Having been accepted to Insight is almost as strong as having a McKinsey internship on your resume. It shows you've already been vetted, moving you one step closer to the inner circle. If you're really serious about consulting, get strategic about your application to McKinsey and take a long-term view.

McKinsey wants to see that you are driven, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and have excellent communication skills. They also look for candidates with strong problem-solving, teamwork, analytical, and leadership skills. A good McKinsey resume demonstrates a track record of these qualities. Telling McKinsey you have leadership skills isn’t enough.

McKinsey wants you to be highly intelligent, yet predictable. Creativity on your resume is appreciated, but only in terms of what you're presenting - your experience, etc. - not in how you present it. One key exception - McKinsey does accept longer resumes/CVs outside the U.S.

McKinsey & Company is looking for people with certain characteristics and skills. Therefore, all your resume and cover letter content should demonstrate that you possess these skills. To be more precise: your resume and cover letter content must show how you used these skills and the IMPACT you had.