You’re considering a career in consulting. How can you gain relevant experience?

As part of finding your niche it is important to keep an open mind and try new things: don’t be afraid to take risks and reach out for stretching opportunities that will distinguish yourself from peers and allow you to leverage your skills and expertise. With each role you take on try to articulate the experience you’ve gained and what sets you apart, which are important parts of your personal brand for taking forward in your future career. Whilst it may take several roles for you to land where you truly feel comfortable, taking risks and stretching yourself will make you more robust and resilient and will increase your awareness of the bigger picture. This will help you better understand your clients as part of becoming a great consultant.

"Mais do que desejar trabalhar com consultoria, você deve avaliar no que você é bom e como pode contribuir para transformar os resultados da empresa que prestará serviço. E decidir entregar o melhor que puder, pois a sua missão é alcançar o potencial máximo do negócio. Oferecer soluções personalizadas e práticas que otimizam processos, desenvolver e capacitar equipes e implementar estratégias eficazes de vendas, promovendo assim o crescimento sustentável e a prosperidade empresarial."

Consider pursuing part-time consulting projects or freelance work to gain hands-on experience. Offer your expertise to small businesses or startups in areas like strategy, marketing, or operations. Attend industry events, workshops, and webinars to expand your knowledge and network. Seek mentorship from experienced consultants and actively seek feedback to continuously improve your skills and approach.

To navigate the diverse world of consulting effectively, it's crucial to conduct a self-assessment of your strengths, passions, and career aspirations. Consulting spans various domains—each with its unique demands in terms of skills, qualifications, and experience. Whether your expertise lies in strategy, operations, finance, marketing, technology, or human resources, understanding your niche is key. Additionally, consider your preferred working environment, whether it be a large multinational firm or a smaller boutique agency, and your interest in specific industries or global markets.

Start by conducting a thorough self-assessment to identify your core competencies, technical skills, and areas of interest within digitalization and AI. This introspection will help you pinpoint the niche sectors or types of consulting roles that align with your passions and strengths. Leveraging your innate abilities and interests will not only make your work more enjoyable but also more impactful, as intrinsic motivation often leads to superior performance.

In the consulting world, your network is your net worth. Engage with professionals in the field by attending industry conferences, participating in relevant online forums, and connecting with thought leaders on social media platforms. Building a robust professional network can provide insights into industry trends, introduce you to potential mentors, and open doors to opportunities that might not be publicly advertised. Simultaneously, focus on building your personal brand by sharing your insights, projects, or case studies online. This will help in establishing your reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable professional in the digitalization sector.

Don’t underestimate the power of building long lasting relationships with both clients and colleagues. University peers and fellow graduates new to the business are classic examples, as well as any client relationship you pick up during your career journey. Invest the time to keep in touch by sharing relevant material and invites to topical events and even informal coffee catch ups. You never know when and how you might be able to help in future and vice versa. Even with competitors - knowing your opponent is key to business so again relationships are crucial. In summary it’s not what you know it’s who you know, so avoid burning bridges at all costs!

Seeking out hands on experience is one of the most important things you can do if you have decided to pursue a career in consulting. Given the pure size of the organizations the big 4 is usually a good place to start but keep your eyes on other consulting jobs (LinkedIn Search). Apply to the right level of jobs based on your experience. If you have any connections inside these companies try to get a recommendation as that goes a long way. Once you get a job and hands on experience it gets tremendously easier

This surely involves a combination of education, practical experience, and networking. Seek out internships or co-op opportunities with consulting firms, corporate consulting departments and try to find mentors within the consulting industry who can provide guidance, advice, and support as you pursue your career goals. By taking these steps and actively seeking out opportunities to gain relevant experience, one can position for a successful career in consulting and increase the chances of securing opportunities with top consulting firms.

Hands-on experience is invaluable. Look for internships, volunteer projects, or freelance opportunities that allow you to work on digital transformation, AI implementations, or process automation projects. These experiences will not only refine your technical skills but also provide a practical understanding of the challenges businesses face during digital transitions. Working on diverse projects will expose you to different industries and business models, enhancing your versatility as a consultant.

Start from less and little by little do more. Don't even dare to risk your credibility, which has not yet been made, or you will have to give it up. Being a consultant is easy, but staying a consultant and adding value is something that needs to be worked on.

You learn by example. I recall as a youngster accompanying our VP for a client briefing. The client told us what he wanted, which was everything, gave us a miniscule budget and told us that to spice things up, he was calling for a pitch. I recall my VP wasting no time in politely declining the pitch mentioning clearly that it was not worth our while. I learned a valuable lesson that day and I use those words almost verbatim when required. From the crestfallen look on the client's face, I gathered, he too had been taught an unforgettable lesson.

Keeping pace with emerging market trends is an a fundamental part of staying ahead of competitors and distinguishing yourself among peers. So it is really important to read industry press, attend internal training events and external conferences and pursue relevant professional qualifications. Also identify role models in your company who lead by example and from whom you can truly learn from. Position yourself to work more closely with those individuals and soak up as much of their experience as possible, and consider how you can apply what they do well on your own day to day responsibilities.

Invest time in learning from established experts and resources. This could involve enrolling in specialized courses, attending workshops, and digesting the latest research papers or books related to AI and digitalization. Many professionals and academic institutions share valuable insights through webinars and online courses. Staying abreast of the latest technologies, methodologies, and best practices in digitalization will ensure you can offer up-to-date advice to clients.

Practical application of your knowledge is critical. Work on personal or collaborative projects that challenge you to apply your skills in real-world scenarios. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to identify areas for improvement. Regular practice, coupled with constructive criticism, will refine your skills and increase your confidence in delivering effective solutions to clients.

Practicing and knowing the methods are essential, but it's better to gain experience from others if possible. Ask questions from those who know better and let them guide you. Don't repeat the same mistakes, and take care of your credibility.

The digital landscape is perpetually evolving. Being flexible and adaptable to new trends, technologies, and methodologies is essential. This mindset will enable you to navigate the complexities of digital transformation projects and advise clients on embracing change effectively. Your ability to adjust strategies in response to emerging trends or challenges will be a valuable asset in consulting.

To gain relevant experience and stand out in consulting, consider internships in companies or internal departments of large organizations, participate in academic projects, volunteer with non-profit organizations, obtain relevant certifications, expand your professional network through events and workshops, develop skills through online resources and study published consulting cases. By combining these strategies, you will be prepared to launch a successful career in this field.

Write and teach, for free at first, then for money. The rest is just details. Don't overcomplicate the process. The job of every consultant is simplification.

Consulting is a wide-ranging field. You can "consult" in almost any working environment. It doesn't just help to have a good CV, you also have to be the type to be a consultant. In addition to analytical skills, social skills are also crucial in order to be successful.

I am going to maybe go against the grain her a little. But get experience FIRST, then consider consulting. Don't start consulting when you don't have exert level experience. That is not fair to the company who retained you. Put in your dues as an employee or whatever it takes for you to get the experience first.

Para conseguir oportunidades profesionales que te posicionen en una carrera ascendente en mi opinión es muy importante la formación. Hoy hay mucha escasez de talento y si te formas y lo acreditas oportunidades no te van a faltar. De eso no tengo ninguna duda.