Application guide: CV, cover letter and the processSollicitatiegids: cv, motivatiebrief en het proces
A practical, step-by-step guide to applying for internships, traineeships and graduate roles in finance, consulting and law in the Netherlands: your CV, cover letter, online assessments, interviews and the process from application to offer.Een praktische gids, stap voor stap, voor sollicitaties naar stages, traineeships en startersfuncties in finance, consulting en de advocatuur in Nederland: je cv, motivatiebrief, online assessments, gesprekken en het proces van sollicitatie tot aanbod.
IntroductionIntroductie
How applying to these firms worksHoe solliciteren bij deze bedrijven werkt
Applications in finance, consulting and law follow a recognisable pattern: an online application with your CV and often a cover letter, one or more online assessments, and then two to four interview rounds. Employers are selecting for accuracy, motivation and fit, and they decide fast.Sollicitaties in finance, consulting en de advocatuur volgen een herkenbaar patroon: een online sollicitatie met je cv en vaak een motivatiebrief, een of meer online assessments, en daarna twee tot vier gespreksrondes. Werkgevers selecteren op nauwkeurigheid, motivatie en klik, en beslissen snel.
The good news: almost everything here is preparable. A tight one-page CV, a specific motivation, practice with the assessment format, and preparation for the exact interview type will put you ahead of most applicants. This guide walks through each step.Het goede nieuws: bijna alles hier is voor te bereiden. Een strak cv van een pagina, een gerichte motivatie, oefenen met het assessmentformat en voorbereiding op precies het juiste type gesprek zetten je voor op de meeste sollicitanten. Deze gids loopt elke stap langs.
Step 1Stap 1
The CVHet cv
One page, easy to scan, and focused on results. A recruiter spends under a minute on it, so every line has to earn its place.Een pagina, makkelijk te scannen, en gericht op resultaten. Een recruiter besteedt er minder dan een minuut aan, dus elke regel moet zijn plek verdienen.
IncludeWel opnemen
- Education with grades or GPA where strongOpleiding met cijfers of GPA waar sterk
- Relevant internships and work, with concrete resultsRelevante stages en werk, met concrete resultaten
- Leadership: board years, committees, teamsLeiderschap: bestuursjaren, commissies, teams
- Skills: languages, Excel/modelling, toolsVaardigheden: talen, Excel/modelleren, tools
- One line of relevant extracurriculars or interestsEen regel relevante nevenactiviteiten of interesses
AvoidVermijden
- More than one page (until you are experienced)Meer dan een pagina (tot je ervaren bent)
- Vague duties instead of measurable resultsVage taken in plaats van meetbare resultaten
- Typos, inconsistent formatting, a photo-heavy layoutTypefouten, inconsistente opmaak, een foto-zware layout
- Long paragraphs; use short, punchy bulletsLange alinea's; gebruik korte, krachtige bullets
- Irrelevant detail from years agoIrrelevante details van jaren geleden
Tip: write bullets as 'action + result'. 'Led a team of 6 and grew membership by 40%' beats 'responsible for the committee'.Tip: schrijf bullets als 'actie + resultaat'. 'Leidde een team van 6 en liet het ledental met 40% groeien' is beter dan 'verantwoordelijk voor de commissie'.
Step 2Stap 2
The cover letterDe motivatiebrief
A strong motivation letter answers three questions clearly: why this field, why this firm, and why you. Keep it to half a page. Name the specific team or practice, and give one concrete, genuine reason you are drawn to it, not a list of adjectives about the company.Een sterke motivatiebrief beantwoordt drie vragen helder: waarom dit vakgebied, waarom dit bedrijf, en waarom jij. Houd het op een halve pagina. Noem het specifieke team of de praktijk, en geef een concrete, oprechte reden waarom het je aantrekt, geen rij bijvoeglijke naamwoorden over het bedrijf.
Recruiters can spot a template instantly. The single most effective move is to reference something specific: a deal the firm advised on, a practice area, a value, or a conversation you had at a campus event. That proves you did the work.Recruiters herkennen een sjabloon meteen. De meest effectieve zet is iets specifieks noemen: een deal waarover het kantoor adviseerde, een praktijkgebied, een waarde, of een gesprek dat je op een campusevent had. Dat bewijst dat je moeite hebt gedaan.
Step 3Stap 3
The application process, step by stepHet sollicitatieproces, stap voor stap
Most processes run two to four weeks to a few months. Knowing the stages lets you prepare for each one in turn.De meeste processen duren twee tot vier weken tot enkele maanden. Als je de fasen kent, kun je je op elke fase gericht voorbereiden.
Step 4Stap 4
Online assessments and testsOnline assessments en tests
Large employers screen with online tests before the interviews: numerical reasoning (reading data and doing quick maths), verbal reasoning, logical or abstract reasoning, and often a personality questionnaire or a situational-judgement or game-based test. They reward accuracy under time pressure.Grote werkgevers screenen met online tests voor de gesprekken: numeriek redeneren (data lezen en snel rekenen), verbaal redeneren, logisch of abstract redeneren, en vaak een persoonlijkheidsvragenlijst of een situationele of game-based test. Ze belonen nauwkeurigheid onder tijdsdruk.
Preparation genuinely helps here, because the formats are consistent. Do practice tests until the question types feel familiar, work on speed and accuracy together, and for personality tests answer honestly and consistently rather than trying to guess the 'right' profile.Voorbereiding helpt hier echt, want de formats zijn consistent. Maak oefentests tot de vraagtypes vertrouwd voelen, werk aan snelheid en nauwkeurigheid tegelijk, en beantwoord persoonlijkheidstests eerlijk en consistent in plaats van het 'juiste' profiel te gokken.
Step 5Stap 5
The interviewsDe gesprekken
Go deeperVerder verdiepen
Prepare for your specific fieldBereid je voor op jouw vakgebied
The steps above are universal, but each field has its own emphasis. Explore the career paths and the firms that hire in each.De stappen hierboven zijn universeel, maar elk vakgebied legt eigen accenten. Ontdek de carrierepaden en de bedrijven die in elk aannemen.
FAQFAQ
Frequently asked questionsVeelgestelde vragen
How long should my CV be for finance, consulting or law?How long should my CV be for finance, consulting or law?
Keep it to one page. Recruiters at these firms scan a CV in well under a minute, and a tight one-page CV signals that you can prioritise. Only move to two pages once you have several years of relevant experience.Keep it to one page. Recruiters at these firms scan a CV in well under a minute, and a tight one-page CV signals that you can prioritise. Only move to two pages once you have several years of relevant experience.
Do I need a cover letter?Do I need a cover letter?
Often yes, especially in the Netherlands and for law firms and boutiques. Even where it is optional, a short, specific motivation letter helps you stand out. Never send a generic one; name the firm, the team and one concrete reason you fit.Often yes, especially in the Netherlands and for law firms and boutiques. Even where it is optional, a short, specific motivation letter helps you stand out. Never send a generic one; name the firm, the team and one concrete reason you fit.
What do online assessments test?What do online assessments test?
Most large employers use numerical, verbal and logical reasoning tests, sometimes a personality questionnaire, and increasingly a game-based or situational-judgement test. They screen for accuracy under time pressure. Practising the format beforehand matters more than raw talent.Most large employers use numerical, verbal and logical reasoning tests, sometimes a personality questionnaire, and increasingly a game-based or situational-judgement test. They screen for accuracy under time pressure. Practising the format beforehand matters more than raw talent.
How many interview rounds are there?How many interview rounds are there?
Typically two to four. A first round is often a competency or motivation interview, followed by case interviews (consulting), technical or market questions (finance), or a substantive discussion (law), and a final round with senior staff or partners.Typically two to four. A first round is often a competency or motivation interview, followed by case interviews (consulting), technical or market questions (finance), or a substantive discussion (law), and a final round with senior staff or partners.
When should I apply?When should I apply?
Apply early. Many graduate programmes, traineeships and internships recruit on a rolling basis and close once spots are filled. For structured intakes, applying in the first weeks of the window is a real advantage.Apply early. Many graduate programmes, traineeships and internships recruit on a rolling basis and close once spots are filled. For structured intakes, applying in the first weeks of the window is a real advantage.
What are the most common mistakes?What are the most common mistakes?
A generic application, typos, a CV longer than one page, vague motivation, and no preparation for the specific interview format. Each is avoidable and each is a common reason for rejection at this level.A generic application, typos, a CV longer than one page, vague motivation, and no preparation for the specific interview format. Each is avoidable and each is a common reason for rejection at this level.
How do I prepare for a case or technical interview?How do I prepare for a case or technical interview?
Practise the specific format out loud, ideally with a peer. For consulting, work through case frameworks and mental maths; for finance, revise valuation, markets and accounting basics; for law, be ready to reason through a legal problem and discuss why you chose that practice area.Practise the specific format out loud, ideally with a peer. For consulting, work through case frameworks and mental maths; for finance, revise valuation, markets and accounting basics; for law, be ready to reason through a legal problem and discuss why you chose that practice area.
Does my degree or university matter?Does my degree or university matter?
It helps, but it is not everything. Strong grades, relevant internships, extracurricular leadership and a clear, well-argued motivation carry a lot of weight. A focused application from a motivated candidate regularly beats a passive one with a stronger CV.It helps, but it is not everything. Strong grades, relevant internships, extracurricular leadership and a clear, well-argued motivation carry a lot of weight. A focused application from a motivated candidate regularly beats a passive one with a stronger CV.
Ready to apply?Klaar om te solliciteren?
Browse current internships, traineeships and graduate roles across finance, consulting and law.Bekijk actuele stages, traineeships en startersfuncties in finance, consulting en de advocatuur.