For most individuals, joining a consulting firm is a really great way to use their acquired set of specialized skills to work with various companies on their biggest problems. At least, that is what most consulting candidates are told when they are hired by a consulting firm. The reality is that many of these firms partake in very specialized staffing. True consulting with a client requires much more than a specialized skilled staff member doing work on an existing team.
Success in this industry is a combination of a consultant’s specialized technical skills and the ability to continuously learn, empathize, and maintain the grit required to weather the ups and downs of each engagement.
Specialized skills will always get a candidate into the door, as the hiring process tends to be one of lining up a client’s need with the skills of a candidate. Here at Continuus, we see skills such as knowledge of a specific platform (such as Tableau, Alteryx, Power BI, and more) as a requirement for client engagements. While we do need to interview for those specialized skills, it is the soft skills of the individual that makes a successful consultant and long-term employee.
The ideal candidate for any consulting engagement must be open-minded, client-focused, able to admit mistakes, accept ambiguity, and delegate effectively. Time and time again, this unique set of skills has proven to improve a client’s business while setting the stage for continued growth. No matter what stage in their career, anyone considering or sustaining a career in knowledge work like technical consulting can benefit from sharpening and reflecting on the strength of these skills.