,

My resume begins with my education in a chronological order. I am an MBA student and shall graduate in April 2013.
However I am a professional with 3 years of full time work experience in Energy Industry.
So my resume's first page has my MBA and Engineering under education , Summer internship and last job designation under professional. This is where my page 1 ends.The other experience and skills follow on page 2.
Any advise?

Thanks in advance!

Malvika

[Michael]

Hi Malvika,

Thank you for sending the clarification. What I would really suggest is to create a summary profile at the very beginning of your resume to highlight your key accomplishments.

Secondly, depending on what you are applying for, you have to decide whether the recruiter will be interested on your education or work experiences first. It's all about framing and marketing :)

Hope that helps. Let me know if you need other support in making your Resume top notch.

Michael