管理顧問必讀（PDF）.docx

OCCUPATIONALPROFILEManagement consultantJ9Job DescriptionThe Institute of Management Consultancy (IMC) defines management as the art of getting results through other people.A consultant is defined as a person qualified to give professional advice or service. A management consultant is anindependent and qualified person with experience in management and the ability to provide a wider expertise than isavailable within a single organisation. They are primarily concerned with initiating and implementing technological,organisational and behavioural changes. Their work involves providing objective appraisals where it is often easier for anexpert outsider to see the broader picture and reorganise the long-term requirements of an organisation.Typical Work ActivitiesA consultant often works with senior management as well as with employees at all levels. A newly-hired graduate willstart in a supporting role in team projects and will be involved in such activities as;taking responsibility for gathering and collating data;processing figures to be presented by senior colleagues to the clients senior management;interviewing clients and other individuals;researching external sources such as the Internet or other relevant databases.The consultant must assemble and analyse all of the available data, ensuring that he or she understands the nature ofthe problem, and then consider the range of possible options. A number of specific recommendations will then bedeveloped, each one quantified and properly thought through before being submitted to the client. The professionalconsultant makes a clear distinction between conclusions and recommendations. Conclusions should be objective,logical and based on facts that have been carefully collated and verified. Recommendations, however, are subjective andbased on the consultants background and experience. An important part of a consultants work is to extract informationby asking relevant questions to ensure that important facts are not overlooked. Issues can then be clarified and prioritiesestablished, which can then be reviewed as the assignment progresses.New graduates are commonly required to work closely with, and present to, managers within the organisation. Thedegree of team versus individual work will depend on each practices style of operating and on the type of consulting.The work may be product-orientated, requiring technical expertise or specialist knowledge to advise on and/or implementa system, or process-orientated coaching on organisational management. Consulting is essentially entrepreneurial innature and project-based.Work ConditionsTypically, a new graduate would receive a base salary of 19,000 - 28,000, depending on the type of consulting(salary data collected Sep 02).Salaries at age 40 for those who have progressed to senior positions span 45,000 - 100,000 and can be more inthe big strategy houses. On progression to a more senior level, the pay rise percentages become considerablyhigher (salary data collected Sep 02).Bonuses are awarded for personal contribution and practice performance. In addition, consultancy practices offer arange of benefits, including car allowance, private health insurance, pension scheme, life insurance, on-site gymsand, in occasional cases, share ownership.There is not really a typical day or week in management consultancy. The work often requires extra hours. It canbe office, home or client based and clients locations can be UK or worldwide, therefore living out of a suitcase andbeing away from friends and family can be a regular part of the job. Consultants work with senior management andall levels of employees depending on the assignment. Recruitment of first-time graduates is high and increasingly,PhD graduates with little or no work experience are securing places. There are opportunities for self-employmentfor experienced consultants who have established an expertise over a period of years. Key recruiters are based inLondon and the South East, but often have offices worldwide.The work often has a high pressure atmosphere, being intellectually taxing with a high level of professionalresponsibility. The mental and physical demands, frequent travel, tight deadlines and long hours, which canimpinge on homelife, make this a stressful job. Studying for professional qualifications whilst working adds to thepressure. Smart professional dress is the norm. The fast-moving pace of the business environment (especially ine-business) makes career breaks difficult, although part-time work may be available to those with particularexpertise. Overseas assignments may last for weeks/months or longer, giving consultants the opportunity to gainvaluable experience of international business, and for some, the opportunity to take their families abroad withthem.Consultants must be prepared for a considerable amount of travel and time spent away from home.This Occupational Profile forms part of Prospects Pspects.ac.uk/links/occupations Page 1 of 4Management consultantEntry RequirementsAlthough this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects may increase your chances:business/management;economics;mathematics;psychology;information technology.For strategy and marketing consulting, graduates of any background are considered with business-related and numeratedegrees being useful. For entry into specialist consulting functions, relevant skills or aptitude will be required - eg for IT,graduates will need an IT-related, mathematical, technical or science-based degree. For other technology-basedconsulting, electronic engineering, mechanical enginneering, computing or physics may be required. For finance-basedconsulting, a numerate degree is useful.Entry is not possible with an HND only. A strong academic background, to degree level or equivalent, is a pre-requisite.While a postgraduate qualification is not necessary, it may substantially improve your chances if it is in a related area.The MBA is recognised as a useful springboard into consultancy.An alternative route of early entry is via an ACA (chartered accountancy) traineeship with one of the Big 5 firms ofaccountants.An excellent academic record (usually a 2:1 degree minimum) with a high level of numeracy, analytical, communicationand interpersonal skills is essential. Physical and mental stamina is an asset. Applicants must have self-confidence andbe capable of inspiring clients trust. IT skills are essential and languages useful. A driving licence is important.Competition is extremely intense for relatively few vacancies with high entry standards.For the majority of consultants entry into the profession is made later, typically between the ages of 28 and 35 and afterhaving armed themselves with a broad-based background of commercial experience. This is often achieved as a resultof completing a graduate training programme with a blue-chip employer.For entry into management consultancy at the most senior levels, candidates will have a background that showssignificant commercial achievement and may be a well known name in his or her particular field, business or technicalspecialism.TrainingThe large consultancy firms offer new recruits a range of training courses on company culture, consulting skills and thespecific area in which they are employed. After a period of about two years, a graduate is likely to have to complete anMBA, sponsored by their employer - in preparation for promotion to their first front-line consultancy role.Sector-specific firms tend to sponsor graduates through appropriate professional qualifications, such as the CharteredInstitute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), for Human Resource Consultants and CMC - The Certified ManagementConsultant qualification. The CMC is a competency-based qualification promoted by the Institute of ManagementConsultancy (IMC) and offers the individual consultant the following;adds value to their training and development;it is a portable and internationally recognised qualification;affords lasting recognition of the consultants training, development and experience;establishes a discipline of continued professional development;opens a route for engagement with the profession outside the consultants own practice;contributes to the attraction of being employed as a professional within the practice.To be an excellent consultant, it is vital to keep up to date with developments in consulting and management, so expectto undertake continuous training and development. There is a variety of training available, ranging from short courses onaspects of the consulting process, to qualifications for practising consultants and specialised postgraduate degrees. Fora list of recognised courses and training providers, contact the IMC.Page 2 of 4Visit spects.ac.uk/links/occupations - also includes case studiesManagement consultantCareer DevelopmentMany big consultancies have traditionally had a policy of up or out, whereby new recruits are expected to progressrapidly up to consultant and senior consultant positions and contribute to the development of the business. Typically, anearly career can progress from researching and writing reports, to implementing changes, to managing small projectsand teams, to presenting proposals to clients. In the case of IT consultants, graduates would then progress to processanalyst and then to team leader, managing an implementation programme.Career progression is down to the individual - consultancies are meritocracies, rewarding those who show initiative,identifying and developing both the business and themselves, and expecting them to express an interest in areas orprojects they would like to get involved in and skills they would like to learn. New consultants who stay within the firmthey first join can progress to project management roles, perhaps specialising in an area of industry of interest to them,then to more senior roles, including client relationship management or business management within the firm. Those withambition may become a partner - the fastest graduates joining straight from university achieving this by their mid-thirties.Those who choose to move on may move into a role with another practice as an industry specialist, start up their ownconsultancy, or take up a senior position in industry.Typical EmployersManagement consultancy firms are diverse and offer a wide range of services focusing on any of the followingspecialisms:strategy, development & change;human resources;financial management services;IT consultancy, e-business & e-commerce;manufacturing & business;marketing;environmental management;quality management.There are five types of consultancy firm: Large, highly reputed multinational firms, often originating in the US, which offera full range of consultancy services across all sectors. Big accountancy firms, which separate their consultancy functions,sometimes selling this arm of the business to a non-accounting practice. Key practices, also well-known names, withbranches in various countries known as strategy houses. Smaller practices with up to 100 consultants, specialising incertain industry or business sectors. Independent consultants who are typically individuals who set up on their own aftera number of years working in a particular field and who have a recognised expertise in that area.There are a variety of consultancy arms, some of which graduates seeking their first job may be accepted for, some ofwhich are more appropriate for experienced postgraduates. Each practice has its own way of categorising the roles of itsconsultants and varying degrees of crossover between the different disciplines. A large global firm might offer a broaderrange of opportunities, however, for the new recruit these might be constrained in one opportunity for some time. Asmaller firm might perhaps have more localised opportunities, but an individual would possibly sample a wider variety ofassignments. Even smaller practices might offer the same experiences as a larger firm, but held within its own specialistarea of business. For the independent consultant, opportunities are determined by their own experience and specialism.Sources of VacanciesProspects Today;Prospects Finalist;Prospects Directory;Personnel Today;People Management;Institute of Management Consultancy (IMC);Top Consultant () ;Wet Feet Press () ;The Economist;The Daily Telegraph;The Guardian;Careers service vacancy listings.Related OccupationsInformation technology consultantChartered accountantSystems analystFind comprehensive careers information on spects.ac.uk and in your HE careers servicePage 3 of 4Management consultantInformation SourcesBibliographyAGCAS and Graduate Prospects products are available from higher education careers services.Graduate Prospects PublicationsProspects DirectoryProspects FinalistProspects TodayOther PublicationsA Career in Managem