Careers Finding a Job Types of Consulting Jobs, Job Titles, and Descriptions Print Erik Isakson / Getty Images Finding a Job Job Searching Career Advice Skills & Keywords Resumes Salary & Benefits Letters & Emails Job Listings Job Interviews Cover Letters Best Jobs Work-From-Home Jobs Internships Table of Contents Expand Types of Consulting Jobs Consultant Skills Consulting Job Titles Tips for Finding a Consulting Job By Alison Doyle Updated on 03/15/20 There are consulting jobs in almost every industry today. The work can be exciting, high-paying, and offer more flexibility than other jobs. Many offer telecommuting privileges and the opportunity to travel, as well. Why do companies use consultants? A business might bring in a consultant because no employee has the needed skillset, or because the organization needs a fresh, independent perspective to improve efficiency and increase profitability. Consultants can offer advice on business management or marketing, provide training for new technologies, help improve team functioning, or handle difficult tasks such as layoffs. Because consultants can fulfill many different roles in many different industries, compensation can vary a lot, but is often quite good. For example, management analysts made a median annual salary of $83,610 in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Types of Consulting Jobs Generalist consultants have expertise in many fields, and offer their services to companies to help make overall improvements. Specialist consultants have knowledge, and sometimes certifications, for a specific industry, or segment of a company. Some consultants work for a consulting firm, and others work on a freelance basis. Part-time as well as full-time work is available, as well as entry-level through executive positions. It’s also possible to be hired as a contract consultant with a company, and then be offered a permanent position. In consulting firms, titles include the typical upper-management positions, such as chief executive officer and vice president, which most companies have. Below that level, titles might indicate the individual’s particular area of expertise, such as business analyst, marketing consultant, or human relations consultant. Titles for entry-level positions include associate business analyst, consulting executive, or administration executive. Some individuals work as consultants their entire careers, but it is not unusual for professionals to do some consulting between jobs. Consultant Skills To become a successful consultant, you must have a special set of skills. You need good analytical skills to evaluate the issues, and solid problem-solving skills to resolve them efficiently. Effective communication and strong leadership skills are important in order to implement positive changes for your clients. Intellectual curiosity is necessary to gain and build upon the general and specific knowledge you need to be effective. You need excellent presentation skills to lay out comprehensive plans to your clients. You should also have strong writing, organizational, and computer skills. Consulting Job Titles Whatever your expertise, you can find a way to earn a salary as a consultant. Here we have listed titles by general category. Environmental Many businesses are concerned with their environmental footprint, because of state and federal regulations, or just because green practices are the right thing to do for the Earth. A lot of companies will hire consultants in this field to help them implement cleaner working environments. Environmental ConsultantEnvironmental Field ConsultantEnvironmental Project ManagerEnvironmental Air Quality ConsultantEnvironmental Audit Consultant Financial Companies are always interested in their fiscal health, and often will seek financial consultants to help protect, restructure or maximize their bottom line. Economic ConsultantFinancial ConsultantForeclosure ConsultantFundraising Consultant Human Resources Expertise in human resources can qualify you for a variety of lucrative consultant positions. With staffing and hiring becoming ever more global, HR experts are often needed as a company moves to the next phase of development. Compensation ConsultantCompensation Survey AnalystConsultant, Federal HealthConsultant - Human ServicesConsultant Employment SpecialistHealthcare Change Capture Senior Staff ConsultantHealthcare ConsultantHealthcare Management ConsultantHealthcare Market Research ConsultantHuman Capital ConsultantHuman Resources ConsultantRecruitment ConsultantSenior Benefits ConsultantStaffing and Employee Relations Consultant Information Technology All kinds of technology consultants are in high demand, and are often generously compensated, especially when they are willing to travel. Cyber Security Strategy ConsultantDynamics AX - Functional ConsultantField Technical ConsultantSap Security ConsultantSoftware Implementation ConsultantSenior Lync ConsultantTechnology ConsultantTelecom AnalystWebsphere Consultant Management Companies will often hire management consultants with specialized expertise to assist during a transition or expansion. People with management training and experience can find positions that are recurring, short-term or long-term/permanent. Business ConsultantChange Management ConsultantPrincipal Consultant - InfrastructurePolitical Campaign ConsultantPolitical ConsultantProject ManagerSenior Risk Control Consultant Operations Businesses will hire many types of consultants to assist in their operations, from marketing to sales. These positions can be short- or long-term and may come with travel opportunities as well. Advertising ConsultantActivation ConsultantAssociateBrand Management ConsultantCommercial Print Management ConsultantCustomer Service Improvement ConsultantLawyerLegal ConsultantLegal Nurse ConsultantMarketing ConsultantMarketing Data ConsultantRetail Sales ConsultantSafety ConsultantSales ConsultantSolutions Consultant - Electrical EngineeringTax AdvisorPersonal Personal consultants can be hired by individuals or companies for a variety of specialized purposes. This can be a great way to start a business or join with other people who share your passion. Lactation ConsultantLife CoachWedding ConsultantWeight Loss ConsultantResearch Assistant Strategy Strategic consultants go into a company at a high level to maximize the functionality of the business plan. Their expertise tends to focus on quantitative analysis rather than implementation. Business AnalystConsulting AdvisorCreative ConsultantEducational ConsultantGovernment Contract ConsultantImplementation ConsultantInternational ConsultantLead Consulting EngineerManagement ConsultantOrganizational Development ConsultantPolitical StrategistStrategy Consultant Tips for Finding a Consulting Job You can find consulting jobs in a variety of ways. Major consulting firms recruit on college campuses for junior-level analyst and consultant positions. Consulting firms and companies seeking freelance consultants advertise open positions on job boards. You can check the websites of consulting firms, who often list job opportunities, and apply online directly to the company. Freelance consultants can find jobs through the recommendations of firms that have used their services. Using LinkedIn and your personal business and social network is also effective in finding consulting work.