I want to work in Management and Consultancy

So you want to work in Management and Consultancy? Here we list the job roles available and signpost you to some great information to find out more.

Job Roles

What is management and consultancy? 

Business, Management and Consulting overview on Prospects. Management has been defined as “the process of planning, organising, co-ordinating and controlling resources”. This process is engaged in by most professionals in a diverse range of areas: just about any kind of organisation needs managers, from supermarkets to universities and from airlines to theatres.

What do managers do?

Managers have responsibility for, and control of, an organisation or (more often) an aspect of that organisation's work. Aspects of management include finance, sales, marketing, human resources, purchasing, logistics, strategic planning. All involve planning, directing, making decisions, problem-solving and taking responsibility.

What skills do managers need?

Managers need not only good organising and leadership skills but also the ability to work with other people: to communicate, persuade, influence and negotiate.

Do I need a business degree?

Not usually - many organisations will recruit graduates of any subject into trainee management posts, although some organisations may prefer a business-related degree.

If you are studying another subject, you may choose to take a postgraduate course that will give you a general introduction into management. There are also more specialised postgraduate management courses, such as Human Resources and Marketing. An MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree is often useful for a manager's career development, but is not an appropriate course for new graduates, as a few years work experience is normally required.

How do I get into management?

Many students think that a “graduate training scheme” in a major blue-chip company is the only way into management – but this is only one of the possible routes with around 20,000 graduates joining schemes with The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers each year.

Other routes might be through:

  • a professional qualification and/or experience
  • starting in a more junior role and working your way up
  • starting your own business

A few employers run general training schemes, where graduates are rotated between different management functions, but more often you will need to decide which area of management interests you before applying.

Project management

Project management is the application of processes, methods, knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the project objectives and is a rapidly growing profession. According to the Association for Project Management, Project Managers are in increasing demand, and in general, project management skills are considered highly valuable by businesses. Numerous surveys have predicted the demand to grow for many years to come.  

The core components of project management include putting together business cases, leading the project delivery team, risk and budget management.  For a more detailed list of duties, take a look at the Association for Project Management’s website.

Consultancy

Management consultancy is the service provided to business, public and other undertakings by an independent person in identifying and investigating problems concerned with policy, organisation, procedures and methods, recommending appropriate action and helping to implement those recommendations.

Management consultants provide objective advice and expertise that will identify options for the organisation, and suggest recommendations for change. They may advise on: organisational structure and development; production management; marketing, sales and distribution; personnel management and selection; systems analysis and design, and economic and environmental studies.

This is a very popular career choice for students, but is not easy to get into as a new graduate. You will need a strong academic background; good numeracy, analytical and communication skills, confidence, determination and a strong interest in business. It is also common to move into consultancy after building up expertise in areas such as HR, finance, systems, production, marketing or operational research.

Background to working in Management Consultancy

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