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Best Jobs For Former Consultants [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Best Jobs for Former Consultants in 2026

Today’s job market has evolved significantly, and many former consultants are seeking new opportunities that align with their skills and experiences. In 2026, the landscape for consultants is more challenging than ever, leading to a growing number of professionals exploring alternative career paths.

While the number of students pursuing consulting-related degrees remains stable, the willingness to enter the consulting field is declining. This raises an important question:

What careers are these former consultants transitioning into?

To find out, we analyzed thousands of resumes from individuals who previously worked as consultants. From this extensive research, we compiled a list of the top 100 jobs that former consultants are now pursuing.

Below, we highlight some of the most notable career shifts that are capturing attention in 2026.

Best Jobs for Former Consultants

  1. Chief Finance Officer Jobs

  2. Principal Jobs

  3. Controller Jobs

  4. Adjunct Professor Jobs

  5. Senior Manager Jobs

  6. Chief Executive Officer Jobs

  7. Business Developer Jobs

  8. Executive Director Jobs

  9. Data Analyst Jobs

  10. Information Technology Manager Jobs

These roles vary in their appeal and challenges, but they certainly represent a diverse range of opportunities for former consultants.

The complete list of these jobs follows below.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Consultants

Rank Job Title %
1 Senior Consultant 1.61%
2 Project Manager 1.41%
3 Vice President 0.88%
4 Business Analyst 0.79%
5 Manager 0.75%
6 Senior Software Engineer 0.7%
7 Program Manager 0.63%
8 Owner 0.63%
9 Senior Project Manager 0.58%
10 Director 0.57%
11 Internship 0.48%
12 Chief Finance Officer 0.48%
13 Sales Associate 0.46%
14 Customer Service Representative 0.44%
15 Principal 0.42%
16 Controller 0.42%
17 Operations Manager 0.41%
18 Administrative Assistant 0.4%
19 Systems Administrator 0.4%
20 Adjunct Professor 0.39%
21 President 0.38%
22 Software Engineer 0.37%
23 Associate 0.35%
24 Team Leader 0.35%
25 Senior Manager 0.34%
26 Chief Executive Officer 0.34%
27 Account Executive 0.34%
28 Office Manager 0.33%
29 General Manager 0.32%
30 Business Developer 0.32%
31 Volunteer 0.31%
32 Sales Representative 0.3%
33 Account Manager 0.3%
34 Research Assistant 0.3%
35 Executive Director 0.3%
36 Substitute Teacher 0.29%
37 Analyst 0.29%
38 Data Analyst 0.28%
39 Programmer Analyst 0.27%
40 Information Technology Manager 0.27%
41 Principal Consultant 0.27%
42 Systems Engineer 0.26%
43 Management Consultant 0.25%
44 Senior Analyst 0.25%
45 Information Technology Consultant 0.25%
46 Instructor 0.24%
47 Teacher 0.24%
48 Managing Director 0.24%
49 Product Manager 0.24%
50 Specialist 0.24%
51 Administrator 0.23%
52 Systems Analyst 0.23%
53 Senior Business Analyst 0.22%
54 Information Technology Project Manager 0.22%
55 Operations Director 0.21%
56 Human Resources Coordinator 0.21%
57 Sales Manager 0.2%
58 Human Resources Manager 0.2%
59 Senior Systems Engineer 0.2%
60 Solutions Architect 0.2%
61 Finance Analyst 0.2%
62 Program Director 0.19%
63 Architect 0.19%
64 Founder 0.19%
65 Lead Technician 0.19%
66 Senior Technician Specialist 0.19%
67 Adjunct Faculty 0.19%
68 Chief Operating Officer 0.19%
69 Technical Support Specialist 0.18%
70 Assistant Vice President 0.18%
71 Director of Information 0.18%
72 Developer 0.18%
73 Lead Consultant 0.18%
74 Business Development Manager 0.18%
75 Contractor/Consultant 0.17%
76 Senior Finance Analyst 0.17%
77 Assistant Manager 0.17%
78 Sales Consultant 0.17%
79 Registered Nurse 0.17%
80 Coordinator 0.17%
81 Recruiter 0.17%
82 Senior Programmer Analyst 0.17%
83 President/Chief Executive Officer 0.16%
84 Business Consultant 0.16%
85 Marketing Director 0.16%
86 Senior Associate 0.16%
87 Finance Director 0.16%
88 Owner/Operator 0.16%
89 Database Administrator 0.16%
90 Marketing Manager 0.16%
91 Software Developer 0.16%
92 Supervisor 0.16%
93 Technical Writer 0.16%
94 Network Engineer 0.16%
95 Senior Vice President 0.15%
96 Project Leader 0.15%
97 Store Manager 0.15%
98 Co-Founder 0.15%
99 Project Coordinator 0.15%
100 Server 0.15%

Most Common Jobs for Former Consultants

  1. Senior Consultant

  2. Project Manager

  3. Vice President

  4. Business Analyst

  5. Manager

  6. Senior Software Engineer

  7. Program Manager

  8. Owner

  9. Senior Project Manager

  10. Director

These roles are a testament to the transferable skills consultants possess, making them suitable for various positions in different industries. While many of these jobs are expected paths for former consultants, they also highlight the versatility of the consulting background.

How We Determined the Best Jobs for Former Consultants

Our analysis utilized resume data from over 7 million profiles, focusing on those who listed consultancy experience. We identified the subsequent jobs they held, ranking them by frequency to create our list.

To highlight unique career options, we sifted through the rankings for roles that:

  • Appeared in less than 1% of all new job listings
  • Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs in our database

In summary, the job market continues to evolve, and former consultants have numerous opportunities to leverage their skills in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re looking to make a direct transition into a related field or explore entirely different career paths, the options are diverse and plentiful in 2026.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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