Here’s a step-by-step playbook to reframe your technical engineering background for strategy consulting. The goal is translating "how I built it" into "why it mattered to the business."

1. Restructure Your Resume Layout

Move "Technical Skills" to the bottom. Leading with programming languages or CAD software signals "implementation hire," not "strategy hire."

Add a "Selected Business Impacts" header (or incorporate into your Professional Summary):

Former Mechanical Engineer with 5+ years structuring complex stakeholder initiatives and delivering $XM in cost optimization through cross-functional program design. Expertise translating technical complexity into executable business strategy.

2. Rewrite Your Bullet Points (The Translation Method)

Use this formula: Action + Business Context + Quantified Outcome

Key shifts:

• Stakeholders > Systems: Replace "worked with" with "aligned," "negotiated," "influenced"
• Scope > Specs: Mention budget sizes, team sizes, and organizational reach
• Timeframes: Consulting loves speed. Add "within 3-month sprint" or "accelerated timeline by 20%"

3. Create a "Strategy-Adjacent" Projects Section

If you lack formal consulting experience, add a "Select Strategic Initiatives" section highlighting:

• Process optimization projects (Lean/Six Sigma work is gold)
• Cross-functional integrations (merging technical teams with sales/market teams)
• Vendor/client negotiations (procurement, contract scoping)
• Market analysis (even internal competitive analysis of tools/vendors)

Example bullet:

Drove vendor selection process for $1M enterprise software migration; developed RFP criteria, evaluated 12 bids, and presented business case to steering committee

4. Highlight the "Consulting Toolkit"

Create a "Core Competencies" section near the top with these buckets:

• Problem Structuring: Hypothesis-driven analysis, issue tree development, root-cause analysis
• Client/Stakeholder Management: Executive presentations, requirements gathering, change management
• Data & Modeling: Financial modeling, scenario analysis, KPI dashboard design (use business terms, not just MATLAB/Python)
• Project Leadership: Workstream management, agile/scrum leadership, risk mitigation

5. Education & Certifications Pivot

Move certifications up if you have:

• PMP, Agile/Scrum, or Six Sigma (Black Belt is highly valued)
• Business coursework (Finance, Strategy, Operations)
• Case competition participation

De-emphasize: Deep technical certifications unless relevant to target firms (e.g., keep AWS/cloud if applying to digital strategy practices).

6. The "So What?" Test

Before finalizing, apply this filter to every bullet:

1. Does this show I can structure ambiguous problems?
2. Does this prove I can influence without authority?
3. Does this demonstrate business judgment, not just technical execution?

If a bullet fails two of three, rewrite or cut it.

7. Formatting Nuances

• Length: Keep to 1 page unless you have 8+ years of experience
• Font: Use standard consulting fonts (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman 10-11pt)
• Jargon scan: Use Control+F to remove: "compiled," "assisted," "responsible for." Replace with: "orchestrated," "spearheaded," "delivered."

Quick Wins for This Week:

1. Pick your 3 proudest technical achievements and rewrite them using the business context formula above
2. Identify one project where you interfaced with non-technical stakeholders (finance, sales, executive leadership) and expand that section
3. Remove all software version numbers (e.g., "AutoCAD 2023") and replace with output descriptions

What type of engineering are you transitioning from (software, mechanical, electrical, etc.), and which tier of consulting firms are you targeting (MBB, Big 4 advisory, boutique)? I can help you tailor the industry-specific terminology and highlight the most relevant transferable frameworks for your specific pivot.

Shifting from technical engineering to strategy consulting requires a fundamental change in how you present your value. Consulting firms care less about how you built a tool and more about the business impact that tool had and the structured thinking you used to get there.

Follow these practical steps to retool your resume for a strategy role.

1. Pivot Your "Professional Summary"

Replace technical jargon with high-level business language. Your summary should position you as a bridge between technical complexity and business results.

• Avoid: "Mechanical Engineer with 5 years of experience in CAD design and structural analysis."
• Try: "Strategic Problem Solver with 5 years of engineering experience, specializing in process optimization, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional leadership to drive operational efficiency."

2. Translate "Technical Tasks" into "Business Outcomes"

Consultants think in terms of ROI, scale, and efficiency. Every bullet point in your experience section should follow the Action + Context + Quantified Result formula.

• Engineering Version: "Used Python to automate data collection for stress tests."
• Consulting Version: "Automated critical data workflows using Python, reducing testing cycle time by 30% and enabling faster time-to-market for a \$1M product line."
• Engineering Version: "Managed a team of 4 to fix bugs in the manufacturing line."
• Consulting Version: "Led a cross-functional team of 4 to identify root-cause inefficiencies in production, resulting in a 12% increase in annual yield."

3. Highlight "Consulting DNA" Skills

Consulting recruiters look for specific "soft" and "hard" skill overlaps. Ensure your resume explicitly mentions these themes:

• Stakeholder Management: Instead of "worked with vendors," use "Managed relationships with C-suite stakeholders to align technical roadmaps with corporate strategy."
• Synthesis of Information: Mention your ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for non-technical audiences (e.g., Board presentations or executive memos).
• Structured Problem Solving: Use keywords like Feasibility Study, Root-Cause Analysis, Market Benchmarking, or Cost-Benefit Analysis.

4. Adopt the "One-Page" Strategy Standard

Strategy consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.) have a very high bar for document hygiene.

• Keep it to one page: Unless you have 10+ years of experience, a two-page resume is often a "no" in consulting.
• White space is your friend: Use clear headings, consistent margins, and a professional font (e.g., Calibri, Arial, or Garamond).
• Reverse Chronological: Always lead with your most recent experience.

5. Quantify Everything

In engineering, "precision" is about measurements. In consulting, "precision" is about the bottom line. Look through your past projects and find the numbers for:

• Money: Revenue generated, costs saved, or budgets managed.
• Time: Hours saved, project duration, or speed-to-market improvements.
• Scale: Number of users affected, number of countries involved, or size of the team led.

6. The "So What?" Test

For every bullet point on your resume, ask yourself: "So what?"

• I designed a new valve. (So what?)
• It reduced leakage by 50%. (So what?)
• It saved the client \$100k in annual maintenance costs. <-- This is your bullet point.

How to Get Started Now:

1. Select your top 3 engineering projects.
2. Write down the "Technical Result" (e.g., the machine worked).
3. Research the "Business Result" (e.g., how much did that machine contribute to company profit?).
4. Rewrite the bullets using business-forward verbs like Steered, Optimized, Negotiated, Developed, or Spearheaded.

To give you more tailored advice, I’d need to know:

• What specific type of engineering are you coming from (e.g., Software, Civil, Chemical)?
• Are you targeting "Big 3" firms (MBB), boutique firms, or internal corporate strategy roles?
• Do you have an MBA or are you applying directly from industry?