•Types of Consulting Jobs, Job Titles, and Descriptions

•Types of Consulting Jobs, Job Titles, and Descriptions
Consultants working
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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.1

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.2

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 Consultant
Environmental Field Consultant
Environmental Project Manager
Environmental Air Quality Consultant
Environmental 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 Consultant
Financial Consultant
Foreclosure Consultant
Fundraising 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 Consultant
Compensation Survey Analyst
Consultant, Federal Health
Consultant – Human Services
Consultant Employment Specialist
Healthcare Change Capture Senior Staff Consultant
Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare Management Consultant
Healthcare Market Research Consultant
Human Capital Consultant
Human Resources Consultant
Recruitment Consultant
Senior Benefits Consultant
Staffing 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 Consultant
Dynamics AX – Functional Consultant
Field Technical Consultant
Sap Security Consultant
Software Implementation Consultant
Senior Lync Consultant
Technology Consultant
Telecom Analyst
Websphere 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 Consultant
Change Management Consultant
Principal Consultant – Infrastructure
Political Campaign Consultant
Political Consultant
Project Manager
Senior 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 Consultant
Activation Consultant
Associate
Brand Management Consultant
Commercial Print Management Consultant
Customer Service Improvement Consultant
Lawyer
Legal Consultant
Legal Nurse Consultant
Marketing Consultant
Marketing Data Consultant
Retail Sales Consultant
Safety Consultant
Sales Consultant
Solutions Consultant – Electrical Engineering
Tax Advisor
Personal
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 Consultant
Life Coach
Wedding Consultant
Weight Loss Consultant
Research 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 Analyst
Consulting Advisor
Creative Consultant
Educational Consultant
Government Contract Consultant
Implementation Consultant
International Consultant
Lead Consulting Engineer
Management Consultant
Organizational Development Consultant
Political Strategist
Strategy 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.