Article

What is consulting?

By Stephanie Lam

Business Analyst | Monitor Deloitte

Consulting is the process of helping clients solve their most pressing business problems or issues. Consultants are enablers. We work across a wide range of roles, industries, and geographies to apply our methods of analyzing information, and to identify a new, positive way forward for our clients. Working at a fast (and sometimes unpredictable) pace, no two days or two journeys of a consultant are the same.

Consulting allows you to flex your skills, all in one day

A consultant’s day is highly variable depending on the project and role. Your day can vary from building slide decks, designing business processes, or presenting status updates to the leadership team. It keeps us on our toes and allows everyone to stretch their skills and become more adaptable.

Consulting allows you to try out new projects, roles and industries

Diverse project work is one of the biggest perks in consulting as you get to try out different roles and industries all the while at the same job. With opportunities that range from working with smaller “mom and pop” shops to working with some of the largest multinational companies in the world, consultants get a crash course in dealing with an array of complex business challenges from the perspective of senior leaders and executives. Some of our clients produce cutting-edge technology products, and more than likely, you’ll get an opportunity to experience the products first hand. For example, imagine being coached on how to take a “drelfie”, your very own selfie taken by a drone! No selfie stick required.

Consulting requires both people and analytical skills

As consultants, Excel and PowerPoint are admittedly our go to tools on a day-to-day basis to help synthesize multifaceted ideas to clients in a digestible, actionable manner. However, you do not have to be an Excel whiz or a PowerPoint master in order to work in consulting. Soft skills are highly important to communicate your ideas and manage client expectations, both of which are equally important when working in consulting.

Consulting is a lifestyle

Consulting also allows you to grow your skills amongst some of the best and brightest professionals, all of which are extremely motivated and happy to help at any time. We travel together, work together on client sites and get to know each person’s quirks and coffee orders. We work hard, but have fun while doing it.

All in all, there is no easy answer to the question of what is consulting, just like there is no easy answer to the problems that we are hired to solve. At Deloitte, you are given the skills, support and guidance in order to craft the career you want and truly define what consulting means to you.

Stephanie graduated from the Ivey Business School with an Honors Business Administration. She is currently a Business Analyst at our Vancouver practice.

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