PrepareConsult

One aspect of consulting that many early career professionals find very attractive is the relatively linear career progression. Consulting firms use a hierarchical career ladder with clear guidelines on how to progress up. This is unlike many other industries where there isn’t always a straightforward path to move up the ranks.

Consulting firm positions

While consulting firms use a wide range of titles to describe positions, there are generally four broad categories in the career trajectory of a consultant:

• Trainee/Analyst – Usually starting out as a trainee or intern, one will fulfill the role as a analyst. Analysts are responsible for gathering facts and data from the client and providing insights. This role is the most hands on, focusing on the project deliverables and satisfying the needs of the client.

• Associate/Senior Associate Consultant – Consultants lead groups of analysts in stakeholder discussions. They are the first in line to handle entire workstreams on a project and are responsible for ensuring deliverables are accepted by the client.

• Manager/Senior Manager – Managers steer the direction of project management and are responsible for key stakeholder communications. They often are responsible for the execution of the entire project and further obtaining new projects at the same client.

• Director/Principal/Partner – This role has a different name based on the consulting firm type (Partnership, Corporation, etc). However in general, directors perform the primary function of maintaining client relationships across multiple clients. They often oversee multiple projects at many clients, frequently communicating with C-Suite executives.

Ultimately, consulting as an industry offers a straightforward career path for those that are looking to establish themselves. Bear in mind however, that the road to the role of a director or partner is a very long one, often taking 10+ years to achieve. For those willing to stick it out in the long run, it can be a very rewarding experience.

About PrepareConsult:

PrepareConsult is a platform to practice the consulting case interview with AI and peers. PrepareConsult is founded by Milad Mohammadi and Sahhas Nathella.

Milad Mohammadi – 7+ years of experience in consulting and professional services with experience across North America and Europe.

Sahhas Nathella – 5+ years of experience in consulting and professional services with strong experience in complex digital transformations.