A consultant, as defined in the dictionary, is “an expert in a particular field who works as an advisor either to a company or to another individual.” Anna Flowers, spokesperson for the Association of Professional Consultants in Irvine, California, recently stated that the association has noticed an increase in calls for information from people who want to get into the talent management consulting business. With such a rapidly growing interest in consulting, it is important to be ahead of the competition.
The team at entrepreneur.com stated it well, “what separates a good consultant from a bad consultant is a passion and drive for excellence.” If you plan on becoming a good consultant, you must be sure you are prepared for consulting; the first of many steps to achieving excellence in your career. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before becoming a consultant:
- Am I qualified to be a talent management consultant? – Stay up to date on the information related to your industry
- Am I organized enough to become a consultant? – There may be an abundance of dates and names to keep in order; organization is key.
- What certifications and special licensing will I need? – Certain industries may require special licensing; be aware of these requirements and be prepared to fulfill them.
- Do I like to network? – Networking is crucial for the modern consultant.
- Have I set long- and short-term goals? – Your goals should be synonymous with a career in the consulting business.
