How Do I Begin a Career in Technology Consulting?

If you are considering a career in technology consulting, you may wish to consider your experience and education, and determine whether you have a natural aptitude for a position in this field. Strong communication skills can also be helpful for information technology (IT) consultants. Consultants may benefit from networking and testimonials.

To begin a career in technology consulting, consider your education and experience in a technical field, such as network engineering or software development. You may wish to assess your technical aptitude to determine if you are comfortable quickly learning new technologies and recommending solutions to businesses. These technical solutions can be important to the business’s success, and consultants should be both competent and confident in the work they perform.

You may be more successful as a technical consultant if you have at least an undergraduate degree in a technical field. Some businesses may prefer to hire consultants with a master's degree. At times, businesses are looking for people who can perform a dual role as both management and technical consultants; in these situations, masters in business administration degrees may be helpful.

Depending on the nature of the position, technical certifications may be helpful. For example, companies that use a specific networking technology may prefer to hire consultants who hold this specific certification. If your education or experience is lacking, you may wish to take classes and find work as an employee in a related technical position while you gain valuable skills.

Communication skills are also essential to technology consulting careers. You may need to work with people from within various levels of the organization, who may have various levels of technical knowledge. In addition, you may be expected to write reports and proposals, and to give presentations. To brush up on your communications skills, you my find that taking business writing and speech classes can give an added boost.

When you have developed your technical and communication skills, you may consider whether you prefer to work as an employee of a technical consulting firm or as an independent contractor. When you work as an employee, your firm will most likely find consulting jobs for you. If you choose to work independently, you may wish to write a business plan for your new venture. Writing this plan can help ensure you review all aspects of your consulting business.

Whether you choose to work as an employee or independently, you can increase your visibility in the field by becoming active in local industry organizations and by using social media and forums. These avenues may help you develop contacts that can lead to new technology consulting jobs. As you continue in your career, collect testimonials from satisfied employers and clients, as these may encourage new prospects to choose your technology consulting services.