{"id":8292,"date":"2019-01-28T20:03:06","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T03:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/?p=8292"},"modified":"2019-01-30T15:37:58","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T22:37:58","slug":"top-consulting-skills-needed-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/top-consulting-skills-needed-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Consulting Skills Needed in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our friends at Forbes give insight into the top consulting skills needed in 2019. Check it out!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Full article here<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/dailymuse\/2013\/11\/05\/be-the-best-consultant-ever-6-things-that-will-make-you-great\/#6c98f62995d6<\/a><\/p>\n

You may have noticed that the consulting industry is full\u00a0\"\"<\/a>of high performers from top schools with great grades and interesting work experience. So, what does it take to succeed in such a competitive industry among the best of the best?<\/span><\/p>\n

From my experience, there are a number of qualities that top performers adopt that are much more important than a golden resume. Whether you\u2019ve just started a consulting job or\u00a0are considering it as a career path<\/a>, think about how you can develop the following qualities that will help you go from\u00a0being a good consultant<\/a>\u00a0to a great one.<\/p>\n

1. Being A \u201cSafe Pair Of Hands\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This essentially means that you will do exactly what you said you were going to do, when you said you were going to do it. Sounds simple, but it\u2019s the number one quality needed to build trust and credibility among your team and your clients.<\/p>\n

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For example, in the beginning of your career, your team will lean on you for support in the more rote areas of consulting work, such as\u00a0creating PowerPoint decks<\/a>, taking notes, and organizing projects, and it\u2019s important for you to be able to do these tasks without errors or much oversight from your manager. Make sure you keep your promises, be consistent in your quality, and master the basic skills in Excel and PowerPoint. The more trust you build early on, the more opportunities you will be given in the future.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>5 Unconventional Habits That’ll Make You Successful<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

2. Having Attention To Detail<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is such a crucial skill in consulting because one of the ways we build trust with clients is by producing error-free deliverables, which shows that we\u2019re thorough and our recommendations are solid. Ensuring there are no grammar, spelling, or calculation-related mistakes are in your work is essential and ultimately reflects on your entire team.<\/p>\n

If you have a natural attention to detail, congrats! But if, like me, you are more of a big picture thinker, there are a few tricks I\u2019ve learned to help build this important skill. First,\u00a0when it comes to math<\/a>, show your work. I know this sounds like your high-school teacher talking, but this always helps to ensure you\u2019ve thought of everything and allows you to show your manager the steps you took to get to your answer (and find any errors before it reaches the client).<\/p>\n

The second step\u2014and the one that has turned me slightly OCD\u2014is to create lists of things to double-check before submitting anything. For example, I have a PowerPoint check-off list that includes things like adding page numbers to every slide, recalculating all numbers, and making sure a consistent font is used throughout.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>5 Tools Every Consultant Should Have<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

3. Being The \u201cGo-To\u201d For Something<\/strong><\/h3>\n

During your first few years of consulting, you\u2019ll likely be floating between industries, areas, and clients. Despite your broad experiences, it\u2019s a good idea to start developing a skill that allows you to differentiate yourself from all your rock star peers.<\/p>\n

While being a jack-of-all Microsoft trades (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is definitely needed, the consultants who perform best always have an area that they truly excel in\u2014one that\u2019s in demand and that nobody else seems to have. Whether that\u2019s advanced financial modeling, communications skills, or a particularly deep knowledge in an industry, take the time to find out what you can become the go-to person for.<\/p>\n

4. Knowing How To Think Before You Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As mentioned before, almost all consultants are A-type personalities with enough ambition to last a lifetime. But what really distinguishes a good consultant from a great one is the ability to not only focus on the tasks at hand, but also to think critically about the work.<\/p>\n

For example, your client may be asking you to find cost savings in a supply chain, but first, try to understand why this is critical to the business. Are profits declining? Is the competition lowering product prices, forcing your client to compete? Knowing how to think this way will help you\u00a0develop better insights and solutions for your client<\/a>. Try spending a little extra time thinking through your task before jumping in, interpret the numbers you\u2019re crunching (don\u2019t just be an Excel monkey!), and challenge your manager\u2019s requests (when appropriate, of course).<\/p>\n

5. Having Resourcefulness<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In consulting, you will be asked to solve problems that may be completely new to you\u2014or even completely new to the industry. And when you\u2019re faced with these tough problems or challenging requirements, it\u2019s your resourcefulness that will help you succeed. While this isn\u2019t quite Outward Bound, you should develop the ability to quickly and creatively solve problems.<\/p>\n

As a general rule of thumb, when you need help, you should approach your team and manager first, followed by your peers and internal experts, and then other external resources. There is likely someone who has done what you are trying to do before and can help you find the answer\u2014or at least help you think about new ways to tackle the problem. Be sure to not give up too quickly, be creative in your research efforts, and show your team that you\u2019re willing to do whatever it takes.<\/p>\n

6. Not Being Afraid To Ask (Good) Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Asking questions is at the core of how a consultant works, so much so that there are times when I feel like Sherlock Holmes! Questions help ensure you understand what you are being asked to do and the issues your client is facing, and they can also help you to\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>demonstrate your understanding.\u00a0Never be afraid to ask for clarification<\/a>\u2014it\u2019s better than doing something wrong. Even if you don\u2019t have a question to ask, restating what you\u2019ve been told to clarify your understanding can inspire confidence with your manager or client.<\/p>\n

Of course, be sure to ask questions in a helpful, non-annoying way. If you have multiple, send them in a single, structured request rather than repeatedly approaching your manager or client. Also, take simple questions on items such as acronyms or Excel formulas to your peers or Google<\/p>\n

undefinedRELATED:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Landed A Consulting Gig? 5 Things To Do Next<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It takes a lot to succeed in the consulting world, but focus on these key skills. You\u2019ll have everything you need to shoot above and beyond your peers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our friends at Forbes give insight into the top consulting skills needed in 2019. Check it out! Full article here:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/dailymuse\/2013\/11\/05\/be-the-best-consultant-ever-6-things-that-will-make-you-great\/#6c98f62995d6 You may have noticed that the consulting industry is full\u00a0of high performers from top schools with great grades and interesting work experience. So, what does it take to succeed in such a competitive industry among…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1268,"featured_media":6284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[82,81,61,132,83,3,45,106,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consulting-management-human-resources","category-diversity","category-business","category-graduate-school","category-international-opportunities","category-job-info-advice","category-jobs-and-internships","category-marketing-and-communications","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/files\/2018\/03\/consulting-services.jpg?fit=650%2C387&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p79l8e-29K","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8292"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8338,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8292\/revisions\/8338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/careercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}