We often see consultants becoming investment bankers and vice versa. By sharing a similar skill set (hola, excel and PowerPoint), consultants can be an excellent fit for jobs in asset management and stock research. Private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds are also other common landing platforms for consultants. Big companies are always looking for alumni.
Consulting experience will generally result in you entering the company at a higher level compared to other people with your years of professional experience, but not consulting. The most typical function of alumni consulting is, obviously, strategy. However, based on our analysis of the people hired through Movemeon, we can see that there are also other interesting functions for a former consultant, such as managing operations and products. Many consultants develop very strong financial skills during their years in consulting.
These skills prepare them very well and make them highly sought after by financial-minded institutions, such as private equity or venture capital firms. The financial skills of consultants, together with their strong strategic perspective and their consulting “toolbox”, make these brilliant people the perfect candidates for PE venture capital funds &. Chief of Staff, Strategy Leaders Strategic thinking is in high demand in the business world and is a necessary skill for those looking to take the driver's seat in any company. Consultants in corporate strategy roles will use superior skills in data collection, market and competition analysis, as well as a little imagination, to identify the parts of the company that are thriving or struggling, evaluate what the competition is doing, and ask themselves what markets should enter next.
While consultants often develop decision-making frameworks without leading execution, corporate strategists offer internal recommendations and then witness the erroneous or triumphant effect of their ideas and, in the process, learn what it takes to lead an organization at the highest level. For consultants who enjoy project-based work and have some doubts about moving to an “in-house” position, a portfolio trading position could be an excellent landing platform after consulting. Portfolio trading professionals work directly for private equity firms and are tasked with identifying opportunities to generate value across the portfolio. These functions may involve a position on the board of directors of a physical education company and require a strong set of problem-solving tools.
You'll work alongside the management teams of portfolio companies and help solve their most difficult problems. When interviewing for portfolio operations positions, it's important to highlight your operational and strategic skills to explain any experience that creates value or is responsible for the results of your recommendations. For consultants seeking in-depth exposure to executive leadership or who are aspiring to become CEO, leaving for a chief of staff position may be the ideal next step. The chief of staff supports the CEO's agenda by defending the initiatives of the entire company, acting as a sounding board for critical decisions, and managing the priorities of the CEO and the executive team.
First-level consultants are often well placed for chief of staff positions, since they can generally start working with an arsenal of analytical, problem-solving and diplomacy skills to achieve measurable results for the organization. Generally, the person will enjoy 2 to 4 years working on important projects and initiatives before moving to a leadership position within the organization. This option has a number of benefits, especially if you enjoy the work you already do. Entering a corporate position with consulting experience can often allow you to enter a higher level than you might otherwise obtain.
In addition, depending on the company you're joining, you're likely to enjoy a 9-to-5 lifestyle (as opposed to consulting hours of 9 to 5 when the job is finished). Consultants learn to solve abstract business problems efficiently and to communicate recommendations to executives. After spending a few years in consulting and achieving their goals, consultants may want to try something different. Organizations typically hire you to work in the business strategy function, in an in-house consulting group, or in the department that best fits their specific area of expertise (for example, human resources).
Consultants may no longer be excited about a business career and want to give back to their communities. Consulting taught me how to approach any type of question or business problem, divide it into the most important analytical components, and then develop a logical and convincing narrative around my conclusions. Government institutions, social enterprises, and non-profit organizations also need the best talent to address strategic and business problems, as well as to carry out large scale projects, and there is a strong demand in purposeful organizations for consulting skills. Former consultants typically perform many functions depending on the stage of the company, including strategy, business development, product marketing, or product management.
In the event that you don't want a permanent move, some consulting firms even offer free consulting services on their premises or offer sabbatical periods to employees who want to dedicate their time. .
