Nature of the Job
Strategy consultant jobs thus involve coming up with various development plans for the organization. On average, strategy consultants work for 40 hours per week. It is thus not usually a very stressful field regarding the amount of time spent at work. However, this is not always the case. At times, especially when the client business is in crisis, strategy consultants can work for as many as fifty hours or more in a week. Strategy consultant positions, besides offering hefty salaries, have great benefits on the side. However, these positions are normally very limited and there is great competition to secure them.
As mentioned earlier, strategy consultancy is about making critical decisions and coming up with plans that will provide solutions to existing business problems. Contrary to a common notion, strategy consultancy is not about laying goals and visions but providing real solutions to real business problems.
The consulting field has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years. This is attributed to the fact that companies and organizations are slowly recognizing the crucial role that strategy consultants play. In the past, most organizations did not engage the services of strategy consultants, as they did not see the need to do so. However, this has changed greatly, and almost every organization, especially the big and well-established ones, engages the services of strategy consultants for almost every major operation and activity of the company.
Due to the demand for the services of strategy consultants, there are numerous opportunities in this career field. However it is important to note that strategy consultants play a very important role in any given organization. For that reason, qualification, professionalism, and competency are of the utmost importance. In the past, there were a small number of qualified and practicing strategy consultants. The world has changed, and this career field is now flooded.
The most important aspect in the career field of consultancy is to establish oneself. Strategy consultancy is a wide field, and once established, one has the benefit of choosing their desired area of specialization. Unlike other jobs where one is paid for the work done, in strategy consultancy one is not only paid for the work done but also for the knowledge and expertise of the consultant. In addition, the benefits in terms of salaries and benefits are hefty.
Factors to Consider
People are different and thus their abilities are equally different. For that reason it is not every person who may comfortably fit in the consultancy industry. Some of the factors that ought to be given consideration before venturing into the strategic consultancy field include your connections and interests. The strategic consulting field, and indeed, the consultancy field generally, requires someone who is able to work under minimum or no supervision.
Although the strategic consultancy field is not necessarily very stressful, there are periods in which organizations and companies are in crisis. During such times the work of a strategy consultant may prove to be rather hectic, and for anybody desiring to venture in this field, they must be prepared to work under pressure and a stressful environment. It is important to remember that the major role played by strategy consultants is to come up with plans that will help solve problems that a particular organization is facing. Business environments are bound to change from time to time. For that reason any person desirous of venturing in this field must be flexible enough to be able to cope with the ever-changing business environment.
Other Characteristics
One common facet of strategy consultant jobs is tight and strict deadlines. Dedication, commitment and flexibility are highly required to be able to comfortably perform strategy consultancy jobs. The ability to work as part of a team is essential. There are many operations and activities that take place in organizations and businesses — it goes without saying that all these activities cannot be handled effectively by one person. Cooperation with other members of the organization or business is thus of great importance to a strategy consultant, as this helps make the work easier.
Personal attributes that one must have include confidence and self-motivation. Marketing skills are sometimes required, especially when the strategy consultant is between projects. The marketing skills are primarily for letting the outside world know of the existence of your services.
Qualifications
Most employers will always prefer graduates from college or any other institution of higher learning. In addition, experience and professional skills are key to securing a strategy consultant job, whether one is seeking a position in an organization or is desirous of starting a firm of their own.
Job Growth
As mentioned earlier, this field has been experiencing significant growth over the last couple of years, though there are many who seek to fill this role. This has been attributed to the fact that organizations are finally embracing the importance of engaging the services of strategy consultants in a time of instability.
Conclusion
There are numerous opportunities that are open in the strategy consultancy field. However, one must have the right qualifications in terms of education, experience and personal attributes. With these, it becomes possible to transition into this particular career field.
