What is Global Management Consulting?
International business majors have likely come across the term global management consulting during their classes or job searches. Global management consulting is a profession where business gurus work on a contract basis to help other multinational organizations improve their operations across borders. Global management consulting encompasses several specialties, including human resources, strategic planning, information technology, marketing, and engineering, to develop the best possible organizational structure.
In December 2016, revenue in global management consulting reached an all-time high at $229.9 billion. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that hiring in global management consulting will rise by 14 percent from 2014 to 2024 for 103,400 new jobs. Whether you’re looking to work in Tokyo, Turin, Toronto, or Tenerife, here’s everything you should know about global management consulting.
Job Duties for Global Management Consultants
Global management consultants use their business expertise to advise executives of large public or private sector organizations on methods to resolve operational problems. They’re tasked with doing corporate observations around the world to help global companies find the best strategies to grow profits and productivity, according to Entrepreneur. Global management consultants skip the regular 9-to-5 grind by going mobile and traveling to give clients presentations on their findings. They recommend the right organizational changes after analyzing problems on-site and reviewing financial data like ledgers off-site. Most global management consultants know multiple languages or travel with interpreters to easily confer with foreign managers and monitor the implementation of their suggested changes.
Where to Find Global Management Consulting Jobs
According to the BLS, one-fifth of the 637,690 management consultants based in the United States are self-employed. When global management consultants freelance, they’ll have to write proposals to bid for projects overseas while handling their own taxes. The rest are primarily employed by global management consulting companies that have offices surrounding the planet for diverse clients. For 2018, Vault has ranked McKinsey & Company, Ban & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte Consulting, and Oliver Wyman as the top global management consulting firms. Jobs could also be found with foreign governments, international unions, banks, and private corporations. Global management consulting is typically a more than full-time job faced with tight deadlines.
Qualifications to Work in Global Management Consulting
Getting your feet into global management consulting nearly always requires holding at least a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from an accredited business school. Majors in international business, management, finance, accounting, information systems, and economics would all lend well. Management consultants trying to freelance on the global stage would fare better with an MBA though. Universities like UNC-Chapel Hill, Berkeley, SUNY Buffalo, and Purdue have MBA specializations for management consulting. Getting internship experience and attending international conferences are recommended for résumé boosts. Companies would also be more inclined to consult with those with IMC‘s Certified Management Consultant credential. This process will include passing two 45-minute online exams, a Skype interview, and $350 fee.
Related Resource: How Do You Become an Information Systems Manager?
Overall, global management consulting is an exciting, lucrative occupation where frequent flyers can see the world while making a difference reorganizing corporate structures for the best benefit. Management consultants are rewarded with an average yearly salary of $91,910, or $44.19 per hour, for helping to improve market performance over competitors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you’re a detail-oriented problem-solver with excellent communication skills and a traveler’s heart, global management consulting could be your ideal business specialty for streamlining corporate functions outside the U.S.