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Job outlook for business strategy consultants in the United States
Business strategy consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected business strategy consultant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for business strategy consultants are projected over the next decade.
Business strategy consultant salaries have increased 8% for business strategy consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 45,624 business strategy consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 123,920 active business strategy consultant job openings in the US.
The average business strategy consultant salary is $115,742.
Are business strategy consultant jobs in demand?
Business strategy consultant job and salary trends over time
Business strategy consultant jobs over time
Business strategy consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45,624 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 43,578 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 42,138 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 40,638 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 39,137 | 0.01% |
Average business strategy consultant salary over time
Business strategy consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $115,742 | $55.65 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $112,573 | $54.12 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $110,394 | $53.07 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $108,863 | $52.34 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $107,384 | $51.63 | +0.0% |
Business strategy consultant jobs by state
Most common states for business strategy consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 646 | 93% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 330 | 38% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,773 | 32% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 342 | 32% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 328 | 31% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 539 | 28% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 169 | 27% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 191 | 26% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,721 | 25% |
| 10 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 681 | 23% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 680 | 22% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 299 | 22% |
| 13 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,260 | 21% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 200 | 21% |
| 15 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 988 | 20% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 606 | 20% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,224 | 19% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,122 | 19% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 796 | 19% |
| 20 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 568 | 19% |
Most common cities for business strategy consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines | 2 | 3% | $93,530 |
| 2 | Waltham | 1 | 2% | $132,751 |
| 3 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $98,960 |
| 4 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $129,690 |
| 5 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $132,799 |
| 6 | Charlotte | 2 | 0% | $102,272 |
| 7 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $102,423 |
| 8 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $120,773 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $126,077 |
| 10 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $99,438 |
| 11 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $93,676 |
| 12 | Irving | 1 | 0% | $137,421 |
| 13 | Plano | 1 | 0% | $137,206 |
| 14 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $128,400 |
Business Strategy Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of business strategy consultant experts
Davidson College
University of West Florida
Lewis-Clark State College
The Catholic University of America
Washington College
Duke University
Xavier University
University of North Florida
Coastal Carolina University
Florida State University
UMass Lowell
University of Nevada, Reno
Lasell University
Bucknell University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Kansas State University
Kent State University
University of Indianapolis
Westminster College
The Ohio State University
Katie Horowitz
Associate Professor of Gender & Sexuality StudiesDavidson College
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Business Strategy Consultant?
Katie Horowitz: With the rise of artificial intelligence, soft skills like interpersonal communication, conflict management, and critical thinking will become more important than ever before. These are assets that can’t be outsourced to AI, and they are fundamental to the work that Gender & Sexuality Studies majors do in college.
What Business Strategy Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Katie Horowitz: Some research shows that women and members of marginalized racial groups are less likely to negotiate their salaries than their white male counterparts. When you get a job offer, don’t forgo the opportunity to advocate for a higher salary.
What will help Business Strategy Consultants increase their earning potential?
Katie Horowitz: Don’t limit yourself. I’ve seen Gender & Sexuality Studies students land jobs in business consulting, nonprofit, medicine, law, and more. The beauty of this interdisciplinary field is that it intersects with virtually every sphere of human existence. You can bring your GSS skills to bear on any line of work that interests you.
What general advice would you give to a Business Strategy Consultant?
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: My general advice is that embarking on a career in business or any other field demands a blend of practical skills, adaptability, and a continuous learning mindset. Graduates should prioritize the following strategies, including but not limited to: - Building a Strong Foundation of Business Fundamentals, including core business principles, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy to facilitate adaptability to changing markets. - Cultivating a growth mindset, embracing challenges, viewing failures as learning opportunities, cultivating resilience, and a willingness to step out of one's comfort zone. - Networking and building relationships with peers, mentors, and industry professionals open doors to opportunities and provide invaluable insights and guidance. - Staying informed of industry trends as the business landscape constantly evolves, which is obvious with the recent trend of expanded use of AI and ML.
What will help Business Strategy Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: "In the next 3-5 years, specific skills are poised to become increasingly important in business: Data Literacy, Digital Proficiency, Emotional Intelligence, Sustainability, Resilience, and Social Responsibility. However, the most necessary lasting skill that benefited my career is Effective Communication. Being able to communicate effectively is an indispensable skill."
What Business Strategy Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: To maximize salary potential early in their careers, graduates should consider the following strategies: Specialize in High-Demand Areas, Never Stop Learning/Pursue Additional Education, Negotiate Offers, and Seek Mentorship and Constructive Feedback."
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Jenny Scott: -Relevant industry experience (for SR Business Consultant: 10 years)
-Project management
-Strategic Planning
-Team and Executive Leadership
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Jenny Scott: -Emotional Intelligence
-Relevant industry experience (expertise)
-Written and oral presentation communication
-Ability to relate and connect . . .the best strategy in the world will live on paper only if the leader is not able to relate to their people (all stakeholder groups) and connect. Leadership involves three key elements: People - Influence - Goals. The most effective leaders are able to ethically influence their followers for the purpose of attaining the organization's mission and goals.
Marykate Conroy
Director of Career Development & Employer RelationsThe Catholic University of America
The Busch School of Business
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Marykate Conroy: I will reiterate communication as a soft skill to lean into as an analyst. Within that space comes excellent listening skills, negotiation skills, and change management exposure. Additionally, integrity and curiosity are two soft skills to develop. These are not as easily demonstrated on a resume, but as an analyst, it is important to hold yourself to high moral standards, respect others, be reliable and trustworthy, hold yourself accountable, and remain curious- approaching work as a life-long learning opportunity. Enthusiasm and interest in studying and analyzing data and financial information to ultimately provide solutions to problems that help companies adapt and change are important for you to feel fulfilled in this role and to do a good job!
Dr. Michael Harvey
Provost and Dean, John Toll Professor of Business ManagemenWashington College
Business Department
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills are in the highest demand and shortest supply-and people who can combine them with strong, soft skills end up going the furthest.
Michael Munger
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director, PPE ProgramDuke University
Department of Political Science
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Michael Munger: Political science is an ancient career synergy, one that explores the connections between ethical considerations and engineering policy that works. Someone who majors in Political Science is able to make arguments about the questions that have plagued philosophers for thousands of years while using the latest data techniques to scrape online sources of information on social media. So political science instructors have to combine ethics, knowledge of esoteric procedures and laws, and statistics!
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Michael Munger: Working in groups. And that's hard to teach. The best teacher is experience. Often, students learn the most when their group fails or the other members don't pull their weight. The ability to work in unstructured environments and still achieve group success is a big part of many jobs. And Political Science teaches that.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Michael Munger: Political Science students should take at least one Computer Science class, be able to run a spreadsheet with skill, and be able to write crisp prose that gets to the point.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Michael Munger: The ability to lead a group by example and to get other people to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. At its best, Political Science is like an entire little liberal arts curriculum. It's the perfect preparation for leadership, either in government or the private sector!
Mike Halloran
Teaching Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship, Taskforce Member, Center for InnovationXavier University
Management Department
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Mike Halloran: -In today's economy, I think there are a number of key skills that a business management consultant should have, especially if working with a small business. Key skillsets/coursework in finance, marketing, and strategy is essential. In addition, I would recommend coursework in Innovation as today's business world continues to evolve so quickly.
-I would also suggest that experiential learning and/or internships are very important to success. Showing demonstrated experience is a great way to stand out in the job market, as well as give yourself and the employer confidence that you can apply what you have learned in school.
-I often can look at a student's LinkedIn profile and tell whether they have the skills and experience-based upon how well they market themselves, describe their experiences, and talk about career objectives
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Mike Halloran: -Leadership
-Working well with others
-Oral and written communication
- Thinking analytically, creatively, and strategically
-Leadership
-Time management
- Motivation and drive
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Mike Halloran: Excel
-Digital communication
-Budget management
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Mike Halloran: -Database analytics
-Digital marketing
-Finance
-Technological innovation
Russell Triplett Ph.D.
Interim Chair and Associate ProfessorUniversity of North Florida
Department of Economics and Geography
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Russell Triplett Ph.D.: We must acknowledge that the pandemic remains a fluid situation with many implications that are not yet easily observed. That said, I see three key trends that are characteristic of our most successful students. First, the shift to remote working situations challenges employers to develop new ways to build teams and foster teamwork. Graduates that are well-prepared to collaborate and contribute in non-traditional ways are in high demand. Second, the pandemic accelerated the growth in platform-based delivery and retail services, generating a need for strong skills in data and business analytics. Third, it has always been true that graduates who are versatile and can think critically about the status quo are especially valuable; the shock of the pandemic created a more fertile ground for creative problem solvers and innovators.
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Finance and EconomicsCoastal Carolina University
Finance and Economics Department
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Problem-solving, Creative thinking, Data Analytics, Competitive Strategies, Communication, Leadership and Team Building, Decision making.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Creative thinking, Leadership, Adaptability, Communication, Empathy, Conflict Resolution, Work Ethic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Computer skills: Word Processing (MS Word), Spreadsheets (MS Excel), Visual Communication (MS PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.), Database Management (MS Access, SQL, Oracle, etc.), Graphics, Social Media.
Technical skills: Statistical Software(s) (R, SAS, MATLAB, etc.), GIS software(s) (ArcGIS, Tableau, etc.), Python Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Coding Language(s) (HTML, C++, Javascript, etc.).
Management skills: Project Management, Business Analysis, Accounting, Economics and Finance, Management and Decision Sciences, Operations Research, Marketing and Sales, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Office Management, Planning, Logistics, Agile software, Scrum management.
Marketing skills: Affiliate Marketing, Marketing Research, and Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing.
Analytical skills: Data Science, Data Mining, Database Management, Statistics and Econometrics, Analytics and Reasoning, Research, Testing, and Diagnostics.
Writing skills: Research and Report Writing, Editing, Content Management Systems, Social media updates.
Design skills: Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.), User Experience (UX) Design, Digital Product Design, Video Production.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Discipline related expertise, Industry-specific certification, Data Science and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Mobile Application Development, Software Programming, and Testing, Leadership and People Management, Digital (Social Media) Marketing, User Experience (UX) Design, Content Creation and Open Learning Resources.
What's a common interview question, and would you prepare to answer it?
One of the most common interview questions is "Why are you interested in this position?"
By asking this question, your employer tries to understand that you have a true connection to the company and a passion for the job you have applied for. You should start your answer by explaining why you are the best-fit candidate in terms of professional skills. Research about the organization's culture before your interview and articulate how you embrace that mission personally and add values towards that mission. Show your enthusiasm and confidence while answering the interview questions.
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: As stated earlier, the field of management is broad and encompasses all industries and sectors. Consequently, the technical skills necessary to succeed will vary according to the specific knowledge and experiences required to understand the nuances of an organization. Accordingly, graduates who have business acumen and technical competency in a particular discipline or industry would be better positioned for employment opportunities. As a result, I always place emphasis on gaining internships and work experience concurrently with academic study. These experiences will provide a real-world understanding of the type of skills necessary to succeed in organizations as well as offer industry-specific knowledge. However, for many graduates, their practical skills are limited. In this case, it is important to ensure you have more generalizable skills that are applicable across industries, such as building digital fluency, analytical fluency, writing skills, and strong Excel skills. When speaking with consulting firms and industry employers, they repeatedly reference the need for graduates to demonstrate more advanced Excel skills.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in management occupations will grow over the next decade by 9%. Due to the broad array of management opportunities, variations in skills necessary for success are likely to exist based on the type of management work being performed and the industry or sector. However, there are general management skills or competencies necessary for success, including management consulting, that employers continually seek from graduates. The ten most sought-after skills include the following: critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, innovation/creativity, problem-solving, analytical fluency, digital fluency, adaptability, resilience, aptitude for collaboration and teamwork, and human capital management.
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: Requisite skills relevant for management consulting roles that should be visible to employers can be grouped into the following three broad categories : (1) functional expertise and/or specialization of knowledge in particular areas or disciplines, (2) strong business analytics skills, and (3) the ability to lead projects or teams. Considering the broad nature of management, and particularly management consulting, skills should reflect the specific needs of the organization or industry of practice. For example, individuals working in executive compensation would require a different set of demonstrated skills on their resume than someone engaging in performance systems analysis to support process re-engineering within a manufacturing setting. Additionally, since management professionals work in and/or lead teams, being personable, engaging, proactive, demonstrated leadership, and an ability to handle difficult situations are all skills and competencies highly sought after. In sum, regardless of the industry or sector, most employers look for skills displayed both on a resume and then demonstrated during the selection process that shows the applicant possesses the capability to work within a team, has sound analytical skills, the ability to communicate complex information, resolve conflict and solve problems.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: While advancements in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics occupy center stage in many areas of management practice, soft skills continue to be seen as equally or even more important skills for success in the field of management. Soft skills are typically described as personal attributes, qualities, and characteristics that enable us to interact more effectively with others. In most fields of management, our ability to communicate, work with, and interact with other people constitutes a significant portion of the work we do. Consequently, employers are focused on identifying candidates who possess strong skills are areas of communication (verbal, written, and non-verbal), leadership and followership, collaboration, an ability to work in teams, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, conflict management, problem-solving, creativity.
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If we are talking about personal skills, I would stress skills that reflect an entrepreneurial mindset, such as innovativeness and initiative. I would also emphasize as much as possible prior experience in the relevant area.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: In addition to the above, in today's environment, it is important that people are adept at improvising. For long-term career success in any field, sound leadership skills are critical. It is important to be able to formulate, communicate and execute a compelling vision for where you want to take your organization.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Although certain careers will pay more on average than others (and this discrepancy can be significant and should not be discounted, especially if a student is taking on debt to pursue an education), I strongly feel that people are best off in the long run if they stay authentic to who they are and what they are passionate about.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Many people would consider communication a "soft" skill, but there is a technical aspect of it that is overlooked. Programming and data analytics are probably the most marketable skills right now.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Strategy Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Jim McClenahan: Rethinking work locations. Companies may recruit in areas that have lots of talent, cheaper cost of living and better quality of life. As an example, Incline Village is a small community on Lake Tahoe about 40 minutes from our campus. Every store is packed and the traffic is worse than any holiday weekend. Silicon Valley companies (about 4 hours away) have seen lots of people "temporarily relocate" to Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area. Now that some companies have permanently moved to at least a portion of their workforce as "work anywhere," communities like Reno, Boise, Missoula-ones with lower cost of living and better quality of life compared to the Bay Area may experience a mini-boom. It's already happening more in Reno.
The best candidates will be "swiss army knives." They have lots of different skillsets and with the flexibility everyone has demonstrated during the pandemic knowing how to do a lot of different things allows organizations to run a little leaner. Someone told me I was the ultimate "utility infielder" last week which I took as a high compliment! I think mastering lots of different skills is a key to employability for the candidate and success for the organization.
Finally, I expect small business hiring to be a mixed bag. Some are doing very well and expanding. Many others are struggling to survive and waiting to see how quickly lockdowns end and business returns before they start hiring.
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Jim McClenahan: Most importantly, skills that are customized for the job you are applying. Someone could work in a restaurant and have great customer management skills that would work well in a bank. The key is identifying "transferrable skills"-how what you did is relevant for the job you are applying. The applicant has to articulate that-don't expect the committee, screener, or HR Recruiter to make the connections. For business majors, the skills that differentiate applicants are technical skills when they are relevant to the job. Data analysis, coding, SQL are often looked for by employers that have a tech focus as preferred skills.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Strategy Consultants to find work opportunities?
Jim McClenahan: The trend of great opportunities consolidating in major metropolitan areas seems to be reversing. With working remotely appearing to be a permanent feature/benefit, find a place to live that offers a lower cost and great quality of life for you and your family! Build a variety of skills and achievements in different areas and find the right culture that matches your skills.
Dr. Brian Wardyga
Professor of Communication; General Manager, 109.2FM WLAS & LCTVLasell University
School of Communication and The Arts
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Dr. Brian Wardyga: Today's business consultant should be able to showcase skills in project management, business strategy & outlook, and supply chain management & optimization. Evidence of collaboration & teamwork is also a big plus.
Within these constructs, one should identify key technical skills, evidence of decision making & critical thinking, verbal and written communication skills, and creative thinking or problem-solving examples. Lastly, evidence of working in focus groups and leading workshops or presentations are also standouts.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Dr. Brian Wardyga: Most important soft skills include organization and time management, thinking conceptually and practically, being concise and to the point, and exhibiting common courtesy and professionalism. Flexibility, curiosity, and the desire to work as a team are also important--strong communication skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Dr. Brian Wardyga: Technical skills such as accounting and project management and other computer skills demanded by the particular market. Beyond typical Microsoft Office skills would be Analytical software and marketing and presentation skills/tools.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Dr. Brian Wardyga: That answer is dependent on the specific market, really. Any combination of the above and the more of those skills, the better chance at negotiating higher earnings.
Neil Boyd Ph.D.
David J. & Deborah West Professor of Management; Chair, Management and Organizations DepartmentBucknell University
Management and Organizations Department
What skills stand out on Business Strategy Consultant resumes?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: Previous consulting experience, whether it is early exposure during management consulting courses and experiential learning in college or via professional project exposure, is very helpful for understanding the obvious and nuanced issues in consulting. I've found that technical skills like project management, statistical analysis, and others are important, but most important are the so-called "soft skills" and the ability to connect with humans in a way that they know you are there to help. When talking to early-career consultants, I'm most impressed when they discuss the psychological considerations of running an opening meeting with a client or how they handled a murky situation through conversation instead of functional answers about survey design or billable hours.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: Humility, empathy, integrity, emotional intelligence, a concern for others, a desire to create community at work, a concern for social and environmental justice.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Strategy Consultants?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: Project management, understanding and using concepts, models, and theory from management science, analytics, excel/SPSS/R, Powerpoint/Google Slides.
What skills will help Business Strategy Consultants earn the most?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: A combination of hard and soft skills, but at the end of the day, soft skills are critical to truly helping clients. And, for sure, they can be learned. This is a challenge for management education, but places like the Freeman College of Management at Bucknell work hard to develop soft skills in students primarily through coaching, experiential and community-based pedagogies, and professional development programming.
What technical skills for a Business Strategy Consultant stand out to employers?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Of course, there is variation across industries, but the long lockdown months have highlighted the need for skills that make telecommuting and work from home more efficient and effective. The ability to use not just technologies but also work habits that allow collaboration mediated by information and communication tools has only become more valuable. With this, I mean that it is important to use Zoom, Teams, Skype, and similar technologies, but even more than that, scheduling, collaboration, creative, professional-grade, and timely delivery (in the absence of face-to-face interaction) is vital. If a higher proportion of work-from-home becomes predominant (as many commentators expect), these skills are likely to differentiate high-performers from their counterparts.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Strategy Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
Richard Doll
Associate ProfessorKansas State University
Department of Educational Leadership
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Strategy Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Richard Doll: The stress from the pandemic has caused many veteran school leaders to retire. So, there will be lots of movement this year as principal/assistant superintendents move into the superintendency and teachers move into principalships.
What will help Business Strategy Consultants increase their earning potential?
Michael Ellis Ph.D.: It is important to continue learning throughout one's career as changes in industry and technology occur. This will promote career advancement and increase earning potential.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Strategy Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Larry Belcher: The biggest post-pandemic trend we see involves the re-definition of a workspace. Many firms went to remote work via video conferencing and other technology and decided that they really did not need expensive office space, particularly in large cities and so they have employees working fully or partially remote on a permanent basis. In addition, for "at work" office space many firms have moved away from "offices" or even cubbies to common "plug-in" stations where workers find a spot and have access to power and internet so they can work. Add in conference/meeting space and you can still have face to face meetings if necessary but a much smaller, less expensive office footprint. It remains to be seen how this will work out long-term in terms of worker productivity. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of "Zoom fatigue" and a desire for more human interaction among some workers so this is a trend worth watching. Another trend has been the speed of change. COVID showed us in many ways that our environments can be altered substantially almost overnight. Supply chain management is a great example. From a worker perspective, not being intimidated by this type of possibility will be a key going forward.
What technical skills for a Business Strategy Consultant stand out to employers?
Dr. Larry Belcher: In terms of technical skills, in technical disciplines intimate knowledge of Excel is a must. In addition, with more movement to remote work, proficiency with video meeting and presentation software has become more of a necessity I would say that an ability to learn new technology rather quickly will help students advance faster. Technology changes rapidly, and as we have seen with the COVID pivot to remote work, one may need to master new software or hardware quickly. Also, with the proliferation of data and data analysis familiarity with data visualization and analysis tools like Tableau is becoming more valuable. This goes along with the usual necessary skills, such as written/verbal communication, presentation skills, and adaptability/flexibility. COVID has also shown us all that change can occur quickly and our ability to roll with it and adapt our work to the environment is a key skill. The ability to deal with ambiguity is also becoming more needed, as the environment a worker faces may not have all of its parameters nailed down. The ability to navigate those circumstances will help any employee advance more quickly. This also bleeds over into the ability to solve problems quickly. When things move fast, you need to both be adaptable and be able to think through problems quickly. Another thing we have seen is that employers don't want to have to train new hires on things they expect they should have learned in college. So practice and proficiency in software, speaking, writing and presentations are keys so that a new hire can adapt quickly and get into the workflow faster without "hand-holding."
What will help Business Strategy Consultants increase their earning potential?
Michael Mamo Ph.D.: Not sure how this relates to the previous themes but I do not believe the quest to increase one's earning potential is a noble goal. As humans we value (or should value) the benefits of enlightenment that come from education and life-long learning. Of course, enlightenment could translate to monetary gains. Enlightenment also comes with a greater sense of fulfilment in life and provides the person with traits of empathy, integrity, and other virtues such as justice and perseverance. Beyond improving ones earningn potential, education is a life-affirming process and that is what I would advise people in my field to aspire for.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Strategy Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Adam Cahill: Thankfully what we are seeing in regard to trends in the job market are good ones. Interactions taking place between employers and candidates, jobs being posted, and employers actively recruiting students and alumni in the plant science industries has kept steady throughout the pandemic. The biggest difference is that these things are now taking place virtually instead of on campus.
We have also seen a change with more remote work being mentioned in job descriptions and deeper intentionality placed on how employers are managing their employees to make sure they feel safe and are kept safe. More clear and transparent communication is really taking a front seat throughout the hiring process; mostly because a lot of procedures and processes are new given the pandemic, so everyone is being re-educated on how things are done.
Based on the employer requests for new hires and job postings we are receiving at the university, we are not seeing much, if any, reduction in work force in the plant science industry. Homes and businesses are still being landscaped, food still needs to be grown, and plant diseases are still being researched and combated just to name a few of the many driving forces in the positive job outlook for plant science industries.
What soft skills should all Business Strategy Consultants possess?
Adam Cahill: Soft skills are often what can set a graduate apart in the hiring and promotion process. They are often items that are difficult to teach and many find it challenging to coach employees on development and growth in these skills; which is quite the contrast to the counterpart technical skills. Because of this, we like to refer to these skills as "power skills" and there are far too many to name them all.
Some of the more tangible power skills we like to see our graduates express competency in before they leave the university are oral and written communication mastery, self-reflection and growth in response to their experiences lived, adaptability and agility, listening to understand and not to respond, and finally, global and intercultural fluency.
These skills and the countless more, are all ones that can be developed and cultivated through practice, awareness, and life experiences. We highly encourage employers to build these skill's development into their operations and company culture as they are not items that should stop being taught once students leave education institutions, but ones that should be continually honed throughout their entire lives.
How have salaries changed over time for Business Strategy Consultants?
Adam Cahill: We have seen a steady increase in reported starting salaries from our graduates each year in the plant sciences area. Geographic location tends to be one of the biggest differentiators to help adjust for cost of living in a specific area. The "add on" benefits from companies is also often a contributing factor that comes into play. Signing bonuses or higher starting salaries for candidates who interned with the company are being seen more often as well as more flexible work arrangements. This comes as no surprise to our career office in response to the pandemic and evolving health and safely guidelines. With many organizations tightening their belts around monetary compensation, we are hearing more flexibility in candidates abilities to negotiate other benefit areas such as time off, work/life balance items, and other reimbursement items for them to accomplish their work such as work vehicles, phones, and travel expenses.