Management consultant Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

Companies might bring in management consultants to provide particular knowledge or skills that they lack, offer a fresh viewpoint on a problem, or even help save a struggling business. You might help your clients with a wide range of business areas, for example:

• planning and strategy
• finance
• improving productivity and processes
• marketing
• personnel
• IT.

Although projects could vary depending on the type of business you were helping, your job would generally involve:

• meeting clients to discuss their needs
• carrying out research to gain an understanding of the client’s business
• interviewing the client’s managers, staff and customers
• collecting and analysing data, and preparing reports
• identifying and investigating issues, and planning how to tackle them
• outlining current procedures, to highlight any inefficiencies
• creating computer models to test possible business solutions
• presenting recommendations to the client
• agreeing a course of action with the client
• providing any support the client might need to put the plan into practice, such as staff training.

Projects may run from one day to several years, depending on the needs of your client.

Hours

You would often work long hours to meet project deadlines – a working week of at least 50 hours is fairly common. The work can be stressful and pressurised, but many employers promote work/life balance by offering benefits such as flexible hours and career breaks.

You would work in an office environment, spending a lot of your time at clients' sites. The work would involve frequent travel (possibly abroad) and spending short periods away from home. Smart business dress is expected.

Income

• Starting salaries are typically between £25,000 and £30,000 a year
• With more experience and responsibility, this can rise to around £50,000
• Senior consultants, directors and partners can earn much more.

Profit sharing and bonus schemes can greatly increase salaries.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You could become a management consultant with experience from a variety of backgrounds. Previous experience in business management, finance, human resources, IT, project management or the armed forces can be especially useful. Alternatively, you could join a management consultancy firm’s graduate training scheme straight from university.

Most management consultants are qualified to at least degree level, and you may have an advantage with a degree in a business-related or maths-based subject. However, other subjects are often acceptable if you can show strong analytical, planning and communication skills during the application process.

Competition for places on graduate training schemes is strong, and you will often need a degree of at least class 2:1. Any relevant work experience gained during placements, internships or temporary work should help your application.

You may find it helpful to have a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), although this is not essential.

Foreign language skills are also highly regarded, as many firms work with international clients.

Training and development

You will receive in-depth training and mentoring when you start as a trainee management consultant. You would often begin by supporting experienced consultants with research and report writing, and take on more responsibility as your experience grows.

Your training may include the chance to achieve professional qualifications from the Institute of Consulting (IC), such as:

• IC Certificate in Management Consulting Essentials – for anyone new to consultancy work
• IC Diploma in Management Consultancy – for consultants with more experience.

As a member of the IC with at least three years’ experience, you can choose to be assessed for the Certified Management Consultant Award (CMC), in order to have your skills and competence recognised by the industry. See the IBC website for more information.

Your employer may also sponsor you through a part-time MBA degree (or another relevant professional qualification or Masters degree if you work for a specialist firm, for example human resources or financial consultancy).

You should continue to update your industry knowledge and skills throughout your career. Most employers will offer a range of ongoing training opportunities, and you could also take part in short courses, seminars and workshops from the IC and the Management Consultancies Association.

Skills and knowledge

To be a management consultant you should have:

• excellent communication and 'people' skills
• analytical thinking and problem solving ability
• a high level of numeracy and IT skills
• the ability to work well as part of a team
• confident presentation skills
• a persuasive manner
• effective written communication skills
• the flexibility and stamina to work long hours when necessary
• integrity and the ability to inspire confidence in clients
• good business awareness.

More information

Institute of Consulting (IC)
4th Floor, 2 Savoy Court
Strand
London
WC2R 0EZ
Tel: 020 7497 0580
www.iconsulting.org.uk

Management Consultancies Association
60 Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DS
Tel: 020 7321 3990
www.mca.org.uk

Opportunities

Management consultancies can range from large generalist firms that offer a variety of services, to smaller practices offering specialist knowledge and skills.

Many leading firms are based in London, with opportunities in smaller consultancies in cities throughout the UK. However, travel within the job is common, so your working location largely depends on where clients are based.

Jobs are advertised in the national and business press, graduate recruitment fairs and specialist recruitment agencies. Being ‘headhunted’ for senior jobs is common once you are established in your career.

With experience, you could specialise in a particular area of consulting, become a partner in a firm, work freelance or set up your own consultancy firm.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and further reading (links open in new window):

• Top Consultant
• Mindbench

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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