Becoming a business consultant is a great way to expand your experience, knowledge, and professional network. But it's not as simple as it sounds. To make the transition from what you do now to consulting, you need to equip yourself, establish contacts and find a mentor, prepare your resume and cover letter, pass selection tests, pass case interviews, approve aptitude interviews, and survive management consulting. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to become a business consultant.
First, equip yourself with the necessary skills. If you're not an MBA student, you may need to go beyond your chosen field of study to develop the necessary business sense in consulting and demonstrate that you have strong analytical skills. STEM, business, economics and finance classes will help ensure that recruiters see you as someone who can handle the work of a management consultant when they review your resume. Reading business publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week or The Economist will help you develop an understanding of business problems. Second, establish contacts and find a mentor.
Networking is key when it comes to finding a job in consulting. Reach out to people in the industry and ask them for advice on how to get into consulting. You can also look for mentors who can help guide you through the process. Having someone who has been through the process before can be invaluable. Third, prepare your resume and cover letter.
Your resume should highlight your experience and skills that are relevant to consulting. Make sure to include any relevant internships or volunteer work that you have done. Your cover letter should explain why you are interested in consulting and why you think you would be a good fit for the job. Fourth, pass selection tests. Most consulting firms require applicants to take aptitude tests such as the GMAT or GRE.
These tests measure your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. You may also be asked to take personality tests or other assessments. Fifth, pass case interviews. Case interviews are used by consulting firms to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet. During these interviews, you will be presented with a business problem and asked to come up with a solution. Sixth, approve aptitude interviews.
Aptitude interviews are used by consulting firms to assess your knowledge of the industry and ability to think strategically. During these interviews, you will be asked questions about the industry and how you would approach certain situations. Finally, survive management consulting. Once you have been hired by a consulting firm, it's important that you stay focused on the task at hand and demonstrate your ability to think critically and solve problems. Leadership is necessary to involve the great personalities of business executives in various parts of the organization.
