What is a consultant?
After gaining years of experience from practicing your career, you can become a consultant in your area of expertise. Consultants turn their knowledge into a resource, and companies are willing to pay for the advice and valuable insights.
As a consultant, you research your employer's target market and company to identify problems and opportunities for expansion. You also recommend solutions for business-related issues and help facilitate organizational change. Some clients hire consultants to revitalize or downsize an organization. Sometimes, you must reorganize a failing business or provide counsel during start-up by conducting a feasibility study and identifying opportunities.
The scope of work in consultancy requires passion and interest in the industry sector to provide the best strategies. Besides, organizations look for consultants when they need an external perspective on business issues. That means they need someone to breathe a new life into the venture and turn the tide. A successful consultant needs more than industry-specific knowledge. You require skills in business analysis, troubleshooting, and strategizing.
Consultants can work for any industry as in-house consultants or consulting firms. In-house consultants provide in-depth analysis of the business since they study all its aspects to recommend improvement opportunities. A consulting firm often works with various companies and provides expert advice on multiple industry issues.
Would working as a consultant suit your interests? Then, read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a consultant role.
view jobs near youaverage consultant salary
The median annual wage for management analysts, which includes consultants, was $95,290 in May 2022. With that, individuals make approximately $45.81 per hour. The actual salary can be much higher or lower than this number, depending on your location and experience.
For example, the average hourly pay for a consultant in the United States is around $47.77. The range of wages varies from as low as $13.94 to as high as $86.78. However, most consultant wages currently range between $32.21 and $57.69 across the United States.
Along with their base salary, consultants may also receive benefits and bonuses that can increase their total compensation. These additional earnings go hand in hand with performance goals, the success of the projects, or other factors.
Wondering what you can earn as a consultant? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a consultant is.
types of consultant
The various types of consultants include:
- business consultant: you assist companies in solving problems by offering expert advice on dealing with business issues. You help companies boost performance by improving their processes, developing an HR strategy, and providing operational support.
- education consultant: you help academic institutions deal with various early childhood, secondary, and higher education issues. You also assist organizations like publishers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations with education objectives.
- healthcare consultant: consultants in healthcare institutions aim to improve efficiencies and minimize expenses. You also recommend new procedures and ways to increase revenue and manage hospital risks.
- IT consultant: you analyze computer system threats and the functionality of programs to improve efficiency. You also recommend ways to utilize information technology to improve business performance.
- management consultant: you advise and guide top-level managers in an organization. You assist in developing strategies and business goals and help them make the right decisions.
working as a consultant
Curious to find out what a consultant does daily? Read on for insights on your career prospects and daily duties.
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consultant job description
Specific roles depend on the type of consultancy you work for, but most consultants perform the following duties:
- research: unlike other professions that conduct continuous research, consultants work from a hypothesis. You formulate a theory and research to prove or disprove an argument. You read reports and financial statements and interview various stakeholders when looking for information. The research aims to understand your client's company and the industry.
- studying the market: if you are consulting for a start-up, you conduct a feasibility study to learn the market. You need to provide critical insights into market segmentation and demographics before recommending potential niches for the start-up to explore. For large companies, your job is to identify expansion opportunities.
- grouping and analysis of data: you should back your findings and recommendations with relevant figures. Your research will yield data that needs consolidation and analysis before drawing appropriate conclusions. The analysis stage helps you discover the current state of the market and how your employer is doing compared to competitors. You can recommend strategies to solidify their position in the market and increase revenue from the information.
- presenting findings: you need to make presentations to stakeholders after research to discuss the recommendations. When your clients decide on the strategies they want to apply, you create implementation steps and monitor the outcomes.
- business development: your job entails drumming up new businesses and finding opportunities for business expansion. You help managers create pitching materials and meet with potential clients.
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consultant work environment
As a consultant, you work in various industries and with diverse clients. You can work in technology companies, finance, accounting, and manufacturing industries. Most consultants work in office environments regardless of the industry and often assign research duties to other employees. When you are a consultant, you often travel to meet clients or check out the offsite facilities of the business. Sometimes, you must attend conferences or travel overseas if you work for a multinational company.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer, your colleagues might include business analysts F&A and junior analysts. Both gather and interpret data to create and analyze industry-relevant models. As a consultant, your skills are more broad-based, but analysts' findings will often inform your recommendations. Depending on the field, you might also work with accountants, healthcare professionals, or teachers. You may work with specialists, such as engineers, fulfillment managers, professional advisors, and business development professionals as well.
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work schedule
Consultancy is a flexible career that provides full-time and part-time opportunities or short-term contracts. Consultants often work long hours or over 40 hours a week on a full-time basis. While you will work the standard office hours, sometimes you have to work evenings and weekends when attending important events. Freelancing opportunities are also available in various fields. Most consulting firms hire short-term contracts or part-time consultants, depending on the client's needs.
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job outlook for consultant
A career as a consultant provides various opportunities for building your career and joining a managerial position. Most consultants begin as analysts or junior consultants. You can become a senior consultant after a few years of experience and tangible accomplishments. You can increase your qualifications and expertise to become a director or chief executive officer. Consultancy also provides self-employment opportunities, but you should start by working in a company to develop a track record and improve your skills.
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benefits of working for randstad as a consultant
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a consultant is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
consultant skills and education
If you want to become a consultant, you need a strong educational background. Many professionals have a degree in business management, finance, or a related field. Along with that, most consultants hold at least a bachelor's degree. Some pursue advanced degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration to boost their credibility.
Gaining practical experience through internships or entry-level positions is important. With that, you can stay updated with trends and changes within your industry.
Certifications can improve a consultant's credentials. You may want to obtain certifications in project management (such as a Project Management Professional certificate), specific software tools, or industry-specific courses. Many professional organizations and institutions offer these certifications to enhance your marketability.
skills and competencies
Apart from academic qualifications, you need the following skills and competencies:
- creative thinking: solving business problems requires someone who thinks outside the box and creates unique solutions. As a consultant, creative thinking helps you brainstorm ideas and solve various issues in a company.
- problem-solving skills: sometimes consultants are responsible for resolving conflict among the management and employees or saving a company on the brink of bankruptcy. Problem-solving skills help you identify ways to resolve disputes and find resolutions to revive a company.
- communication and listening skills: you need to listen to employees and stakeholders to understand their concerns. When assessing the impact of a problem, you should listen empathetically instead of focusing on the numbers and bottom line. Once you have strategies for resolving an issue, communication skills help you communicate concisely.
- time management: meetings and consultations are inevitable, but you will only make it to a few meetings without time management skills. As a consultant, organizational skills and managing time helps you achieve your goals and follow your schedule. Preparing for the day's activities helps optimize time and complete the items on your to-do list.
FAQs about working as a consultant
Here, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about consultants.
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what does a consultant do?
Consultants offer expert advice and recommendations to individuals or organizations seeking guidance on improving their performance or increasing their income. For example, they can help companies optimize their operations by providing insights and suggestions on how to streamline their processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.
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what qualifications do you need to be a consultant?
Many consultants have a degree in business management or a related field, such as economics or finance. This education provides a strong foundation in business principles and practices that will be valuable in a consulting career. Along with that, some industry-specific knowledge can help to secure higher-paying jobs.
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can you work from home as a consultant?
Being a consultant in the United States often comes with a great perk - flexibility. Many consultants have the freedom to work from home, thanks to technology, virtual meetings, and collaborative tools.
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what are the skills of a consultant?
As a consultant, you need strong analytical skills to help you evaluate your research findings and gain insights into the problem. Also, you will want excellent problem-solving skills to develop strategies to address your client's needs and help them reach their goals.
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how much does a consultant make?
A consultant's income can fluctuate depending on their experience, industry, and location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a consultant in the United States is around $95,000.
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how do I find a job as a consultant?
Applying for a consultant job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our consultant jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state of the art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
submit your resume
Make sure your resume is up-to-date, including information about your technical skills and certifications. Then share it with us to connect with a recruiter and be matched with job opportunities.
