Why is it important?
Commercial and global awareness are key attributes that
employers will look for. As a
professional Quality Assurance Consultant I interviewed said, ‘keeping up to
date with developments’ and having ‘knowledge of development and opportunities’
were the most important skills for her job on a day-to-day basis. In the consulting world Adam (Management
Consultant Analyst) noted the importance of having an understanding of industry
issues and ‘hot topics’ in order to relate to clients. What is more, through global awareness,
including by having worked or lived abroad previously, it can increase your chances
of getting a work location overseas, if this is what you would like.
How to develop it
The Manchester University Careers Blog, however, outlined
that commercial and global awareness is better developed over time and by
different mediums. These include through
LinkedIn, the media – UK and international newspaper broadsheets which cover
news, business and the economy – and networking events such as careers fairs. More specific consulting sources should not
be neglected though, as these will provide the opportunity to develop
commercial awareness. The Management
Consultancies Association is an invaluable source and outlines how the UK
consulting industry began in the 1900s but did not fully take off until the
1950s when demand ‘from clients for highly specialised skills’ increased with the
development of technology and management.
Recruitment websites
More consulting specific information, can be found from
recruitment websites. Mindbench has a
page on ‘industry news’ where articles relating directly to the consulting
sector can be found. Prism is an
executive recruitment company that also has a page on ‘News & Views’ which
hosts a whole mix of articles on different topics that relate to consultancy,
including the biggest CV annoyances for senior executives and opinions during
the ‘Management Consultancies Association Boardroom Breakfast’ on transport and
political party issues.
The Management Consultancy Association is a key body that
potential consultants should be aware of, but so is the Institute of Consulting
– ‘the home of professional consultants and the National Consultants’ Register’. They have a ‘News’ page with one of the main
topics being a project to push forward the ‘Chartered Management Consultant’
award which is scheduled to launch in early 2016 and allows ‘professional
recognition’ and ‘maintenance of high quality standards’ within the profession.
Current big issues
From the two interviews I pursued personally though, the
main current issues for the consulting sector were the ‘digital agenda’ and the
‘cuts in public spending and reductions in grants for business development’. From personal experience, the interviewees
felt the 2008 financial crash affected their business quite noticeably but since
then, it has stimulated businesses to remove costs and increase efficiency,
leading to a demand in their consultancy services. Having an awareness of the global situation is
clearly beneficial in understanding the issues the consulting sector faces.
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