How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Updated March 14, 2024

3 min read

How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (1)

A strategy consultant is an individual who advises businesses on how to improve performance and achieve goals. They analyze a company's strengths and weaknesses, market trends, and competition to develop strategies that help the business grow. They also provide guidance on organizational structure, management practices, and technology adoption. A strategy consultant must possess excellent analytical and communication skills. They often work in consulting firms but may work independently as freelancers or consultants for large corporations.

How long does it takes to become a strategy consultant?

It takes about 6 to 8 years to become a strategy consultant.

Year 1-4: Bachelor's DegreeMost strategy consultants start with a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years to complete.

Year 5-6: Work ExperienceAfter graduation, gaining 2 to 4 years of work experience is common before becoming a strategy consultant.

Year 7: On-the-Job TrainingDuring the first year on the job, strategy consultants often receive 6 to 12 months of training.

Year 8: Additional On-Site TrainingSome may also undergo an additional 3 to 6 months of on-site training.

  • Salary$115,244
  • Growth Rate11%
  • Jobs Number70,241
  • Most Common SkillHealthcare
  • Most Common DegreeBachelor's degree
  • Best StateMassachusetts

Strategy Consultant pros and cons

Pros

  • Exposure to a variety of industries and business problems

  • Opportunities for rapid career advancement

  • High earning potential and competitive compensation packages

  • Developing valuable analytical and problem-solving skills

  • Constant learning and development through on-the-job training and mentorship programs

Cons

  • Long hours, often with tight deadlines and high pressure to perform

  • Steep learning curve with a steep initial ramp-up period

  • Heavy reliance on client relationships, which can be unpredictable and difficult to manage

  • High expectations for performance and deliverables, with little room for error

  • Constant need to stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies

Strategy Consultant career paths

A strategy consultant can follow various career paths. They can move into project management or marketing management roles, overseeing projects and campaigns. They can also transition into product management, where they focus on delivering products that meet customer needs. A strategy consultant's skills can also be applied to business development, implementing strategies to expand a company's customer base. Some may even become finance managers, leveraging their analytical skills to manage budgets and financial projects.

Key steps to become a strategy consultant

  1. Explore strategy consultant education requirements

    If you're interested in becoming a strategy consultant, you must consider how much education you need. Based on real strategy consultant resumes, 66.4% of strategy consultants have a bachelor's degree. Regarding higher education levels, 28.8% of strategy consultants have master's degrees. Even though most strategy consultants have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

  2. Start to develop specific strategy consultant skills

    A strategy consultant requires a wide range of skills, including data mining and visualization, stakeholder engagement, business process improvement, and market analysis. They must be able to identify problem areas and recommend improvements, as well as develop and implement effective strategies for businesses. Strong communication and collaboration skills are also essential, as they often work with clients across various levels of an organization. They must also be familiar with technology, including social media, SEO, and CRM strategies. In addition, they need to be able to analyze data and develop effective business financial models. As one expert put it, "Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, combined with good business acumen and a deep understanding of market dynamics, are essential."

    SkillsPercentages
    Healthcare6.66%
    Project Management5.92%
    Develop Recommendations5.72%
    Client Facing5.15%
    Market Research4.78%

    Show more

  3. Complete relevant strategy consultant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New strategy consultants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a strategy consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real strategy consultant resumes.

  4. Research strategy consultant duties and responsibilities

    Strategy consultants perform a variety of responsibilities to help businesses improve their operations and achieve their goals. They may analyze data and visualize it to identify problem areas, collaborate with stakeholders to validate analysis and develop recommendations, or facilitate talent review meetings to identify and develop high-potential succession candidates. They may also coordinate due diligence processes, manage and facilitate business decisions and discussions, and provide management consulting to assess and recommend improvements to business processes, stakeholder engagement, and technology management. Additionally, strategy consultants may develop content for executive-level presentations, create effective business financial models, and design and configure supply chain management consulting offerings. They may also conduct market analysis, competitive market and location analysis, and create integrated social media, SEO, email, event, and CRM strategies for businesses.

    • Lead project to ensure integration of CMS and other regulations (HIPAA etc . )
    • Achieve SOX compliance requirements across organization.
    • Manage the remediation process using SDLC methodology.
    • Develop and manage all front-of-house operations / logistics including guest control planning, security, celebrity appearances and executive presentations.
  5. Prepare your strategy consultant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your strategy consultant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a strategy consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Strategy Consultant Resume templates

    Build a professional

    Strategy Consultant

    resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.

    Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Strategy Consultant resume.
  6. Apply for strategy consultant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a strategy consultant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (11)

Are you a Strategy Consultant?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average strategy consultant salary

The average Strategy Consultant salary in the United States is $115,244 per year or $55 per hour. Strategy consultant salaries range between $87,000 and $151,000 per year.

Average

Strategy Consultant

Salary

$115,244Yearly

$55.41

hourly

More strategy consultant salary info

What Am I Worth?

How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (12)

How do strategy consultants rate their job?

Strategy Consultant jobs by state

  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Alaska
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  • Strategy Consultant jobs in District of Columbia
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  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Hawaii
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Iowa
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  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Louisiana
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Massachusetts
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Maryland
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  • Strategy Consultant jobs in New Hampshire
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  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Oregon
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Pennsylvania
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Puerto Rico
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Rhode Island
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in South Carolina
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in South Dakota
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Tennessee
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Texas
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Utah
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Virginia
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Vermont
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Washington
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Wisconsin
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in West Virginia
  • Strategy Consultant jobs in Wyoming

Updated March 14, 2024

How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (13)

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Strategy Consultant Related Careers

  • Associate Consultant
  • Business Consultant
  • Business Development Consultant
  • Consultant
  • Data Consultant
  • Digital Marketing Consultant
  • Executive Consultant
  • Management Consultant
  • Manager, Strategy
  • Marketing Consultant
  • Operations Consultant
  • Principal Consultant
  • Program Consultant
  • Program Management Consultant
  • Project Consultant

Strategy Consultant Related Jobs

  • Associate Consultant Jobs
  • Business Consultant Jobs
  • Business Development Consultant Jobs
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  • Data Consultant Jobs
  • Digital Marketing Consultant Jobs
  • Executive Consultant Jobs
  • Management Consultant Jobs
  • Manager, Strategy Jobs
  • Marketing Consultant Jobs
  • Operations Consultant Jobs
  • Principal Consultant Jobs
  • Program Consultant Jobs
  • Program Management Consultant Jobs
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Strategy Consultant Jobs By Location

  • Strategy Consultant Chicago Jobs
  • Strategy Consultant Cleveland Heights Jobs
  • Strategy Consultant Easton Jobs
  • Strategy Consultant Everett Jobs
  • Strategy Consultant Fort Campbell North Jobs
  • Strategy Consultant Hempstead Jobs
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  • Strategy Consultant Louisville Jobs
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Strategy Consultant Jobs By Company

  • Strategy Consultant Jobs In Deloitte
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  • Strategy Consultant Jobs In Fidelity Investments
  • Strategy Consultant Jobs In Southwest Airlines
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  • Strategy Consultant Jobs In CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
  • Strategy Consultant Jobs In MassMutual
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  • Zippia Careers
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How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

FAQs

How To Become A Strategy Consultant: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia? ›

Having a university degree and additional relevant qualifications. Experience as a strategy consultant or a similar role. The ability to collect and analyse data, assess problems and structure solutions. Strong people skills with the ability to build relationships and be persuasive when necessary.

What qualifications do you need to be a strategy consultant? ›

Having a university degree and additional relevant qualifications. Experience as a strategy consultant or a similar role. The ability to collect and analyse data, assess problems and structure solutions. Strong people skills with the ability to build relationships and be persuasive when necessary.

How do I start a career in strategy consulting? ›

All candidates are expected to have an MBA and join the firm at the Associate or Consultant level (i.e. one level above entry-level). Advanced degree hires: All top strategy firms also have pathways for advanced degree hires. These candidates will have a non-MBA advanced degree (e.g. Ph. D., J.D., M.D., etc).

What do you need to be a strategy consultant? ›

  • 1 Academic background. One of the first requirements for a strategy consulting career is a strong academic background, preferably in a relevant field such as business, economics, engineering, or mathematics. ...
  • 2 Professional experience. ...
  • 3 Consulting skills. ...
  • 4 Industry knowledge. ...
  • 5 Cultural fit.
Sep 28, 2023

What is the salary of a strategic consultant? ›

Strategy Consultant salary in India ranges between ₹ 7.0 Lakhs to ₹ 44.1 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 24.6 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 1.7k latest salaries received from Strategy Consultants.

Do you need an MBA for strategy consulting? ›

An MBA is not a requirement to enter the field of consulting unless you plan to work for a top management consulting firm.

How to get into strategy consulting without experience? ›

How to get into consulting without relevant experience
  1. Internships. ...
  2. Work experience in other sectors. ...
  3. Virtual internships. ...
  4. Make use of resources. ...
  5. Skills gained from volunteer work. ...
  6. Part-time work. ...
  7. Make your gap year count. ...
  8. Get proactive.
Jun 21, 2023

How hard is it to get into strategy consulting? ›

Most people aren't born with all of these skills. They come with experience. You'll most likely need at least a few years working in business and consulting before you develop them. You should also remember that strategy consultants are often experts in specific fields and business subjects.

How hard is strategy consulting? ›

Strategy consulting requires a deep analytical set of skills, as well as the application of strong problem-solving skills to build a business case.

How to break into strategy? ›

Tips for starting a career in strategy
  1. Earn an MBA. Consider earning a Master of Business Administration degree, or an MBA. ...
  2. Become certified. Consider pursuing a strategy certification to have credentialed proof of your skills. ...
  3. Develop important skills. Strategists are often analytical, organized and independent.

What do strategy consultants actually do? ›

A strategy consultant works with a company's CEO, board, and senior managers to provide strategic, unbiased advice for various business decisions and goals. Like a health care professional, a strategic consultant's job is to diagnose a company's problems and prescribe strategies to fix them.

What is the life of a strategy consultant? ›

Strategy consultant work-life balance

You work long hours, potentially between 50 and 60 per week. This is usually within an office setting. You may travel to other companies around the country to consult for them. This may mean staying in other cities for short periods of time or commuting.

How many hours does a strategy consultant work? ›

Typically, 9am to 9pm are considered to be the typical 'core hours' at top consulting firms, with some variation on either side of the timeframe. On average, a standard number of hours a consultant can expect to work in a week is between 70 and 75, including lunch and travel time.

What is the highest paid type of consultant? ›

Top 15 highest-paying consulting jobs
  • Software consultant. ...
  • Business consultant. ...
  • Consultant. ...
  • Security consultant. ...
  • Management consultant. ...
  • Financial consultant. ...
  • Systems consultant. ...
  • Senior consultant.

What is the hourly rate for strategy consultant? ›

Strategic Planning Consultant Salary
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$176,500$85
75th Percentile$170,500$82
Average$121,635$58
25th Percentile$89,000$43

Can consultants make 6 figures? ›

Tech isn't the only six-figure industry to work for—consulting jobs pay an average $103,000 a year.

How long does it take to become a strategy consultant? ›

Year 5-6: Work Experience After graduation, gaining 2 to 4 years of work experience is common before becoming a strategy consultant. Year 7: On-the-Job Training During the first year on the job, strategy consultants often receive 6 to 12 months of training.

What does strategy consulting do? ›

Strategy consulting is the process of advising companies on important business decisions by providing strategic consulting advice. It generally includes researching and analyzing issues, identifying challenges and opportunities, and making recommendations.

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