Are you considering a career in business consulting? It's no secret that this profession is highly competitive and requires a strong work ethic. But what does it really take to be successful in this field? In this article, we'll explore the ins and outs of being a business consultant, from the typical career path to the skills and knowledge required. For MBA students, consulting is one of the most popular career paths. But it's also one of the most competitive.
This means that there are a lot of hard-working people vying for the same positions. The biggest challenge is that many candidates don't have a clear understanding of what the job entails. The first step to becoming a successful business consultant is to gain a practical understanding of what the job involves. Many people assume that consulting is all about working in a large firm for two years and then doing whatever else they want.
While this is one option, there are also other paths to take. For example, you could work in a startup or join an organization as an internal consultant. It's also important to understand the difference between large consulting firms and the “big four” accounting firms. The former typically focus on management consulting, such as strategy consulting, while the latter offer both accounting and consulting services.
At its core, consulting is about being an expert in something and helping others. Depending on the firm, you may start out as an analyst and then progress to senior analyst and associate consultant. In most cases, consultants work on projects for three to six months at a time.