What qualifications do you need to be a Management Consultant?
There's no ‘official’ credential for consulting jobs. However, certain courses and certifications can significantly improve your odds of success.
Whilst consulting firms value real-world experience over paper qualifications, targeted learning shows commitment and builds relevant skills that will help you take your consulting career to new heights.
Top qualifications to boost your consulting career
Project Management
Earning your PRINCE2 or PMP certification teaches valuable project management abilities.
Consulting engagements typically have two parts: analysis and implementation. Once you’ve studied and analysed the client’s problem, they typically expect you to stick around to implement your solution.
Therefore, having good project management skills are extremely useful as a consultant of any level.
University degrees
These days any degree can lead to a successful consulting career. In fact, most of the big consulting firms now offer an apprenticeship which means you can become a consultant straight out of school. The firm will pay for your degree and you’ll study alongside your day job as a consultant.
What matters most is demonstrating that your degree gave you transferable skills that will make you a better consultant.
Online skills training
Sharpen technical abilities with Excel, PowerPoint, data visualisation courses. Being proficient will boost your productivity and improve your work life balance.
Agile methodologies
Agile is an alternative approach to PRINCE2 for delivering work. Many organisations now aspire to follow Agile frameworks such as SAFe, Scrum and Kanban. Having qualifications like Scrum Master and Scaled Agile will help you get staffed and deliver value on these popular transformation engagements.
Leadership development
Courses like Leadership Principles will help set you up with essential leadership skills you’ll need when you want to progress up the ranks to senior consultant and beyond.
Beyond the qualifications
Certifications complement, but don't replace, consulting experience. Focus on developing soft skills in communication, strategic thinking, analysis, leadership and teamwork. A portfolio of diverse credentials and abilities will make you an attractive consultant candidate.
