If you’re considering consulting, make sure you understand the benefits of your firm, and how to get them. Consulting firms offer a range of benefits that vary depending on the company, but they all typically include health insurance and paid time off. They also reward professional development and other forms of learning throughout your career like certifications or continuing education courses. The following are some of the benefits that top business consulting firms promise:
- Client Relationships
In the key to a successful business, the people you give your time to. A typical consultant will interact with clients often through email, conference calls, and video conferencing. However, most companies offer policies to hire consultants full time, and provide office space for them. This allows alternative hours at home for you and your family while maintaining a presence in your field.
- Professional Growth
The consulting firms you work for provide training and certifications in your field and will always be looking to grow your abilities and skills. The firm’s clients are typically growing businesses that offer a lot of opportunities for professional growth. Some of the certifications offered can be found here. For instance, business consultant, management consulting, executive consulting or operations consulting.
- Flexibility in Scheduling
The flexibility of scheduling is one of the largest advantages to becoming a business consultant. Some businesses have set hours, like 9-5 Monday through Friday but some are more flexible with time off for vacation or family time. The field also offers great flexibility when it comes to where you may work on projects. Most consultants will travel to client locations and even go abroad for their employer on occasion.
- Potential for Full-time Position
If you are looking for a long term career, being a consultant can be extremely rewarding. Many firms will have full-time positions available within a couple of years and some firms are constantly hiring or have retained consultants from the past. If you have the skills and the dedication to your firm, productivity will increase along with your pay check.
- Variety in Projects
Consulting firms typically specialize in one type of client or industry so you may find yourself working on projects that you enjoy most. However, some companies offer a variety of projects in different segments, so you can choose the work that you like most. The benefits that each company offers will depend on the type of work they provide, but a good consultant will always be able to find something that they are interested in.
- Stretch in Career
The vast majority of consultants stay with their company for their entire career with most companies and are usually able to move up through their ranks. A few companies offer a “consulting pipeline” which is an internal track designed to give consultants the chance to move up through the ranks.
- Health Insurance
As stated before, consultants will typically have health insurance benefits as part of their contract and/or through the company they work for as employees. Many firms will also give their consultants the opportunity to purchase health insurance on the individual level. This can be very beneficial for some people as the premiums are usually less costly than those of a standard employer.
- Paid Time Off
Consulting firms typically offer some form of PTO and many will pay for vacation time as well. This is especially more common at larger firms but most companies will pay for some form of vacation time and even have policies to manage employee’s schedules to fit in with clients’ needs.
- Stable Economies
While some companies may experience financial troubles or layoffs, consulting firms tend to stay stable and will continue to work with the same clients for years. This gives consultants a stable income and the opportunity to build long-term relationships with their clients. The industries in which most firms are focused on is also one of the most stable in the economy.
- Professional Recognition
Consulting firms have many benefits over many other industries and because of this, they can offer a professional level environment with recognition that much higher than an average career. Many consultants are actively sought after by employers both nationally and internationally which adds to the value of their services.
Conclusion
The benefits offered by consulting firms are varied and depend on the company. However, most will offer health insurance, paid time off, and more to attract potential consultants. Don’t be fooled by the short-term rewards of many other industries if you are looking for a stable career with benefits that can last a lifetime.