How to Become a Consultant: Skills and Career Path

Students who enjoy puzzles, debates and business news often hear that consulting is a good fit, but few know what consultants actually do all day or how people get hired. Some assume you need an MBA from a famous institute; others think consulting is only for engineers. Neither is quite true. This guide explains how to become a consultant, starting from Class 12, with the skills firms test, the entry routes and how a consulting career typically develops.

 

What does a consultant do?

 

A consultant is hired to help an organisation solve a problem it cannot solve alone, because of limited time, expertise or an outside perspective. The work usually follows three stages:

 

• Problem definition: Agreeing on the real question, such as “Why are our profits falling in the south?” rather than “Our sales team is weak.”
• Analysis: Gathering data, interviewing staff and customers, building models and testing possible explanations
• Recommendations: Presenting clear options with evidence, then often helping the client put the chosen plan into practice

 

Most consulting work happens in small teams on projects lasting a few weeks to several months, often at the client’s office.

 

Types of consulting

 

 

Some advisory work is regulated. In India, anyone in the business of giving investment advice for a fee generally needs to register with SEBI as an investment adviser and meet the qualification and certification requirements in the SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013. A few groups, such as chartered accountants advising clients as part of their professional work, are exempt. Check the rules for your field before offering paid advice independently.

 

Qualifications and entry routes

 

There is no single required degree. Firms hire from several routes:

 

• Bachelor’s degree: A BBA, B.Com, B.Tech, BCA, economics or B.Sc. degree can lead to analyst roles, especially in technology, finance and operations consulting. A BBA at Presidency University is a three-year programme covering management, organisational behaviour, communication and finance; our guide to BBA course details explains the degree.
• MBA: Many management consulting firms recruit at business schools, typically for consultant or associate roles. Presidency University’s School of Management offers MBA programmes including Business Analytics. See our guides to MBA eligibility and MBA specialisations.
• Experience-based: Professionals with deep industry knowledge, such as a supply-chain manager or a hospital administrator, often move into consulting in their field.
• Professional qualifications: CA, CFA or specialist technology certifications support finance and technology consulting.

 

Skills required

 

• Analysis: Breaking problems into parts, working with numbers and spreadsheets and spotting what matters
• Communication: Writing short, clear emails and slides, and explaining ideas simply to senior people
• Research: Finding reliable data quickly and judging its quality
• Stakeholder management: Listening, building trust and handling disagreement politely
• Structured thinking: Organising ideas logically so that others can follow and challenge them

 

Step-by-step career roadmap

 

1. Build domain knowledge. Choose a degree you will enjoy and do well in, then learn how businesses work: read annual reports, follow industry news and understand basic finance.

 

2. Gain projects and internships. Internships in consulting, research, analytics or a company’s strategy team give you real examples to discuss. Case competitions, live projects and student consulting clubs also count.

 

3. Network and apply for entry roles. Talk to alumni and professionals about their work, attend campus events and apply for analyst or associate roles. Tailor each application to the firm’s practice areas.

 

Consulting recruitment

 

Resume screening. Firms look for strong academics, leadership and evidence of impact. Use numbers where you can, such as “Led a 12-member team that raised ₹50,000 for a college event”.

 

Case interviews. The interviewer describes a business problem and asks you to work through it aloud. They are testing how you structure the problem, handle numbers and reach a sensible recommendation, not whether you know the “right” answer.

 

Fit interviews. These explore why you want consulting, how you work in teams and how you handle pressure. Prepare two or three honest stories about challenges, failures and leadership.

 

Consulting career progression

 

A typical path runs from analyst to consultant or associate, then manager, senior manager or principal, and finally partner or director. Early years focus on analysis; later roles shift to managing teams, leading client relationships and winning new work. Titles and timelines vary by firm. Many consultants later move into industry roles in strategy or operations, start businesses or become independent consultants.

 

Building credibility

 

Clients pay for results they can trust. Keep a record of projects and measurable outcomes, within confidentiality limits. Share your thinking through articles, talks or a professional profile. Above all, protect your integrity: give honest advice even when it is unwelcome, avoid conflicts of interest and never misuse client information.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Which degree is best for becoming a consultant?

 

No single degree is required. Business, commerce, economics, engineering and computer science are common, and the right choice depends on the type of consulting you want.

 

Is an MBA compulsory for consulting?

 

No. Many firms hire graduates directly as analysts, especially in technology and finance consulting. An MBA can help with management consulting roles or a career change.

 

Can a fresher start a career in consulting?

 

Yes. Freshers usually join as analysts or associates, so internships, projects and strong communication skills matter.

 

What skills do consulting firms test?

 

Problem structuring, numerical reasoning, business sense, communication and teamwork, through aptitude tests, case interviews and fit interviews.

 

How should I prepare for a consulting case interview?

 

Learn common frameworks without memorising them, practise mental maths, read business news and do mock cases aloud with a partner, asking for feedback each time.

 

Conclusion

 

Learning how to become a consultant starts with a degree you enjoy, then adds internships, structured problem-solving and confident communication. Decide which type of consulting interests you, build relevant experience early and practise case interviews well before recruitment begins. If you are choosing a first degree, explore the BBA and MBA programmes at Presidency University.