Jul. 1 "Consult me on this career's highlights": I cut out this article by Meghan Greaves in the Metro on Oct. 2, 2013. On Talent Egg, it's a different title:
While choosing your career path, you may be inclined to do some online research and learn about the pros and cons of the industry.
Here’s a list of some of the major pros of being a consultant.
Of course, research is just one component of exploring a field, as you should also be sure to reach out and network with professionals who can offer insight based on personal experience.
Remember, the list doesn’t stop here.
There are hundreds of other perks to a career in the consulting industry: this is just a starting point!
Flexibility
Since a main part of a consultant’s job is to meet with clients, consultants can often have more flexibility with their work hours depending on appointment scheduling. There is also the opportunity to telecommute once you get more settled in your role. This not only leads to being a more productive employee, but it also allows for better work-life balance!
Working in a team environment
The best thing about starting your consulting career is that you definitely won’t be going at it alone. You’ll have the opportunity to work with team members who share interests, expertise, ideas, and work ethic behaviours similar (and different!) to yours. This creates the perfect opportunity for career-launching collaboration!
Using your problem solving skills daily
Consultants use their problem solving skills daily to get the job done and make clients happy. There are tons of perks to regularly using problem solving skills including: excitement, gratification, busy days and being creative!
Every day is different
Consulting is not your typical 9:00 am – 5:00 pm desk job. As a new grad, this is something that you should appreciate! The transition from school to work can be tough when you’re suddenly thrown into a regular work schedule. As a consultant, you’ll break this boring cycle by constantly tackling new problems and changing up your schedule.
Exceptional training and on-boarding
Often times when starting off as a consultant, the company you’re hired on with will give you awesome training or on-boarding to get things started off on the right foot. The goal of on-boarding/training is to set you up for success, so during this training you can expect to receive the resources, knowledge, and tools to do so.
Continuous learning
Consultants are the experts, which means they’re always learning and adapting to new trends in their industry. The great thing about staying on your toes is that clients appreciate it because you’ll be able to develop relevant and successful ideas. Though it might sound overwhelming to always be on top of news and trends, it will eventually become habit – and the results are worth it!
Big growth opportunities
With the right work ethic and dedication, consultants can experience professional growth early on in their careers. According to CNN, the average 10-year salary growth for consultants is 41.2%!
No specific degree needed
One of the greatest things for new grads considering a consulting career is that a specific degree is often times not required. Obviously there are the exceptions, but if you have a degree, experience, and show a potential employer that you’re genuinely invested in starting a consulting career (e.g., earning your CMC), you might be the perfect candidate for a consulting role!
Exposure to a wide variety of clients
Consultants get to work with amazing clients of all sizes and from all types of industries! There’s no one specific type of client that hires a consultant which makes developing solutions and ideas exciting because every situation is different. Every client has different expectations, needs, audience, products and services, so consultants get to oversee projects of all kinds!
Fun networking events
A consulting career can be glamorous: fancy suits, big clients, and most of all exciting events! Networking efficiently is one way to be a successful consultant. It’s therefore crucial to enjoy getting out there and being sociable with potential, current, and previous clients. This can be through a coffee meeting, lunch briefing, dinner appointment, or a big networking event out on the town.
"What are you, some sort of expert?": I cut out this article by Meghan Greaves in the Metro on Oct. 2, 2013. I couldn't find the article on the internet so I will type it up:
It's about traits of being a consultant.
1. You're a "people person."
2. You're a multi-tasker.
3. You're passionate.
4. You're confident.
5. You're resourceful.
"Size matters when managing success": I cut out this article by Riana Topan in the Metro on Nov. 5, 2014:
Have you ever wondered if the size of the organization you work for can affect your career?
It does.
There are benefits to working at both “small” companies (generally considered to be businesses with fewer than 100 employees) and “large” companies (those with more than 500 employees; “mid-sized” organizations fall between the two).
Unless you have a concrete reason for preferring one over the other, it’s best to apply to companies of all sizes when looking for a job.
Over the course of your career, you’ll hopefully get to experience what it’s like to work at both large and small establishments.
Here are some of the major differences you’ll notice:
Staff dynamic
Employees at a small company will usually get to know each other better and may develop an organization-wide sense of community and teamwork. They may also find it easier to develop relationships with most or all of the people at their office, which can be great for fostering a positive work environment.
At large firms, staff are more likely to work on teams within departments or even different offices. They often build strong relationships with the people they work most closely with and become acquainted with other staff members (which can be very helpful for networking).
Levels of responsibility
Those who work at a smaller company may have more individual responsibility than their counterparts at large organizations.
Why?
A small staff means that there are fewer individuals responsible for the company’s operations, so the share of responsibility is greater.
However, managers at large companies may be responsible for operations at a higher level – with higher risks and higher potential gains or losses, for example.
In general, a company’s size determines how much of a role an ordinary employee has in both the organization’s successes and failures. At smaller companies, there’s potential for more recognition when things go well – and more accountability when they don’t.
Job descriptions
Along with a greater portion of responsibility, employees of small companies also have more varied workloads. One person might be responsible for managing several portfolios or platforms, while someone with a similar background at a larger organization may only be responsible for one or two projects, working as part of a larger team.
There are pros and cons to both! At a large company, you’ll likely find a more established internal structure with clear delegation of responsibility and the opportunity to focus intensely on a small number of tasks.
Get to work in a smaller organization, and you’ll be responsible for a more diverse and fluid role. This can be great for gaining new experience and growing professionally.
Mobility and stability
Companies with more employees typically have more opportunities for advancement within the organization. These opportunities can be both vertical (moving upwards in the company’s management structure) or horizontal (moving into a different department or area at a similar level).
In comparison, staff at smaller companies can be more stable – it’s less likely that employees will change positions internally so unless they decide to leave the organization, the company’s internal structure is not going to change as often.
Employee benefits
Large companies can sometimes offer their employees more comprehensive benefits and higher salaries because they generally have the resources to do so.
However, working in a smaller office can come with other perks. Organizations with fewer employees might have more personal staff outings and get-togethers or celebrate birthdays or holidays, for example, which can strengthen team dynamics and create an environment where employees genuinely enjoy working together. It’s also much more common for employees of small (or new) companies to own equity in the company, which means their hard work is directly tied to an increase in value.
When it comes to an ideal company size, there’s no “right” answer – it’s important to take time to reflect on your personal and professional priorities to understand which space might be better for you.
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Small Vs. Large: Why Company Size Can Affect Your Caree...
There are benefits to working at both "small" and "large" companies. Do you know which size suits your personal and professional ambitions?
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My opinion: I have mentioned this before, but I would like to work in a big company because you can move around in different departments. I currently work in a big company and have worked in other departments.
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