Career Pathways

The consulting industry is largely comprised of private organizations dedicated to providing consulting services to external clients. These clients may be other private organizations in the commercial sector or public sector organizations such as the U.S. federal government. Commercial consulting is sometimes open to sponsoring international candidates for permanent U.S. work authorization, while U.S. federal government consulting is generally restricted to U.S. citizens or those with permanent U.S. work authorizations. Security clearances are particularly attractive credentials in this sector. Typical pathways include:

• Strategy Consulting

  • Strategy consultants work with external or internal clients to identify and understand critical and complex business problems and recommend solutions for the client to become more efficient and improve overall performance. These consultants interact with senior executives on macro-level challenges. Strategy roles are found in most every organization, with consulting firms serving most every industry across commercial and public sector enterprises. An ideal candidate should be interested in client-facing roles and a variety of project types. Strategy consultants should be highly analytical, possess strong “case” problem-solving skills, and demonstrate exceptional communication, work ethic, flexibility, executive presence, the ability to thrive under pressure, and client management skills. There is a high availability of opportunity for external strategy consultant roles, as well as a high availability of exit opportunities.

• Operations and Supply Chain

  • Operations and supply chain consultants evaluate and advise on an organization’s internal processes and procedures, including production, distribution, order fulfillment and customer service. They are focused on helping a client meet specific goals such as improving supply chain and distribution efficiency, organizational restructuring, improving product quality, etc. Consulting serving clients across most every industry, especially manufacturing, transportation, distribution and logistics. An ideal candidate for operations and supply chain consulting should have an interest in operations, client-facing roles, a variety of project types, and be comfortable in a demanding work environment. Operations and supply chain consultants should be highly analytical, possess strong “case” problem-solving skills, and demonstrate exceptional communication skills, work ethic, flexibility, executive presence, and client management skills. There is moderate availability of opportunity for these roles, and high availability of exit opportunities.

• Human Capital

  • Human capital consultants specialize in helping organizations position the right people with the right skills in the right roles at the right time. Often takes place with the context of organizational or departmental restructuring, systems implementations or other workplace cultural or employee development initiatives. Human capital consultants can serve clients across all industries. An ideal human capital consultant should have an interest in client-facing roles, a variety of project types, fast-paced work environments, and topics related to people and their workplace values. Human capital consultants should be highly analytical, possess strong “case” problem-solving skills, and demonstrate exceptional communication skills, work ethic, flexibility, executive presence, and client management skills. There is moderate availability of opportunity for human capital consultants and high availability for exit opportunities.

• Technology/IT

  • Technology or information technology (IT) consultants apply comprehensive knowledge of computer, data, telecommunications, the internet and information systems to help clients meet their business goals. Often part of the implementation of technology strategies and solutions with clients, Technology/IT consultants can serve clients across all industries. Ideally, candidates should be interested in client-facing roles, a variety of project types, and technology solutions. Consultants should be highly analytical, possess strong “case” problem-solving skills, and demonstrate exceptional communication skills, work ethic, flexibility, executive presence, and client management skills. There is high availability of opportunity for technology/IT consultants and high availability for exit opportunities.

Consultant roles may also be in-house, serving clients within their own organization. Many companies have internal consulting teams that develop strategic solutions to any number of complex business problems faced by the organization. Corporate strategy consultants support strategic planning initiatives that establish a direction for the organization’s future business plan. Typical pathways include:

• Internal Consulting: Strategy

  • Strategy consultants work with external or internal clients to identify and understand critical and complex business problems and recommend solutions for the client to become more efficient and improve overall performance. These consultants interact with senior executives on macro-level challenges. Strategy roles are found in most every organization, and often involve working with (or competing against) outside consulting firms on projects. An ideal candidate should be interested in client-facing roles and a variety of project types. Strategy consultants should be highly analytical, possess strong “case” problem-solving skills, and demonstrate exceptional communication, work ethic, flexibility, executive presence, the ability to thrive under pressure, and client management skills. As internal consulting roles are often staffed by veteran external consultants, there is a relatively low availability of opportunity; however, there is high availability of exit opportunities.

• Corporate Strategy: Strategic Planning

  • Corporate Strategy teams develop strategic plans that outline the scope and direction of a department or organization and the ways various business operations work together to achieve overall goals. These roles are found across all industries, and are often staffed by veteran external and internal consultants. Strategic planning consultants should be big-picture thinkers and visionaries, with interest in an internal role with corporate leadership access. Strategic planning consultants should be strategic thinkers with strong analysis and research skills; they should be exceptional problem solvers and collaborators, and exhibit executive presence along with solid communication and project management skills. Although there is a low availability of opportunity for internal strategic planning consulting roles, there is high availability of exit opportunities.