Management Consultant

Job Description:

Management consultants give advice to clients on how to run their businesses more efficiently.

Job Category:
Professional Services

What you will do:

Your day-to-day duties could include:

  • meeting clients to discuss what they need
  • carrying out research to gain an understanding of the client’s business
  • interviewing managers, staff and customers
  • collecting and analysing data, and preparing reports
  • identifying and investigating issues, and planning how to tackle them
  • highlighting areas for improvement
  • creating computer models to test possible business solutions
  • presenting recommendations to the client
  • agreeing a course of action with the client
  • providing ongoing support to the client

Unlike a business analyst, you’ll work for a consultancy firm. Businesses will then hire you to help solve their issues and improve performance.

Skills:

You’ll need:

  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
  • business management skills

As well as:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
  • the ability to use your initiative (ambition/drive)
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

To become a Management Consultant, you don’t need specific subjects, but having a well-rounded education and acquiring relevant skills can be valuable. Management Consultants provide expert advice to organizations on various business-related issues. Here’s a list of relevant subjects and skills that can help you prepare for this profession:

  1. Mathematics: Strong mathematical skills are important for analysing data, financial statements, and making recommendations for efficiency and cost-saving measures.
  2. English: Effective communication, both written and verbal, is essential for conveying your recommendations and findings to clients.
  3. Business Studies or Economics: These subjects provide fundamental knowledge of business concepts, management principles, and economic theories.
  4. ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Proficiency in using various software tools and data analysis programs is crucial for data-driven consulting.

Post School

You can get into this career with a degree in many different subjects, but something like business, economics or mathematics is a plus.

Experience in business, finance, human resources, IT, project management or the armed forces could also help you get a job.

You could join a graduate training scheme with a management consultancy firm.

A postgraduate qualification, like a master’s in business administration (MBA), could also help you get a job.

Working Hours and Environment:

You’ll often work long hours to meet project deadlines. A working week of 50 hours or more is common.

Projects may run from one day to several months.

You’ll work in an office, spending a lot of your time at clients’ sites. You may have to travel frequently, sometimes abroad.

The work can be pressurised.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience, you could become a partner in a management consultancy, work freelance or set up your own consultancy firm.

You could become a member of the Institute of Consulting and apply for certified management consultant status.