Management consultant : Training

Consultancy firms place a strong emphasis on training and professional development.

New entrants will go through an extensive induction and training process. This involves an overview of the organisation, structure and specific roles. Throughout the induction, new entrants will develop their consultancy skills and be under the guidance of an experienced consultant.

Many firms offer other development opportunities such as mentoring programmes, skills courses, lectures and presentations given by experts, knowledge databases and resource libraries, group training and networking opportunities.

Postgraduate qualifications can be the key to career progression in management consultancy. The Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is the most common qualification for promotion to senior positions. Other Masters programmes in a relevant business subject can also be undertaken. A number of institutions offer Masters degrees that have a consultancy module or component. Some consultants opt to do a PhD giving them the chance to specialise in a particular field.

Professional consultancy qualifications are also available. The Institute of Consulting (IC) , formerly the Institute of Management Consultancy, offers a number of professional qualifications for aspiring and developing management consultants. They also offer the Certified Management Consultant Award (CMC) - an internationally recognised award for members of the IBC that recognises a consultant's competence, skills and experience.

Continuing professional development is vital, but it is up to you to make the most of the training opportunities on offer.