Management consultant

You would help businesses and organisations solve problems, improve efficiency and make changes to the way they work.

Companies might bring in management consultants to provide particular knowledge or skills that they lack or offer a fresh viewpoint on a problem

You might be brought in to help save a struggling business.

There are several business areas that you could focus on to help your clients.

For example:

• Planning and strategy

• Finance

• Improving productivity and processes

• Marketing

• Personnel

• Information technology (IT)

Projects can vary depending on the type of business, but you could:

• Meet clients to discuss what they need

• Do research to gain an understanding of the client’s business

• Interview managers, staff and customers

• Collect and analyse data, and prepare reports

• Identify and investigate issues, and plan how to tackle them

• Review current procedures to highlight areas for improvement

• Create computer models to test possible business solutions

• Present your recommendations to the client

• Agree a course of action with the client

• Give ongoing support to the client to put recommendations into place

Projects may run from one day to several years, depending on the needs of your client.

Knowledge of the business world would be important. You’d need to be tactful and supportive. You’d need to persuade people who may be apprehensive about a new approach to the way they work.

• Chartered Management Institute - Chartered professional body for people working in management and leadership

• Institute of Management Services - Focuses on developing practices to improve productivity and quality

• Institute of Consulting - Professional body for management consultancy