Julie Archer Jul 14, 2025

How to Become a Management Consultant?

A Management Consultant is an expert who provides specialized knowledge and advice to foster organizational growth. They play an important role in resolving challenges and improving overall business performance.

Management Consultants utilize their business acumen to offer guidance across various domains. If you want to pursue this rewarding career, follow these steps to become a Management Consultant!

Build a strong educational foundation
Get hands-on experience in consulting
Develop core consulting skills
Build your professional network
Acquire advanced credentials
Pursue high-paying job roles in consulting
Engage in a continuous learning process

7 Steps to Become a Management Consultant

Let’s dive deep into the 7 steps to start a career as a Management Consultant.

1. Build a Strong Educational Foundation:

The first step towards becoming a Management Consultant is to get a Bachelor’s Degree. Having a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related discipline enables you to take your first step in consultancy. Getting an MBA or Master’s Degree in Management, Analytics, or Finance will enhance your knowledge and eligibility in the field of management.

2. Get hands-on experience in consulting:

Once you complete your formal education, the next step is to get hands-on experience in Consulting. You can get hands-on experience in Consulting through

Internship: Joining as an intern in a consultancy firm will give you practical exposure in consultancy. Remember these points before starting your internship.
- Identify the top firms that offer consultancy services and choose the one that aligns with your career goal.
- Always apply through the right channels, like campus placement cells, referral systems, job portals, etc.

Entry-Level Jobs: You can directly apply for entry-level jobs in consultancy firms to acquire 2-3 years of experience in consulting for an industry-specific role. Note these points before applying for an entry-level position.
- Prepare a strong resume and cover letter highlighting your background.
- Ace the interview process by showcasing your strengths.

Note: If you are looking for a mid-career switch towards consulting, you can start by engaging in consulting-type projects within your current organization.

3. Develop Core Consulting Skills:

To establish your expertise in consulting, you must develop essential consulting skills. The following are the core consulting skills that will enhance your competency.

Analytical skills: You should develop strong analytical skills for predicting trends, quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, and business modeling. Make use of strategic decision-making courses to enhance your analytical skills.
Critical thinking: You should have the critical thinking ability to offer solutions, ideas, and strategies that effectively solve the organization’s problems. Master structured frameworks like SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces, or MECE to strengthen your critical thinking abilities.
Problem-solving skills: As a consultant, you should know how to assess the root cause of the problem and offer suggestions to achieve desired outcomes. You can enrol in Soft Skills Training to sharpen your problem-solving skills.
Change Management: You must have the ability to guide people through the change process. Having change management skills enables you to develop a clear vision to implement changes. By joining Strategic Management Training, you will gain the confidence to implement change in the organization.
Project Management skills: As a consultant, you have to manage multiple projects for clients. Having in-depth knowledge of project management principles ensures the smooth execution of the project. You can join project management courses to strengthen your project management skills.
Leadership skills: Effective management consultants demonstrate strong leadership, enabling them to implement client-beneficial changes and foster trust. You can start by enrolling in the Leadership Course to boost your Leadership qualities.
Communication skills: It is important to have effective communication and active listening skills to connect easily with the clients and understand their requirements. Business Communication Courses will give you a competitive edge in consulting.

4. Build Your Professional Network:

Strategy, organizational structure, management practices, operational efficiency, and technological integration are some of the key areas focused on by management consultants. Follow these tips to build your professional network in management consulting.

Focus on building meaningful relationships with consultants from other firms.
Attend industry conferences, global summits, and symposiums.
Utilize workshops and webinars to expand your professional connections.
Maintain a polished LinkedIn Profile to build your professional network.
Look for mentorship programs in consulting if you are a fresher.

5. Acquire advanced credentials:

To climb the corporate ladder as a consultant, it is essential to pursue advanced credentials. Having the credentials mentioned below will enhance your competency.

PMP Certification: PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification is a globally recognized credential that gives you credibility to lead complex projects. PMP and PgMP Certifications validate your project management skills to become a project consultant.

Do You Want To Become a Project Consultant?

Start With Edoxi’s PMP Course!

Lean Six Sigma: Lean Six Sigma is a quality improvement tool to enhance team performance and business operations. Pareto Charts, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping are some of the popular Six Sigma tools. There are various Lean Six Sigma Certifications that will boost your career prospects.

Power BI: Power BI helps in converting raw data into clear, actionable dashboards and reports. Mastering Power BI offers several strategic, analytical, and operational advantages to management consultants.

6. Pursue high-paying job roles in consulting:

Management Consultants work with diverse clients, encompassing multinational corporations, government bodies, non-profit organizations, and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Having advanced credentials enables you to pursue high-paying job roles in consulting. Getting globally recognized certifications enhances your earning potential and gives you the flexibility to start your career anywhere in the world. Let’s look into the average salary of Management Consultants in some of the top nations.

Country-Wise Average Salary of Management Consultants

The average salary of Management Consultants in the UAE, USA, UK, India, and Qatar is given below.

Country	Average Salary
UAE	AED 19,509 Per Month
USA	$11,503 Per Month
UK	£15,000 Per Month
India	₹72,083 Per Month
Qatar	QAR 21,796 Per Month

7. Engage in a continuous learning process:

To thrive in any profession, it is essential to engage in a continuous learning process. If you are a management consultant, you can master Advanced Excel and Tableau to stay updated with the latest industry-standard tools.

Having the latest knowledge will help you easily build client trust. AI is becoming an integral part of business management worldwide. You can enrol in an AI Course or a Data Analytics course to enhance your technical skillset as a Management Consultant.

Do You Want To Master the Latest AI Tools?

Join Edoxi’s AI Course!

Final Words:

The management consulting industry is on a rapid growth trajectory. The demand for management consultants is increasing each year. According to a statistical report by MMR, the Management Consulting market is expected to reach $457.11 billion by 2032.

Becoming a Management Consultant is a dynamic and rewarding journey. A management consultant combines analytical thinking, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills to tackle complex business problems.

By building a solid educational foundation and continuously honing your expertise, you can excel as a trusted advisor in the ever-evolving business landscape. Take your first step with confidence to become a successful management consultant. Good Luck!

Julie Archer

Chief Consultant Corporate Trainer

Julie Archer is a Corporate Training Professional with more than 15 years of experience in training and development. Hailing from Newcastle, United Kingdom, Ms. Archer established her authority in the field of corporate training and business skills development in the UAE and now with Edoxi Training Institute in Dubai. She has critical exposure in designing and delivering training programs for the top business organisations in Dubai. Her drive to transform employees and contribute to their company is the secret behind her excellence in this profession. To make a positive change in the lives of people is what she finds most fascinating about her job.

She enjoys the challenges that come with building a vibrant and efficient workforce. Her rich knowledge in the domain comes to the rescue when situations prove to be demanding. She commits much of her efforts to transforming education spaces into smart learning environments.