Management Consultant
Job overview
Management consultants acquire expertise in the methods, techniques and principles that a business needs to achieve its objectives.
They work independently and are approached by businesses for advice on matters relating to general management, strategy, personnel, finance, marketing, sales, production and public relations.
They investigate problems or opportunities, offer suggestions and propose action plans.
What do people do in this occupation?
Management consultants advise and guide businesses in overcoming problems relating to changing circumstances.
They identify difficulties and opportunities and submit possible solutions.
They may receive requests to:?
The environment in which management consultants work, depends on their field of specialisation, e.g. ?marketing, personnel, finance or strategy - and on the firms that consult them.
What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Management consultants must be able to work independently.
The various fields of specialisation call for the following characteristics:?
Marketing?
These consultants must be very disciplined and able analyse problems in an accurate and systematic way.
They must be able to communicate effectively and should enjoy working with people.
Finance?
Financial consultants have to be good with figures and must be extremely neat and methodical in their work.
Personnel?
These consultants work mainly with people.
They have to be good listeners and objective in all their decisions.
Strategy?
These consultants must think in terms of the long-term opportunities of a business.
They have to be good leaders and be able to think creatively in order to solve problems.
What qualifications are needed?
Today management consultants will probably have an MBA? (Master of Business Administration?) ?degree.
