If you have a depth of experience and expertise in a certain topic, then you might find yourself in a position to dispense advice to businesses looking to make informed decisions. There’s a particular term for people who do this for a living: a business consultant.
What qualifications and skills are needed?
There are no particular qualifications required to enter this line of work. But for businesses to pay for your services, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate expertise. If you’re positioning yourself as an authority on IT, communications, or Human Resources, then you will improve your chances by obtaining a relevant degree.
The same applies to your experience. If you have spent decades in a given role, then businesses may seek your opinion in matters related to that role.
Of course, there are some skills that will serve consultants of every kind. You’ll need to be able to convey your expertise in a way that’s compelling and actionable. You’ll also need to be able to organise your own time and resources, since you’ll be working for yourself.
For these reasons, many consultants come to the role later in life, having already been working in a given niche for several years.
What to expect from the role
So, why might we want to become business consultants in the first place? How do the people working for business consultant organisations spend their working lives?
For one thing, there’s an inherent satisfaction to be had from mentoring small businesses, and seeing them develop in the right way. If you’re the sort of person who takes joy from self-development and constant learning, then the role might be a good fit for you.
Typically, you’ll be working on behalf of several clients at any given time. This can naturally provide a level of variety to your working day. You might find yourself having to travel, which can make things even more interesting.
In some cases, the hours can be slightly punishing. You might find yourself working weekends and evenings, especially if there’s a deadline approaching.
If you’re sufficiently experienced, you might be able to work on a freelance basis. This will provide you with a degree of freedom that allows you to dispense with many of the drawbacks.
On top of that, there’s the salary.
How much would you make?
The salary of a business consultant can vary enormously from sector to sector, but the national average, according to Indeed, sits at just north of £30,000. If you’re willing to relocate, then you could push this figure upward. Pick the right niche, and prove your value, and the earnings could eventually be substantial.