Industry: Consulting
 As one of the fifth fastest growing industries in the economy, consulting is a profession that serves to impart expert advice to clients in a variety of sectors. Depending on the consultant firms specialty, it can be in management consulting, IT consulting, or strategy consulting, just to name a few. The industry is broad and includes large consulting firms, to smaller establishments, to solo ventures. Most consulting firms or individual consultants provide services that are more knowledge based more so than skill based; in effect they are advising businesses and providing recommendations to improve the organization or assist in overcoming challenging conditions.
Just as consulting firms are diverse in the type of services they provide to companies, so too are the employees that work in them. For instance, some firms may have fresh faced college graduates who work on field research and data analysis to MBA graduates who manage client cases and ensure that the appropriate services are rendered. Increasingly consulting firms have been courting untraditional candidates, such as JDs, MDs, and MDs to assume consulting responsibilities with their firm. Due to their work experience and direct field work, many consulting firms find such profiles desirable and, in some cases, more effective for their clients because of their years of practice in their respective discipline.
Another recent trend for consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group, Inc., and Bain & Company, is to recruit mid-career professionals who have an impressive background in business and have performed exceptionally well in producing results for their previous employers. Those who have led their company in overcoming challenges or developing innovative products or services would be of particular interest to consulting firms as it proves critical thinking and problem solving skills, prerequisites for any consulting position.
As an industry, consulting is anticipated to grow as much as 60 percent through 2014 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure represents a significant increase over the 14 percent growth rate expected for all industries combined. Many observers speculate that consulting, in particular, will grow at such a rapid pace is due to many organizations looking to external sources that can provide guidance and a fresh perspective to problem(s) that have been plaguing their company, often for many years. Of course, many consultants will tell you the most challenging aspect of their job is to encourage the client to implement the recommendations provided and really move forward in the change process. Nevertheless, it is an industry that will undoubtedly witness growth and continue to be significant to the business community as it remains a resource for organizations to turn to.
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