Business consultancy encompasses a broader range of careers that fall under the generalized business umbrella. The professional services each role provides will vary based on the specialty -- for instance, marketing, finance, management, operations, or technology. If you have considered pivoting into a new field or subset of business, you are in the right place. Whether you want to look for roles that offer a more hands-on approach to marketing campaigns or those that require analytical skills, there is a career that suits your skills, needs, and preferences that exists within the broader scope of business consultancy careers. Below, you can explore several related career paths that align with or relate to the Business Consultant role. No matter what you are drawn to, you can find an interesting avenue to explore.
What is a Business Consultant?
Business Consultants are industry experts who advise clients on both execution and strategy. After working with management to review company operations, Business Consultants can help with revision and restructuring, as well as implementing a plan for the company to achieve long-term goals. They are typically strong problem solvers, adapt easily to market demands, and are quick to implement any changes on a higher level within the organization. Moreover, consulting across industries can mean becoming better at the job and gaining a deeper understanding of the business world at large.
Companies of all sizes rely on Business Consultants, from decades-old corporate entities to brand-new start-ups, and from family businesses to multinationals. Even more so, they can work in virtually any industry, including finance, healthcare, technology, retail, manufacturing, and even tourism. Their primary roles include analyzing the organizational structure of a business and developing new strategies for improvement as a result of their findings. They may also specialize in certain subsets of business consultancy, such as human resources, marketing, or management.
On a daily or weekly basis, Business Consultants typically engage in several key activities that range from research and analysis to presentations and strategizing. One challenge of business consulting is that tight deadlines and an expectation of meaningful results can make it a stressful field. However, the people who will succeed best as Business Consultants will be problem solvers who are motivated, flexible, calm under pressure, and have excellent communication skills. When working on large-scale projects, Business Consultants will encounter tasks that differ daily, leading to better engagement with the project and higher job satisfaction: since no day is exactly like the next as a Business Consultant, it’s hard to get bored.
Project Manager
What is a Project Manager?
A Project Manager is tasked with overseeing the project process from start to finish. This includes defining the scope of the project, allocating resources, delegating tasks, structuring a timeline, and managing a budget. Project Managers typically oversee numerous departments and employees, so they have to be strong multitaskers and communicators. Additionally, they will typically learn how to use different technologies that make the management process less challenging. For instance, they may use Microsoft Project to assist them with the project timeline. Other Microsoft products, such as Office, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook could be incredibly beneficial in this role as well. Above all else, they ensure the project aligns with the goals of the company. This role is hired in multiple industries, for various kinds of projects, and in different work styles.
How Does This Job Relate to Business Consultant?
Business Consultants and Project Managers are relatively similar but have distinct differences. Both roles require strong communication and problem-solving skills as they both must observe business challenges and recommend solutions as well as convey their concerns and opinions clearly and respectfully to others. In addition, they often pride themselves on their organizational abilities, as they handle multiple projects, client accounts, and timelines at once. However, their focus and scope of work are slightly different. Whereas the consultant primarily concerns themselves with improving business processes and managing long-term objectives, the Project Manager will mainly focus on specific projects.
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Business Administrator
What is a Business Administrator?
A Business Administrator ensures that everything runs smoothly in an organization. They handle the day-to-day operations of a business and make sure every department, aspect, and element functions properly. For example, on any given day, they may handle the organization’s finances and adjust the budget. On the other hand, they may assist with marketing campaigns. They may also be involved in human resource management, such as recruiting new employees. You can think of a Business Administrator as a go-to person for making sure the company stays afloat and keeps operating productively. They allocate resources, strategize for the next project, and set everyone up for success.
How Does This Job Relate to Business Consultant?
Both Business Administrators and Business Consultant roles are incredibly knowledgeable in the world of business, so they may have overlapping skills and abilities. They understand how businesses operate, including anything from daily operations and processes to legal directives and stakeholder interactions. Some may argue that they are two sides of the same coin. However, while the administrator will focus on optimizing all internal operations, the consultant may focus more on providing recommendations for improvements.
Marketing Consultant
What is a Marketing Consultant?
A Marketing Consultant has considerable overlap with a Business Consultant. They both develop plans and provide ideas and strategies for effective marketing techniques. They also analyze trends within the market and share insights into profits based on marketing campaign success. Their work often involves conducting research, identifying target audiences, and assisting with content creation. They leverage their combined creative and technical skills to essentially help the company make a name for themselves, solidify their place in the market, and continue profiting from their loyal customer base.
How Does This Job Relate to Business Consultant?
Marketing Consultants and Business Consultants are both situated within the realm of business strategy, however, their focus differs. As the name suggests, Business Consultants will provide advice on a much broader range of topics and business operations, such as financial performance, organizational structure, and project development. However, Marketing Consultants will focus only on marketing dynamics, including the content and its alignment with the brand’s goals and ethos as well as any necessary changes in the next campaign.
How to Decide Which Career is Right for You
If you are interested in starting a Business Consultant career but aren’t sure which path is right for you, consider some of the most important aspects before making such a big decision. You’ll want to factor in your goals, skills, salary expectations, work preferences, and ability to grow as a professional if you truly want to narrow down the best choice for you.
Personal Interests and Growth
Before anything else, you will want to consider what really excites you. What industries are you passionate about? What kinds of projects do you enjoy working on? As a Business Consultant, you will help organizations improve and grow, so it is in your best interest to make sure you are working towards a goal that makes you proud and aligns with your interests. For example, if you love diving into data and finding solutions, you may blend your consulting work with data analysis to become a Business Consultant. On the other hand, you may want to oversee different departments and projects, thus specializing in project management.
Acquired Skills and Education
Next, you will have to consider your current skills and education, as well as what type of training you may need to succeed in the field of your choice. Your current expertise will play a role in determining what jobs you could go for right now, but if you want to learn more about a different field, there are many ways to upskill or make a lateral career move. If you feel like you could brush up on your marketing skills, it may be in your best interest to take a few courses or a bootcamp. Arguably, your education and background will help shape your career path just as much as your interests.
Desired Salary
When it comes to consulting, salary expectations can vary a bit based on factors like location, education, experience, and the specialization you are interested in. For example, Marketing Consultants may earn less than Financial Consultants, just as Business Analysts will likely command higher salaries than Human Resources Managers. It all depends on the company as well, so compare and contrast a few similar positions at different companies to determine what may align with your lifestyle needs the most. Just remember to factor in the cost of living in your area. For the most part, you can find business consulting jobs that pay favorably, regardless of the area. Still, this is something to consider.
Work Style Preferences
You may consider the way you like to work as well. Although this may not always be a choice or something you can customize, it is incredibly important to consider if you want a happy work life. For example, do you thrive in a busy, fast-paced office environment where you can collaborate with your team members? Or, do you prefer the flexibility of working in a quiet, familiar home office? On the other hand, maybe you want the best of both worlds with a hybrid work option. Business consulting positions can vary in their offerings, so it is best to look for positions that align with your work style. Finding a job that matches your preferences will make the workday feel less stressful and more enjoyable, which will enable you to do your best work.
Career Growth, Job Market, and Professional Opportunities
Finally, research the job market in your general area to learn if this career path will be a good choice for you in the long run. You will want a job that is stable, has room for growth, and offers opportunities for further development. If other Business Consultants in your area feel pleased with their work-life balance and enjoy the professional opportunities afforded to them, then chances are there are other great positions opening for you to take hold of. Make sure the industry you’re interested in is growing and evolving so there’s room for upward mobility, but also so that you can meet your long-term goals.
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Consultant at Noble Desktop
At Noble Desktop, you can learn all the necessary skills to become a Business Consultant through various classes on a wide range of subjects. You can choose from certificates, bootcamps, and short courses that help give you more insight and skills to succeed in your preferred field and industry. For example, the 132-hour “MBA” Business Certificate allows students to master the tools, concepts, and technologies to succeed in the business world. Specifically, you will learn project management methodologies, financial concepts pertaining to investments and insurance, marketing strategies such as search engine optimization, business law and writing styles, and data analytics processes. In addition, you will explore ways to utilize useful tools like AI, which can be instrumental in creating a more productive workplace. In addition, you will practice using software and platforms like Microsoft Excel, Figma, Tableau, and Google Analytics. With the help of an expert instructor, hands-on training, and additional mentoring, you will earn your certificate of completion. This all-encompassing education will enable you to become more confident in your business skills and feel ready to take on a role as a Business Consultant or a related position.
One of the most popular and widely used platforms across all businesses includes Microsoft Office. The applications within Microsoft Office are essential for data management, communications, presentations, and document handling. In Noble Desktop’s Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp, you will learn advanced levels of Excel and intermediate levels of PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. In Excel, your instructor will show you how to turn data insights into clear, understandable visualizations. Perhaps you choose to present your data findings with PowerPoint -- after this bootcamp, you will feel comfortable using all the visual features, transitions, and layouts. Similarly, you will learn how to navigate, format, and personalize documents within Word and share them with others in your organization with Outlook. Overall, this bootcamp gives you an all-encompassing overview of the most essential Office tools that will serve you well as a business consultancy professional.
If you are curious about specializing in project management but want to take a short course before deciding, you can enroll in Project Management Level I. Here, you will learn the five key phases of project management, focusing mostly on the first two stages: initiation and planning. You will study foundational concepts and project management terms that give you more insight into the field before deciding to move forward with Level II or a bootcamp. Moreover, you will learn how to select and develop project plans, including everything from its schedule, budget, resource allocation, and other aspects that define the project. Overall, this course gives you the skills to determine whether project management is the right career path for you to explore.