How to Become a Business Consultant?
Are you thinking of becoming a Business Consultant or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Business Consultant, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Business Consultant job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Business Consultant
If you're considering starting your Business Consultant career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Business Consultant and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Business Consultant career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Business Consultant career path, a Bachelor's Degree in information systems or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Business Consultant internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Business Consultant?
69% of people working as a Business Consultant earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Business Consultant?
- Consulting Experience
- Influencing
- Leadership
- Solution Selling
- Analytical Thinking
- Oracle Essbase
- Cognos TM1
- Effective Communication
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Business Consultant, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Business Consultant field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Business Consultant specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Business Consultant
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in information systems or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Business Consultant. In general, you can become a Business Consultant after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Business Consultant role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in cissp certified information systems security professional.4
Advance in Your Business Consultant Career
Following entry-level, there are several Business Consultant career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Business Consultant to progress to the senior business consultant position. Each advanced Business Consultant position requires approximately 8 years of experience at each level to advance in your Business Consultant career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Business Consultant career path.5
Continued Education for Your Business Consultant Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Business Consultant career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in information systems can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $133,539 compared to $47,755 for those without that type of degree.Business Consultant Career Path
Business Consultant
8+Years of Experience
$79K - $140K /yrMost Likely Range
27% advanced to
Senior Business Consultant
2 - 4Years of Experience
$130K - $223K /yrMost Likely Range
Business Consultant IV
5 - 7Years of Experience
$91K - $151K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Business Consultant Career Path
Business Consultant I
Business Consultant
Senior Business Consultant
Business Consultant Manager
Business Consultant IV
Principal Business Consultant
Director of Business
$70K
$124K
$178K
$232K
$340K
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Related Careers in the Consulting Industry
Interested in other Consulting careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Business Consultant skills. Discover some of the most common Business Consultant career transitions, along with skills overlap.