What's it like to work as a consultant?

I'm interested in maybe becoming a consultant after college, but I'm not really sure what they do. What kind of tasks are consultants involved in, and what industries do they work in?

Consultants work in a wide variety of industries, so the tasks and roles can be quite diverse. However, at the core, consultants solve problems. They work with businesses or individuals to identify challenges and opportunities, develop strategies to address these, and then help to implement the proposed changes.

In practice, this might involve analyzing relevant data about a company's performance, conducting interviews with the client's employees to understand their workflow, developing and presenting reports with findings and recommendations, and working beside the client to implement the strategies proposed. In essence, consultants provide expert advice and guidance and serve as catalysts for change in a variety of areas.

Consulting is not limited to one or a few industries. Key areas include management consulting, IT consulting, financial consulting, health consulting, human resources consulting, environmental consulting, education consulting, and many more.

For instance, in management consulting, a consultant may provide advice on corporate strategy, operations, human resources, and financials among others. In healthcare consulting, on the other hand, a consultant may help healthcare organizations improve patient outcomes, optimize operations, or comply with regulatory changes.

A career in consulting often entails extensive travel, long work hours, and high levels of stress due to tight project timelines and high client expectations. However, it can be an exciting field for those who enjoy problem-solving, strategic thinking, and working in diverse teams and industries. Plus, it offers broad exposure to different business problems and industries, which can be excellent for professional development.