Considering a Career in Consultancy: Is It More Labor-Intensive Than You Expected?

Dear friends,

I am receiving a lot of offers from consultancy and recruitment companies, but I am feeling apprehensive. How is consultancy as a career? Does it involve too much labor work that may not be suitable for individuals who value the importance of intellect over physical labor?

Thank you.

Are you an MBA graduate? If not, then consultancy is the right place to work if you want to pursue a career in HR. If you are an MBA graduate, then consider working in a consultancy for a few months while simultaneously updating your resume on job portals. This is because MBA graduates tend not to stay long in consultancies.

Not exactly manual labor, but there's too much pressure working in consultancies – targets and business development for new clients. This is because most consultancies assess your performance in the first two months before deciding on the exact salary for you.

One thing I'd like to ask is, these days consultancies are growing tremendously, and now we also have international executive search firms making their presence felt in India like Amrop, Stanton Chase, Heidrick and Struggles, etc.

Now these firms also employ postgraduates and since I believe most of the HR work is being outsourced in companies. Earlier, it was just recruitment, but now, it's also training, competency mapping, compensation and benefits, etc. In fact, HR outsourcing is the latest buzzword and soon I guess there may be a single-person corporation for HR in corporates. In fact, search firms like Amrop International are also visiting premier B-schools for placements. So, are these consultancies a good option for MBA grads, I mean, for a long-term perspective.

Because I believe some of these top consultancies offer profiles like Research Associate, etc., where you need not really do business development. Is the compensation offered at these international search firms at par with what is offered at corporates?

Please reply

According to my understanding, management consultancies are a good option to groom your personality and to build and develop a positive personality. One can get associated with such companies for some time, and it will definitely add and create value to the job profile. Such firms are not labor-intensive; rather, they demand knowledge-intensive workers. To get stuck with only one sort of responsibilities will surely not make you an employee who is needed by firms. One should go for multitasking in the field of HR. Payroll management, recruitment outsourcing, training programs, benefits administration, and many other activities are conducted at such firms. It gives a good chance to gain hands-on experience that one may never achieve while working for any one department of a firm.

As far as benefits are concerned, a bonus is offered if let's suppose a potential candidate has been outsourced effectively. But such compensation may vary from company to company. Being a management professional at the early stages of your career will give you a value-added advantage in the long term. Rest you can better decide considering your priorities and expectations out of jobs. All the best

Hello All,

In one word, "YES," consultancies are a good option to start your career, as Samia has very well explained.

You can start your career in consultancy, but if you aspire to grow, try looking beyond that framework.

Hello damudi123.

What kind of job are you seeking? Please explain a bit about your profile. Maybe then I can help you out.

Regards,
Mayank Kukreja

Consulting is a great way to work as it allows you the freedom to develop your focus, choose your direction, and set your pace. However, lots have to be in place before you embark on the journey to work independently.

I'd say that an HR professional should work with corporates and consulting groups for 5-7 years to develop a network and expertise that he or she would deploy later. He or she should be a continual learner -- much learning happens in a structured workplace, but for an independent consultant, that must happen at one's initiative. It's for this updated knowledge of HR technology and processes that he or she would be sought out.

He or she must be able to adapt to periods of low activity and thus little earning as well as active periods of work when only deliverables would matter. He or she must use the commonly used social media channels to stay connected with communities.

Hello all, this is Shimit here. I am doing my MBA in HR, and for the past month, I have been looking for a job in HR. According to my research, if we start with a consultancy, then we will only be called a CONSULTANT, not an HR EXECUTIVE. No corporates will hire you. Let me explain to you all in simple terms: If you start your career by opening a cycle workshop, nobody will bring their car for repairs to you now or in the future.

So, think about it before making a decision. Take care and best of luck.

First of all, see the reputation of the consultancy and their clients. Consultancies are a good place to get trained and understand the recruitment process. If you don't want to stick with a consultancy, you can opt for freelancing in HR. That's the best way.

Hi!

In Today Scenario Consultancy market growing in well organized Format, Like Knowledge based, Research, Service provider, etc. in various segment. In-fact Consultancy work as company's strategic business partner; and getting good respective space in the market, first you need to define your expertise and knowledge base, and your best fitment with the format of particular consultancy or company.

Answers

1. “Consultancy as a career” yes you can have good career in terms of short term to re-acquaint yourself or in long terms you can have same like corporate job profile and function and will get growth in-fact where you can take-up toward entrepreneur path but first you need to check out consultancy back-ground & Key management.

2. Does it involve too much of labor work which is not suited to people who believe in superiority of mind over labor work . . .?

About labor work; it is totally depend upon your knowledge pool and key role function, working with consultancy you will get flexibility within your area and pays good amt and profit share also, I must say working with consultancy provides good opportunities to have multi dimension knowledge exposure and earning with learning.

In General most of fresher graduate, management student prefer consultancy Within Expertise area to brush-up knowledge,to gain some project practice to improvise portfolio for corp. entrance, Defining as a career is good way for independencies but you should go for only organized and well structured consultancy, check out their past market existence, key management.

key skill :Self-confidence, self leadership, goal orientated, thinks out box

Regard's

Umesh jatav

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Seema Singh,

I would like to share something from my mind regarding the shortage of skilled manpower in the market. It would be beneficial for you to consider educational institutes and training institutes, evaluate the output from these institutions, and then establish yourself as a proficient consultant for large organizations that struggle to recruit suitable candidates. The more competent individuals you bring together, the more clients you can attract. The key requirement is to have high-quality individuals in your team.

Always here to address your doubts,

Bhanu Prakash