Consulting is on the rise and opening doors for many aspiring entrepreneurs.  Consultants help people or organizations perform their roles more effectively and more efficiently.  Consultants should possess excellent analytical skills.  The ability to gather facts and figures and correlate them into useful information is essential for success in consulting.  If you have that ability, then consulting may be the career for you!

Globally, there are five consulting types: Strategy, HR, IT, Operations Management and Business Advisory Services. Of course there are sub-types too, also called vertical markets, consisting of: Public Sector, Healthcare, Communications and Media, Consumer Packaged Goods, Energy and Chemicals, Retail and Leisure, Financial Services, High Tech, Transportation, Utilities and Industrial Manufacturing.  This may seem like a long list, but it is by no means all-inclusive.  There is a need for consultants in many disciplines and markets.

Locating consultant positions can be challenging.  The key to finding the right consulting position is to understand how, where and what to search for.  Here are a few helpful tips:

• Use the magic words! You can search for consulting positions on the internet by incorporating the five consulting types listed above and adding the word “consultant” in a keyword search.  For example, strategy consultant, operations management consultant, etc.
• Begin your job search in the fall.  Organizations often recruit heavily during the fall and many try to fill all available positions by the end of January or early February.
• Prepare for case interviews.  Consulting firms frequently have a “case question” as part of the interviewing process.  You may be asked to verbally solve a fictitious business problem that consultants typically confront on the job.  Case interviews can be tricky and there may be more than one solution to the problem, so make sure you are well prepared.
• Look outside the top firms.  Some of the best people in consulting work in small firms. Top firms can be very competitive throughout the hiring process so do not get discouraged by rejection.  Look for positions within small firms or general companies.  Consulting can also be done in a freelancing capacity in many fields.  Once you get the experience you can always apply at the top firms again.
• The pursuit of specialized knowledge.  Many organizations are looking for consultants with specialized knowledge such as logistics management, data warehousing, multimedia, client-server development, sales force automation, electronic commerce, brand management and value management.  If you have such specialized knowledge, then tailor your job search accordingly.
• Think about new markets in consulting.  Keep in mind that the above list of consulting types is not all-inclusive.  There may be consulting opportunities in many other markets such as accounting, graphic design or politics.  Remember that is important to assess your skills and think outside the box.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing has become a major trend because it can allow companies to bring their products and services to the market more quickly and often at a more competitive price.  A common misperception about outsourcing is that it is synonymous with shipping jobs overseas.  While that certainly is one of the results of outsourcing, outsourcing is a much broader concept.  The global economy has simply provided organizations with more options in procuring materials and services.  Outsourcing can be more accurately described as a working relationship or partnership with an external organization or individual that supplies materials or services.  That supplier is often a consultant or consulting firm.

Time, cost, quality and risk are always the primary considerations in an organization’s procurement process.  If a consultant or consulting firm can provide a high-quality, low-risk, cost-effective solution that meets the business objective of an organization, it can be considered in the bidding process, regardless of size or location.  The key is to demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and skills to help organizations achieve their business objectives more efficiently than they can internally, and more efficiently than the competition.  An individual with highly specialized skills and knowledge can do that.

Be Your Own Boss!

Whether you chose to earn a degree in the field of Graphic Arts, Information Technology or Healthcare, consulting can be an exciting and rewarding way to use your AIU Online degree. Many people enjoy the excitement of working with multiple clients and the freedom of being their own boss.  If that sounds enticing to you, then you may want to look into a career in consulting.  The possibilities are almost limitless! 

Sources:
10 Growing Niche Markets for Consultants Author: Shannon Below of About.com
Consultants on Consulting by Consulting Magazine
What it Takes to be a Consultant Vault.com
Reality Check: Changing Careers into Consulting Author: Erin Peterson of Vault.com
Facts and Trends in Consulting by Careers in Business

Heather Morys is the Career Resource Advisor for American InterContinental University Online.

If you would like more information about entering the workforce and you are an AIU Online student or alumnus, please contact the Career Services Department at 1-877-701-3800 ext. 15060 or careerservices@aiuonline.edu.

If you would like more information on how to become a student at AIU Online, please call 1-877-701-3800 or visit http://www.aiuonline.edu.