How to become a Management Consultant
Management Consultant
A management consultant is someone that goes into businesses and advises them on how to improve their strategy and performance. They will work with each company on an individual basis to make improvements, and can either be employed by a firm or on a freelance basis.
Management consultants dive deep into the workings of a particular business or brand to analyse what is working, what isn’t, and how they can improve. Management consultants typically work with one brand to revise and improve their strategy and production for a set period of time, before moving on to a different brand.
Due to this, the nature of a brand manager’s role means that they may travel domestically and internationally for work, and work hours beyond a 9-5.
Brand manager’s roles typically entail:
- Meeting potential clients and presenting what they can offer.
- Analysing strategies and preparing detailed reports about what is and isn’t working.
- Thinking of solutions to any issues that are causing the business to not function optimally.
- Interviewing members of staff about the workplace.
- Physically putting solutions into action.
- Keeping updated with changing statistics and data and calculating how changes have benefited the business.
Management consultants need to have a range of skills, including being able to analyse, problem solving, communication and knowledge of computer systems and applications. The typical management consultant candidate will have a degree in business, maths or finance or an alternative degree and a masters in business or management. Foreign language students with business related master’s certifications are sometimes given preference, because languages are often needed in international firms. Non-graduates can get into this field with apprenticeships, although competition is fierce.
Previous experience in business, IT or management fields is beneficial and can be converted, or work experience in a suitable role is also valuable when applying to become a management consultant.
Management consultants tend to work for a consultancy firm, but once they have built up contacts in the field they could switch to freelance employment, or even start their own consultancy business.
What degree is most commonly held by a Management Consultant?
- BA / M of Business Administration
- BA / M of Economics
- BA / M of Computer Science
- BA / M of Finance
- BA / M of Psychology
- Diploma, BA / M of Project Management
Career Transportability across Countries
Transportability: Medium
What is the Salary of a Management Consultant?
Experience | Average salary | year | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
AU$ | UK£ | US$ | ||
Management Consultant | $100,000 | £54,735 | $100,000 | |
Strategy Manager | 1-4 Years | $115,0000 | £84786 | $155,000 |
Strategy Director | 5+ Years | $500,000 | £322,733 | $590,000 |
What skills are needed to become a Management Consultant?
- Management
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Strategy
- Change management
- Business Analysis
- Business Strategy
- Strategic Planning
- Business Process Improvement
- Microsoft Office
- Business Development
- Program Management
- Management Consulting
- Microsoft Excel
- Team Leadership
- Consulting
- Stakeholder Management
- Risk management
- Customer Service
- Marketing
- Training
- Public Speaking
- Project Planning
- Data Analysis
- Process Improvement
Management Consultant Courses
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Management and Leadership: Leading a Team
Develop a business plan and build a team with this online course from The Open University and CMI
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Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager
Explore the foundations of successful management with this free online course from The Open University and CMI
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Contract Management: Building Relationships in Business
Learn to build relationships and manage contracts successfully with this free online course backed by UK government and IACCM
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Business Fundamentals: Project Management
Gain the basic skills to manage all phases of project lifecycles effectively using the most appropriate methods and tools
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Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management
Learn the basics of project planning and management so you can run effective projects at work or in daily life
Management Consultant Microcredentials
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Project Management: Managing Front-End Planning
Build the project planning and management skills to start a career in project management within your chosen professional field
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Practical Project Management
Get a professional accredited introduction to project management from a top UK university
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Change Management
Get professional accredited training in change management strategy and advance your career towards senior managerial roles
Need even more evidence about why you should learn on FutureLearn?
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Management and Leadership: Leading a Team
Develop a business plan and build a team with this online course from The Open University and CMI.Show course overview -
Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager
Explore the foundations of successful management with this free online course from The Open University and CMI.Show course overview