How To Build A Career In Consulting
You know you’ve ‘made it’ when job offers start to really pile up and you feel a little stuck about what your next career move should be. This is a common experience for many professionals who’ve established themselves as a highly reputable figure in their field. And although it can feel a little exciting and momentous, it’s also often accompanied with a slight sense of dread that you may make a wrong move and end up undervaluing yourself and your skills.
This is usually what prompts many to consider a career as a consultant. But how exactly do you build a career in consulting? As consultants work independently, it can be tricky to know where exactly to begin when seeking to present yourself as a serious consultant. The following guide should help shed some light on all the ins and outs of commencing a career as a professional consultant.
Read on to help kickstart your journey down this lucrative career pathway.
Take legal considerations
Although consulting can be a highly lucrative career pathway for industry experts, this profession does come with its fair share of risks, which is why doing some preliminary legal legwork and securing indemnity insurance should be foundational for consultants operating in all industries.
Let’s look at the importance of developing your contracts first. Consultants aren’t classified as employees, which means that you’ll need to develop consulting agreements (or consultant contracts) prior to signing on any new client. These contracts will help protect you in the event of unpaid invoices, client losses, misuse of your intellectual property (or ‘IP’), and other events where you may either be liable or be entitled to compensation or remuneration.
Of course, upholding contracts may be accompanied by costly legal fees, which is why many independent contractors and consultants alike secure professional indemnity insurance as an additional measure to help maintain cover in the event that legal action is taken or any claims are made against you.
You may also need to secure yourself a licence to work as a consultant depending on which industry you’re looking to work in. Industries like financial or legal services will naturally require consultants to possess all the required industry qualifications as well. Be sure you possess all these necessary qualifications and certifications prior to offering your services as an independent professional.
Build up your professional networks
If you’ve been working in your field for a decade or so now, then you’ll already know the value of maintaining a strong professional network. Networking can provide an abundance of professional opportunities over the course of your career, and this isn’t likely to change once you leave your in-house position to become a dedicated consultant.
As you build up your client base following your transition into consulting, you’ll find that there are going to be many prospective clients within and surrounding your industry networks. For this reason, you should feel encouraged to communicate openly with the valued friends and acquaintances that make up your professional networks. Attend celebrations for personal and professional milestones. Be a friend, share your ambitions with people you admire, and chances are your passion and openness will ensure that you’re the first person they call if an opportunity for you to contribute your skills arises.
Notice that we also said industry networks, plural. If you’re looking to become a managerial or leadership consultant, you’ll be able to find opportunities in a range of different industries. If there are particular industries you’d like to work within where your network may be a little lacking, then taking advantage of networking opportunities like industry events is sure to yield a handful of opportunities, either to flex your skills or simply to forge strong connections with your peers. Never underestimate the power of connecting with people!
Present yourself as an authority online
It’s essential that you finetune your digital footprint when setting out to make a name for yourself as a consultant. In an immediate sense, this will mean setting your personal social media accounts to private, and perhaps even setting up specialised accounts to promote yourself as a professional. Generally speaking, the most valuable platforms to stay active on are LinkedIn and Twitter, although depending on your industry niche, you may even find a Facebook page or Instagram account to also be an asset to your digital presence.
Thinking more long term, another essential element of bolstering your reputability online is setting up a professional website. Having a website that’s dedicated to your consulting services will ensure that all prospective clients see you as a legitimate professional who’s offering a highly valuable service. Your website should also ideally have some case studies or a digital portfolio to further demonstrate your value to potential clients.
Work on your soft skills
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that although consultants are expected to possess exemplary industry knowledge and a strong understanding of virtually all technical aspects relevant to their specialty, all of your clients will be enlisting your services because they’re seeking clarity. This means that consultants are required to possess strong communication skills, including an ability to disseminate information in an accessible way.
The most successful consultants are those who’ve mastered the art of teaching, and take pride in their ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences. This means you should seek out opportunities to host workshops with professionals working in your industry, as well as laymen, just to ensure that your communication style stays universal.
Developing your soft skills as a consultant will naturally also include engaging with practices like active listening, reading body language, and building your emotional intelligence (or EQ) alongside continuously studying to maintain your position as an industry expert.
~
Consulting as a construct provides benefits to both professionals and businesses alike. Through consulting, industry experts maintain the freedom to work on a diverse range of projects whilst still enjoying remuneration that’s reflective of their skills. Similarly, hiring consultants allows businesses to take full advantage of expert insights without having to add to their payroll.
If you feel that a career in consulting could be suitable for you at this point in your professional life, then be sure to heed the recommendations we’ve outlined above. By doing so, you’ll have stronger chances of setting yourself up for success, both as a consultant as well as a leader in your industry.