How to Do Business Consulting
- Step-by-step overview of how to carry out a business consulting project (also known as an engagement), including:
- Conducting a needs analysis (includes a list of sample questions to ask clients)
- Determining project specifics including the scope of services to be provided, timeline, team, and budget
- Conducting a gap analysis (to identify the gap between "where we are" and "where we want to be")
- Identifying possible solutions
- How to present your recommendations to the client (includes a sample presentation outline)
- Implementation of your recommendations
- Post-project review (includes a sample client feedback questionnaire)
- How to use both quantitive and qualitative research and information-gathering techniques in your consulting projects, including:
- Observation
- Case studies
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Surveys (includes a sample survey)
- How to conduct a SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of a business situation
- Samples of consulting assignments
- How to develop the skills employers and clients are looking for in business consultants, including:
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- Project management
- Leadership
- Additional skills that can give you a competitive edge in getting hired
- Traditional educational programs including the top MBA programs (plus tips and resources to help you apply and get accepted)
- How to get educational credentials more quickly or conveniently through:
- accelerated, executive, part-time, or mini MBAs
- distance learning
- business seminars
- The best resources (books, periodicals, websites, etc.) to teach yourself business consulting
- How to quickly get practical experience to build up your credentials and help you get hired as a consultant, including:
- Internships (plus how to get an internship if you are not a student)
- Volunteer opportunities
- Consulting for your current employer
- Other opportunities for hands-on experience
- Links to many valuable resources you can use in business consulting including project management software
- Information and resources on business ethics
- How to identify emerging business trends that may affect your clients
- Job titles and entry-level positions in consulting
- Types of employers and how to find them:
- Large firms (includes links to more than 30 top consulting firms)
- Small firms or boutique firms
- Internal consulting for corporations
- Other types of organizations that hire management consultants
- A type of employer that business consultants should beware of
- How to find job openings
- Where consulting jobs are advertised
- On-campus recruitment
- Finding job openings through referrals
- How to create a consulting job with your current employer or a new employer
- What you need to know about recruiters or employment agencies
- How to write a winning resume including sample resumes for:
- An experienced consultant
- A career changer (this sample shows how to create an impressive resume without a business degree or previous paid consulting experience)
- An internal consultant
- How to prepare a cover letter including sample letters for applying to a consulting firm and a corporation
- Advice to help you ace the interview
- How to prepare for an interview (what to bring, what to wear, and more)
- Samples of questions to expect
- Advice and resources for succeeding in a case interview
- Following up after a consulting job interview (includes a sample thank you letter)
- Considering a job offer (includes resources with salary information to help in salary negotiations)
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