Consulting is a broad field encompassing everything from economics to human resources to cybersecurity. With so much variety implied by one simple word, it can be tricky knowing exactly what someone means when they tell you they work as a “consultant.” It can be tricky knowing what an employer means when they say they’re looking for one, too.
To make things a little easier for everyone, I’m going to explain the two major branches of consulting work, as well as the different responsibilities and qualifications that each one necessitates. In the end, you’ll hopefully understand what consulting entails more fully, and maybe even decide that a career in consulting is right for you.
Generalist consultants
Consultant jobs can broadly be classified as either generalist or specialist, with the former being the domain of consultants who have working knowledge within a large number of fields and disciplines. Generalist consultants are typically employed by businesses who either A. don’t have specific needs but are simply looking for overall improvement, B. don’t know what their exact needs are and are thus seeking someone who can identify them, or C. have multiple needs and seek someone who can help with all of them.
Generalist positions fittingly tend to hold generalist titles such as “business analyst” or “administration executive.” Most employers expect a generalist consultant to have professional education in management, economics, finances, and data analysis at the very least. Generalists often work in teams with other generalists, and are preferred by companies looking for adaptable employees and “big picture” solutions.
Specialist consultants
On the opposite end of the spectrum from generalist consultants, specialists are individuals who have chosen a single subject and poured all of their focus into that. More than just working knowledge, specialists have a deep, fundamental understanding of their chosen field, which enables them to provide more precise and extensive recommendations to employers who need that level of expertise.
While generalists tend to look at the “big picture,” specialists zoom in on the “little picture.” A specialist might work under the direction of a generalist. For example, a generalist working for a business that wants to expand by setting up a new satellite location might assign specialists to do profitability research, adverse impact analysis, investigate tax law, or determine environmental impact. In a sense, generalists are the ones who know when a specialist is needed, while specialists are the ones who do the specific work that the generalist can’t.