Job outlook for owner, consultants in the United States

What skills stand out on Owner, Consultant resumes?

Jenny Scott: -Relevant industry experience (for SR Business Consultant: 10 years)
-Project management
-Strategic Planning
-Team and Executive Leadership

What soft skills should all Owner, 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 Owner, Consultants?

Mike Halloran: Excel

-Digital communication

-Budget management

What skills stand out on Owner, 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 Owner, Consultants possess?

Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Creative thinking, Leadership, Adaptability, Communication, Empathy, Conflict Resolution, Work Ethic.

What soft skills should all Owner, 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.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Owner, 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.

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Owner, 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 soft skills should all Owner, 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 skills will help Owner, 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.

What skills will help Owner, 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 soft skills should all Owner, 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Owner, Consultant job market given the pandemic?

Dr. Dan Jensen: There will be a combination of opportunities and losses across the next 3-5 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many industries will find it difficult to recover such as hospitality (hotels, restaurants, etc.), entertainment (movie theatres, night clubs, casinos, etc.), manufacturing, and educational services. But many industries and career pathways are opening up because of the use of online technologies. Positions that include remote work that leverage technology will remain and probably increase across time. Supply chain, project management, eCommerce, computer science, data science ("big data"), digital content, and artificial intelligence specialists will continue to increasingly be in demand. The healthcare industry has been in flux because of increasing costs but will emerge on the other side of the pandemic with opportunities for nurses, healthcare support staff, and related technologies (e.g., the "electronic healthcare record"). Irrespective of the pandemic, careers in sales or customer relationship management (CRM) will continue to be a popular launching point for recent college graduates.
The recruitment/hiring process is likely to become much longer than in the past and will rely on virtual interviews instead of face-to-face. With a high unemployment rate, it will be more difficult for younger, less experienced candidates to get hired. This is not great news for recent college graduates, but all is not lost.
Networking has always been the number one way that people find work opportunities. The skill is more important than ever. My recommended approach is to: identify a list of companies where you would like to work; research job postings within the company (and apply!) while simultaneously identifying contacts at the company (LinkedIn is a great tool to do this); then reaching out to contacts by using your existing network for an introduction (identify someone you know is already connected to the person you want to meet and ask them to forward a letter of introduction on your behalf). This leads to an "informational interview" (not a job interview); a chance to speak with someone about the company and its culture.

How have salaries changed over time for Owner, Consultants?

Dr. Dan Jensen: According to the Society for Human Resources, salary projections for 2021 are being reconsidered by many employers and plans for salary increases or bonuses may not be as large as projected. Salary expectations will vary with industry, role, and level of experience. 35-40% of US businesses have frozen salaries at 2020 levels. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a modest 3.0-3.5% increase is expected overall. Technology-driven roles are seeing among the largest increases in starting salaries as the battle to acquire talent continues to be highly competitive. Customer-focused roles with a technological focus (e.g., Customer Experience, CX) positions are also increasing compared to the past. Roles in accounting, finance, and general administration will see minimal change from the past year and vary based on industry rather than on the specific job title.

What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Owner, Consultants?

Dr. Dan Jensen: Credentials viewed favorably vary from industry to industry and job to job. If you are focused on the positive trends (question 1 above), there are specialized certifications for nearly every role. Some certifications require that you have professional experience in the industry, but others can be earned prior to having relevant work experience.
Supply Chain (e.g., Certified Supply Chain Manager, CSCP)
Human Resources (e.g., Professional in Human Resources, PHR)
Project Management (e.g., Project Management Professional, PMP)
Sales (e.g., SPIN Selling)
Networking (e.g., Certified Cisco Network Associate, CCNA)
Customer Relationship Management (e.g., Salesforce certification)
Google Certifications (e.g., AdWords certification)

What general advice would you give to an Owner, Consultant?

Joseph Gilkey Ph.D.: Continue to build skill sets and never stop learning. Look to understand and use new technologies, like AI. Stay current and relevant in the areas you want to work in. There are many ways to accomplish this, from self-study programs to colleges and universities.

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Owner, Consultant job market given the pandemic?

Steve Barr Ph.D.: Less full-time employees and more contract/1099 employees as firms do not want to ramp up with full-time employees given benefits requirements and the desire for flexibility in human resource management. This was starting before COVID, it will accelerate. More "remote work" even after COVID stops as employers will stop paying for expensive large office space rent. Less employment in large cities, look now at office space available in NYC, SF/Oakland, Chicago, LA, etc. Employers are fleeing high tax states like New York and Calif. Look at recent decisions by HP, Oracle, Tesla, etc. This is just the first wave. The new "rust belt" will be these large cities. I also look for more hiring by smaller vs. larger organizations.

What general advice would you give to an Owner, Consultant?

Steve Barr Ph.D.: You have to think about a career and not just a job. It is not all about the money. If you take a job to "chase the money" you will be disappointed later. Find something that you are passionate about and give it your best. The money will work out over time. I see too many people who can't wait to retire but have to stay "for the money" due to their lifestyle and lack of savings. This is very sad. I may never retire, I really like what I am doing. It is not for the money.

Be prepared to move to take the first job/step in your career. You also need to be prepared for "constant learning" for your job, be it technological changes, supply chain changes, industry/economic value changes, etc. Your best option is to be able to show that you can "create value for the organization" in specific ways so you need to plan your education and career in a way(s) that enable you to "create value" in different organizations.

What general advice would you give to an Owner, Consultant?

Angela Grotto Ph.D.:

1. When job searching, be active and persistent - Network by setting up Zoom informational calls with professionals (alumni, people with whom your family work) to learn about jobs that you are interested in or to learn about organizations where you would like to work and then follow up with them; have someone you trust who is a professional review your resume and social media profile pages; carve out time every day to apply to jobs; use Handshake and LinkedIn as a resource; keep sending out applications; while job searching, volunteer or start your business project that showcases your skillset and then discuss it during your interviews.
   
2. When interviewing, be creative - Use experiences from your academic career to demonstrate your capabilities. There are many skills you learn in class that are transferrable to the professional world. For example, as a student, you likely had to pivot to full remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, discuss how the new learning format has prepared you to work remotely as an employee, how small group projects have primed you to collaborate on a virtual team, and how small classes have equipped you to use technology such as Zoom.
   
3. When deciding on a job offer, be open-minded - Your first job may not be the one you had imagined or hoped for upon graduation. Still, it may be a stepping stone to your ideal career or a way to build your network of professional connections. You create meaningful and valuable relationships with others who may one day help you get the job you want.
   
4. When you land the job, be flexible - Show your employer or your boss that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do tasks that you were not necessarily trained for or are unrelated to your degree. Also, when circumstances at work change, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that you are willing to step up and do a different job, do someone else's job, or work on another project or team. This flexibility will demonstrate your versatility and how you can adapt to new and unpredictable situations. Lastly, embrace the "gig" economy - be willing to start as a temporary or contract worker with a company to get your foot in the door and build more professional connections.