Core skills to launch your career in consulting

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for management analysts — often known as management consultants — will grow by 11% between 2023 and 2033, reflecting the rising demand for expertise in organizational strategy and efficiency. To excel in consulting, professionals can benefit from a combination of specialized industry skills and transferable capabilities. Workers can develop both through formal education and on-the-job experience.

Leadership career coach Holly Lee explains that people assume a consultant's job is to be a subject matter expert and provide solutions to their clients. “In reality," she says, "a consultant's role involves thoroughly analyzing the client's challenges and developing structured solutions to facilitate improvement. A significant aspect of being a consultant is the ability to deliver solutions with confidence and possess excellent communication skills, rather than being an expert in every topic."

Dive into the essential hard skills and important soft skills you need to launch or advance your consulting career.

Essential hard skills for consulting careers

Hard skills refer to those you develop during your education, such as in an MBA in consulting. Consulting certifications can also help you enhance essential hard skills for consulting careers.

Data Analysis

Much of a consultant's work involves gathering data and performing business analysis. An academic background in economics or game theory can help you build the consulting skills you need to draw conclusions from large data sets. Minoring in statistics can also help you become a better data analyst.

Industry knowledge

Top executives want consultants with in-depth knowledge about their industry. You can prepare to work as a consultant in a specific industry by double majoring, completing an internship, or transitioning into consulting after learning business strategy and management fundamentals. Work with college career advisors to choose an industry that lets you combine your passions.

Financial acumen

Financial acumen refers to consultants' ability to make recommendations that reflect sound business practices. They do so by analyzing clients' financial statements, business practices, assets, and liabilities. They also research the broader economy to discover whether new markets exist for clients' products or services.

Porter's Five Forces

Porter's Five Forces explain how competition drives and affects industries. These forces include:

• The power buyers have in markets.
• The power sellers have in markets.
• The threat new sellers pose to current sellers.
• The threat new products pose to current products.
• The level of rivalry among sellers.

Consultants use Porter's Five Forces to determine how their clients compare to competitors and suggest improvements.

Important soft skills consultants need

Soft skills are transferable abilities that all college graduates need for professional success. Strong soft skills can help you adapt to a dynamic work environment and stand out to employers.

Communication

Communication skills help consultants draft informational reports, make oral presentations, and respond to questions concisely. Effective communication also improves consultants' ability to persuade managers and gather data from employees. An internship or entry-level job can teach you business communication best practices and help you adapt your approach.

Interpersonal

Clients are more likely to implement recommendations from consultants they trust, making strong interpersonal skills as important as technical skills in consulting. To be effective, consultants need to be able to build trust, manage expectations, and navigate interpersonal dynamics. Maintaining ongoing relationships with clients encourages trust, repeat engagements, and referrals.

Problem solving

No matter their industry, consultants' day-to-day responsibilities require problem-solving skills. This process involves several steps, such as identifying the problem, gathering and analyzing data, and developing different solutions for managers. Analyzing case studies and completing internships in college can teach you how consultants use problem-solving skills to help their clients thrive.

Time management

Consultants use the same time management skills as professionals in other industries, such as breaking down large projects into smaller tasks and setting deadlines for each. Consultants also apply consulting frameworks to ensure they use their time wisely and meet clients' expectations. These frameworks include:

• Benchmarking
• Balanced scorecard

Expert advice

Holly Lee

Leadership Career Coach

Three key factors that set consultants apart:

• Resilience Under Pressure: A consultant's work is not complete until the job is done. This means they must think constructively and quickly when tackling complex problems while maintaining the engagement of the client and/or team. As a consultant, the impact of your work should be visible.

• Bias for Action: Exceptional consultants go above and beyond to identify the root of the problem and know how to leverage the right resources for assistance when needed. They aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves, work long hours, and do whatever it takes to deliver results on time.

• Ability to Influence: Successful consultants can influence both junior and executive-level employees by using appropriate data presentations and taking a proactive approach to align the team at every stage. This is facilitated by clear and concise communication.

Common challenges faced by consultants include:

• Focusing too much on details and getting lost in minutiae.
• Avoiding conflict resolution with clients or teams.
• Struggling to handle feedback effectively.

How to showcase your consulting skills

Showcasing your consulting skills is just as important as developing them. Use the following tips to show employers that you offer exactly what they need.

Develop an online presence

A LinkedIn profile is a great first step in showing off your consulting skills and experience. Interact with thought leaders in the consulting field and update your career progress. You can also create a professional website highlighting your education, work experience, and other accomplishments.

Earn industry certifications

Industry certifications show that you've mastered in-demand consulting skills, such as strategic management. Options for recent graduates and experienced professionals include:

• Certified Accredited Management Consultant
• Certified Business Management Analyst
• Certified Management Consultant (CMC)

Refer to your school's career advisors or your company's human resources department to learn which certifications can help you start or advance your consulting career.

Edit your résumé

You can make your résumé much more than a list of your education and experience by emphasizing occasions that challenged or forced you to improve your skills. Start sentences with action verbs and highlight your accomplishments. Your college's career center advisors can help refine your message and fine-tune your wording.

Perform mock interviews

Mock interviews offer many advantages, including reducing anxiety and increasing confidence. They can also help you identify how and when you can discuss your consulting skills with hiring committees. Learning how to best showcase your skills in an interview can make you a stronger candidate.

Where to learn consulting skills online

You don't need to pause your career to master in-demand consulting skills. You can learn them online by:

• Completing a management executive education program.
• Earning a bachelor's in business or a related field.
• Earning a consulting certification.
• Taking courses focusing on the soft skills that all professionals should know.

If you're working full time, sign up for educational opportunities with asynchronous or self-paced curricula. These formats enable students to schedule their education around work, family, and other responsibilities.

Take the next step in your consulting career

Take the next step in your consulting career with edX courses and programs, and master in-demand consulting skills.