A day in the life..

Considering a career change? Here's something that I'd like to share.

Companies, to improve efficiency and profitability, hire management consultants to identify problems and recommend solutions. Management consultants have to be accomplished analysts, attentive listeners, and firm but tactful communicators. They are thinkers and problem solvers who know how to convince others that change is needed. Though even starting management consultants make good money (and income rises considerably with experience), surveys indicate that candidates must be willing to sacrifice time from their personal lives. Consultants must get used to leaving home on Sunday for a business trip and not returning until Thursday or Friday. Satisfaction is generally high in this career, despite its demands.

No specific academic requirements exist for management consultants, but require at least a college degree in a related field. An Ivy League education is a distinct plus, and many employers look extremely favorably on MBAs, which are necessary requirements for upward mobility in this profession. Very little guidance is available, so candidates should demonstrate academic, work, or entrepreneurial experience that shows them to be self-starters and interested in excellence in whatever they do. Experience is always valuable, but professional certification—granted by the Institute of Management Consultants USA, Inc. only after rigorous review—is often more important when it comes to getting hired and promoted, especially at smaller firms. The majority of management consultants are self-employed and work in firms of 10 or fewer people, but the highest-paid ones usually do a significant stint at a large company, making professional contacts and building a solid reputation.