Business consultants are experts in their field, and they often have degrees in business administration, finance, or economics. However, degrees in psychology, marketing, and computer science are also common among business consultants. To work in a particular industry, consider a specialization in that field in addition to a business degree. The most innovative companies often face more unique challenges.
For example, an aerospace company must decide when to introduce new features to the engine of its most popular aircraft model. In this case, it would be beneficial to hire a management consultant who has an aerospace engineering degree and several years of related work experience. Many specialized management consultants have undergraduate degrees in specific areas and advanced degrees in business administration. To become a business consultant, there are several educational requirements that must be met.
Business consultants usually study business, finance, or accounting. We analyzed 20,665 business consultant resumes to gain a better understanding of the educational requirements for this profession. The most common degree for business consultants is a bachelor's degree; 67% of business consultants earn this degree. Management consulting focuses on improving the functioning of businesses and other organizations, so having a background in business or management can be beneficial.
For this reason, many management consultants hold Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Due to the diversity of the consulting world, consultants have many different types of undergraduate degrees. Those who hold entry-level positions in consulting firms can begin their careers after completing their bachelor's degree, which usually takes four years.
