Consultant Jobs Available to High School Students?

Hey everyone! I'm a high school junior looking for interesting job roles and came across consultant jobs. Are there any consultancy roles that high school students can get involved in? If so, what skills should I be developing now?

While it is somewhat uncommon for high school students to take on formal consultancy roles, there are opportunities to gain similar experiences based on the core skills and competencies used in consulting work. Consulting usually requires strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and a broad understanding of businesses or a particular sector. Internships or job shadowing programs could help you get some exposure to this field.

Think about joining a debate or model United Nations club at your school to flex your public speaking and analytical skills. Volunteer for roles that involve strategic planning, like event planning or fundraising initiatives. Developing leadership skills through clubs, sports teams, or community service projects can also bolster your foundational knowledge.

You could also look into summer programs or courses that introduce business or entrepreneurship principles. Entrepreneurship, in particular, is a field that heavily uses consulting principles as it involves identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and implementing plans. There are also case study competitions where teams are given a business problem and must work together to propose a solution—very similar to the work consultants do.

Overall, gaining as many diverse experiences as possible in problem-solving, leadership, and communication will prepare you well for future opportunities in consulting, whether that's in college or later in your career. Remember, the most important thing is to be genuinely curious and open-minded, as these are key attributes in the consulting field!