How to Become a Consultant and Find Consulting Jobs

Consulting jobs provide tremendous career flexibility for a few very good reasons. For one, they can offer great opportunities to dive deeper into your existing career field. Consulting can also be a wonderful way to switch fields and set yourself on a new and more flexible career path.

There are several approaches on how to find consulting jobs. Read on for an explanation of what consultants do and some ideas on how to get hired.

Note:

Flex Jobs is a subscription service for job seekers that features flexible and remote jobs. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, the monthly subscription costs allow us to fully vet and verify all of the jobs on our site—ensuring that customers have a safe and positive job searching experience.

What Is Consulting?

What do you need to know about how to find consulting jobs and make yourself an attractive candidate?

First things first, it helps to have a clear understanding of what consultants do. Depending on the industry, a consultant job may entail bringing extensive knowledge and expertise to a particular company. Or, a consultant may be asked to bring broader expertise about management processes and specific business know-how that the employer doesn’t have in house.

In some instances, consultants are hired to supplement ongoing work, or they may be asked to provide guidance on a new project. Duties could include resolving organizational problems, providing business or financial advice, finding ways to increase revenue, or helping an employer pinpoint and reach larger company goals.

How Can I Become a Consultant?

Target Industries of Expertise

There are many firms of all sizes that hire for general and specific consulting expertise. Check out Flex Jobs’ list of the “Best 100 Companies for Remote and Flexible Consulting Jobs” to get a comprehensive look at just how many employers, across a wide range of industries, hire management, operational, and field-specific consultants.

Use Keywords Correctly

During your search use keywords that are synonymous with they type of consulting you want to do. Are you looking for design consulting jobs or IT consulting jobs? Use your desired industry and the word “consulting” or “consultant” to target the search.

Establish Your Specialty

Make sure you’re up to speed on the skill sets, certifications, and industry-focused knowledge you’ll need to establish your consulting specialty. Getting your name out there—in other words, establishing your brand—can give you concrete references to highlight when you apply for consulting jobs.

Make yourself available on platforms like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) to connect with journalists looking for quotes from experts like you. Another option is to launch your own blog, where you can expand on topics related to your field and establish an online presence as an expert.

Take Classes and Learn From Others

Whether you’re new to consulting or have years of experience, it’s beneficial to make sure your knowledge is up to date. Take professional online classes and tutorials, and learn new skills online that build on what you already have to offer as a consultant.

A mentorship can be a fantastic way to connect with an established professional in your targeted field, especially if you’re transitioning from a different career.

Network and Socialize

Find out where your fellow consultants “hang out,” whether that means online forums, in-person networking events, or trade gatherings. Join trade organizations in your field, attend conferences, and list your related volunteer work on your resume.

And don’t neglect social media in your job search. Use LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to put your best professional face forward. Keep your profiles up to date and stay active in groups.

Look in the Right Places

Since consulting roles tend to be freelance contracts and short-term roles, some job boards may not cater to this type of job.

FlexJobs has a consulting job category, along with four subcategories (business consultant jobs, education consultant jobs, healthcare consultant jobs, and IT consultant jobs), to help you easily find what you’re looking for. Our advanced search tool can help you hone in on the type of role you’re seeking, along with the kind of flexibility you want.

Companies That Hire Consultants

According to the Flex Jobs database, the companies below frequently hire remote consultants:

(Click on a company name to see open positions or past positions that the company has hired for.)

For more, check out these companies that hire for remote consulting jobs.

What Kind of Job Flexibility Does Consulting Offer?

Consulting jobs in the Flex Jobs database demonstrate the wide variety of work flexibility options that consultants can enjoy.

Often, employers hire consultants on a short-term, project-specific basis to work as independent contractors through the project’s completion. Part-time, freelance, and remote positions also are common flexible options for consultants.

Average Consultant Salary and Growth Potential

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects robust growth for management consultants (sometimes called management analysts). The job outlook for consulting is expected to increase by 14% from 2016 to 2026, a growth rate that reflects strong demand across several industries. Consultants currently enjoy an average salary of $82,450 per year, or $39.64 per hour, according to BLS.

Demand for consultants is particularly strong in healthcare due to factors such as the aging U.S. population. Separate data from Statistica, a statistical research company, reports operations and financial advising as the largest markets for consultants. Statistica also estimated that the global management consulting market would reach more than $139 billion by 2017.

Ready to Find a Consulting Job?

If you’re ready to find a consulting job, We can help! We post flexible and remote consulting jobs regularly. Learn more about ConsultingNetwork.Org