Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for small business consultants in the United States
Small business consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected small business consultant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for small business consultants are projected over the next decade.
Small business consultant salaries have increased 8% for small business consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 20,351 small business consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 116,476 active small business consultant job openings in the US.
The average small business consultant salary is $47,982.
Are small business consultant jobs in demand?
Small business consultant job and salary trends over time
Small business consultant jobs over time
Small business consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,351 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 19,438 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,796 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 18,127 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,457 | 0.01% |
Average small business consultant salary over time
Small business consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,982 | $23.07 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $46,669 | $22.44 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $45,766 | $22.00 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $45,131 | $21.70 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $44,518 | $21.40 | +0.0% |
Small business consultant jobs by state
Most common states for small business consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 511 | 74% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 279 | 32% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 328 | 31% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 936 | 30% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 546 | 28% |
| 6 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 707 | 24% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 181 | 24% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 150 | 24% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 690 | 22% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,457 | 21% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,311 | 21% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,190 | 21% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 279 | 21% |
| 14 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 960 | 20% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 601 | 20% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 392 | 19% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 205 | 19% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 997 | 18% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 540 | 18% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 171 | 18% |
Most common cities for small business consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkville | 1 | 3% | $61,808 |
| 2 | San Carlos | 1 | 3% | $62,960 |
| 3 | Minnetonka | 1 | 2% | $43,445 |
| 4 | Wellington | 1 | 2% | $38,012 |
| 5 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $43,411 |
| 6 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $37,007 |
| 7 | Vallejo | 1 | 1% | $62,777 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $45,669 |
| 9 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $62,874 |
| 10 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $37,934 |
| 11 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $63,011 |
| 12 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $63,254 |
Small Business Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of small business consultant experts
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Methodist University
University of Southern Mississippi
University of West Florida
Lewis-Clark State College
Webster University
Salem State University
Xavier University
Purdue University Northwest
University of North Florida
Coastal Carolina University
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Central Arkansas
Florida State University
UMass Lowell
University of Nevada, Reno
What general advice would you give to a Small Business Consultant?
Mollie Sweet Ph.D., CPA, CMA, SHRM-SCP: Likes: Having a set schedule, upward mobility and career growth, opportunity to continuously learn and exposure to many areas, close relationship to clients and understanding of their business, solving problems, participate in strategic decision making and make strategic recommendations, collaborating with different departments, analyze data to guide decision making, leading process improvements. Dislikes: The work entails high responsibility and is at the same time prone to human error, can put in long hours (especially at the end of a close period or during tax season), can be frustrating when things don't balance, can be a challenge finding missing pieces, repetitive work.
What Small Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mollie Sweet Ph.D., CPA, CMA, SHRM-SCP: Accounting is an in-demand career with impressive salaries and job growth to match. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the employment of accountants and auditors will grow 6% by 2031. Accounting job postings have experienced substantial growth as well.
What will help Small Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Patrick O'Brien: No matter the field of accounting that one goes into, each one has its own type of “busy season”. These busy seasons generally require an accountant to work more hours than a typical 40-hour work week for a set period of time. While the hours can be intense, they are usually predictable, so the accountant can plan accordingly. In terms of what people usually like about being an accountant, there are a number of factors. The main one is that it is a career (rather than a job) with a clear path for advancement and promotion (generally, speaking). With this, there comes a level of career stability that many other professions and jobs cannot provide. Additionally, it has often been said that the accounting profession is “recession proof”. During poor economic periods, accountants tend to experience less career disturbances than other professions. Lastly, every business needs an accountant! This allows accountants the opportunity to break into any industry or company that they desire. Many professionals begin as accountants within an organization and have incredible upward mobility (whether as accountants or not). Accountants see most aspects and operations of an organization, so this knowledge and understanding makes them excellent top-level executives.
What general advice would you give to a Small Business Consultant?
Dr. Mfon Akpan CGMA: An accountant day-to-day can vary depending on the role, and accounting is a very broad field. So the way that I would answer this question is when you're thinking of getting into the accounting field, think about if you're the type of person that likes to sit at your desk, you don't like to interact with a lot of people or move around or have to travel, or if you're the person that likes to move around, you don't want to be sitting at your desk for a long period of time doing work at a computer. Also, so that could mean if you're the type of person that will be a tax associate. So if you're a tax associate during busy season, you may be in the office, you may be at your desk, you may be working 60 hours a week. If you work in internal audit, for example, you may be moving all around, speaking with people, performing your risk assessment, doing tests. So you may move around quite a bit and you may not be in your office as much. So I think one thing to consider is that accounting is a very broad field and you can work in various aspects of the field and in different industries, which can have drastically different day-to-days. The other thing to think about is as an accountant or entering the field, we're just talking about the field of accounting, which is very broad. You also have to think about adjacent fields. So if you work in finance, if you work as a financial advisor in the financial services field, you can work in banking, investment bank. So you can move into many of these adjacent fields as well. So that's also something to think of when entering the field of accounting or entering the profession. Very broad, very dynamic, very interesting, very flexible. Additionally, your role might mean being a tax associate. During the busy season, you could find yourself in the office, at your desk, working sixty hours a week. Conversely, if you work in internal audit, you might be moving around a lot, speaking with people, performing risk assessments, and conducting tests, which means you might not be in your office as much. It's important to recognize that accounting is a very broad field, offering various roles across different industries, each with drastically different day-to-days. When considering a career in accounting, also consider adjacent fields like finance. As a financial advisor or working in financial services, opportunities extend to banking and investment banking. This flexibility makes the field dynamic, interesting, and very broad, suitable for those looking for diverse career paths.
What Small Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mfon Akpan CGMA: What people like and dislike about being an accountant. I think from the education standpoint, being a professor, many of the students do not like the numbers and the jargon. So you've got to really learn the language of an accountant and you have to contend with the math. So I think those are things that many students do not like. The other thing that there's a dislike about could be that depending on what area you work in are the hours, so there could be issues with work-life balance, and then issues with pay.
What general advice would you give to a Small Business Consultant?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: From my experience as an external auditor for one of the big four accounting firms, the day to day involves a lot of talking with clients and looking through their accounting records to verify that everything has been recorded as it should have been. The ultimate goal of an auditor is to provide assurance to investors, lenders, or other external users that they can rely on the financial statements of a particular company. Auditors work in teams, oftentimes at the client site (which often entails travel), where each member of the team is assigned different tasks or sections of the company to audit. For example, while a lower level staff might be assigned the 'Cash' section or 'Inventory', a more senior staff member will likely be assigned to more complex areas such as 'Derivatives' or 'Financial Instruments'. Within their assigned area(s), auditors will select samples of transactions or some other unit from a population and proceed to verify that all supporting documents match and the correct number ultimately ends up in the financial statements. This can entail looking over documents such as invoices, shipping documents, and checks, meeting with clients to ask questions about various transactions or components of the business, working through spreadsheets, ensuring client calculations are justified, or coming up with expectations for account balances and comparing them to the client's. A day's activities likely include a number of these activities, along with collaboration with team members on how to handle more complex issues, and even helping clients out by identifying efficiencies that could be implemented to make their business run more smoothly. Public accounting is an incredibly diverse field, with each day bringing on a new set of challenges.
What Small Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: Accounting is an excellent profession to enter now because, more than ever, there is a huge demand for accountants. Accountants entering the profession have a lot of power in the market. Many employers are willing to negotiate salary, benefits, and flexibility in attempts to attract and retain talented individuals. Firms are also relying on the next generations of accountants to keep the firm current when it comes to things like data analytics and the use of AI. There are an incredible amount of possibilities in the accounting field, with the opportunities continuing to grow to include many activities outside the classic stereotype of accounting.
What will help Small Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Kristen Thompson PhD, CPA, CMA: Depending on the type of accountant, the likes and dislikes can vary quite a bit. Returning to my experience in public accounting, the number one component individuals dislike is the hours required during 'busy season'. However, they often discuss how much they enjoy being surrounded by smart people, the variation in tasks, the daily challenges that encourage them to continue to grow, the social aspect of the job, including interactions with coworkers and clients, the upward mobility and opportunities these firms provide, and the generous PTO and flexibility that firms allow outside of busy season. In private industry accounting on the other hand, people tend to enjoy the consistency and normalcy of hours required, as this realm of accounting more closely follows a typical 8-5 schedule. These individuals often refer to the consistency and predictability of their days in the office and the job security the profession provides. Both realms of accounting provide secure careers working with smart, driven, and oftentimes, even fun individuals.
What general advice would you give to a Small Business Consultant?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career in the accounting field, gaining relevant experience through internships while in college can significantly enhance your employability and set you apart from other candidates. Internships provide valuable hands-on experience and allow you to demonstrate your skills and capabilities to potential employers. Additionally, pursuing professional certifications such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or other necessary credentials specific to the role you are applying for can greatly increase your earning potential. These certifications not only validate your expertise and knowledge but also signal to employers that you are committed to advancing your career in the accounting profession.
What Small Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: Starting a career in accounting can be challenging as it is a constantly evolving field with new regulations, standards, and technologies. Strong technical skills and soft skills such as communication, leadership, and problem solving will help you contribute to your organizations success. However, the way to get comfortable and accelerate your professional development is to continually seek feedback and soak up knowledge when doing so. Actively seeking input from your supervisors and peers will not only allow you to identify areas for improvement but also fosters an environment conducive to knowledge-sharing. By engaging in collaborative exchanges of insights and expertise, you not only enhance your own understanding but also contribute to the collective intelligence of your team. Ultimately a strong culture of knowledge sharing not only accelerates individual growth but also cultivates a synergistic environment which can propel the entire organization forward.
What will help Small Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Kristina Kostovski CPA, MBA: When asked about accounting and the future of the field, there is no surprise the accounting field is expected to continue to see changes driven by advancements in technology, evolving regulations, and shifting business landscapes. Accountants will increasingly need to analyze large datasets to derive insights and make data-driven decisions. However, what is less spoken about is the need for communication and leadership skills due to decline in people wanting to become accounts in the US. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) found through its 2023 Trends report that only 47,067 individuals graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2022 compared to 52,481 in 2020 and 51,031 in 2021. As the profession faces a shortage of skilled professionals, the demand for individuals who possess strong communication and leadership abilities becomes increasingly pronounced. Accountants do more than just crunch numbers; they are also tasked with translating complex financial data into actionable insights and guiding strategic decision-making, driving value for their organizations and clients alike. Further, effective communication and leadership skills are needed within your organization to ensure younger staff are adequately mentored and guided as they navigate their careers in accounting. With a decline in the number of individuals entering the accounting profession, it's crucial to cultivate an environment where knowledge transfer and professional development thrive. Thus, while technical proficiency remains essential, the cultivation of interpersonal competencies is equally vital for aspiring accountants to thrive in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the profession.
What Small Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Buckley: Adaptability - The sales environment is evolving rapidly with changes in buyer expectations, technologies, and go-to-market strategies. Successful salespeople will need to be highly adaptable, comfortable with change, and able to quickly adjust their approach as needed. Those stuck in outdated methods will struggle. Digital Selling - The ability to effectively sell through digital channels and virtual interactions is now table stakes. Mastering skills like virtual presentations, video marketing, social selling, and leveraging sales technology tools will separate the top performers. Buyers expect a seamless, digitally-enabled experience. Business Acumen - More than ever, salespeople need the ability to position their products/services as strategic solutions that tangibly impact the client's key objectives, financial metrics, and business outcomes. Knowing how to speak the language of business strategy is crucial for consultative selling.
What general advice would you give to a Small Business Consultant?
Amy Kass CPA, MBA: My advice to a graduate beginning a career in the accounting industry is to take advantage of as many new learning opportunities and work-related experiences as possible. The accounting industry offers accountants many specialized areas to choose a career path in, so using those learning opportunities and work-related experiences will help graduates choose which area in the accounting industry they'd like to work in while expanding their skills on their resume, their confidence, and ultimately their salaries. A great way to access a variety of work-related experiences is to work at a public accounting firm.
What general advice would you give to a Small Business 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 Small Business 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 Small Business 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Small Business Consultants?
Jenny Scott: Consulting requires knowing the job itself, so industry experience is paramount.
Both "big picture/systems" thinking, as well as the ability to identify and understand details (analytical skills), is key skill in business consulting.
Don't forget the value of written communication skills. With fewer in-person meetings, being able to professionally, succinctly, and effectively write is one of the most coveted and essential skills.
Presentation skills are still - if not more - important today. Being familiar with a variety of presentation tools and platforms can be helpful; however, finding one or a few where you can be highly proficient will help achieve both efficiencies of communications, message delivery, and desired outcome.
Sung Eun Park
Assistant Professor, Advertising and Marketing CommunicationsWebster University
Communications & Journalism
What skills stand out on Small Business Consultant resumes?
Sung Eun Park: Companies hiring marketing consultants look for someone with strong communication and leadership skills that can translate to great candidates. In addition, a strong background in data analysis will definitely stand out from other candidates. Unlike many beliefs, people who get jobs as marketing consultant comes from various education backgrounds including advertising and English major. It is an indication that companies are open to people with diverse perspectives that can bring fresh eyes to the team. The resumes showcasing a person with various experiences highlighting strong leadership skills (not just strictly marketing) in a team environment will get noticed.
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingSalem State University
Accounting & Finance Department, Bertolon School of Business
What skills stand out on Small Business Consultant resumes?
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.: In my opinion, the skills that recent university graduates need to succeed professionally in a time of the pandemic, i.e., mostly remote office work, are 1) communication skills, 2) research skills, 3) data analytics skills, and 4) adaptability. A newly hired graduate in an accounting firm or in the accounting department of a non-accounting firm needs to write concisely, to the point, and error-free. Bad writing projects a weak professional (and company) image to clients, suppliers, and others. Communication skills do not extend only to writing emails and reports; asking questions when clarification is needed also is very important for a smooth work process. No one is born knowing everything, but one can research topics of interest and learn new things. Nowadays, there are plenty of library books, magazines, databases, search engines, online forums, massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as Udemy, EdX, and Coursera, and other resources available at our fingertips. Knowledge has never been available so widely and so cheaply, often for free. I call this the democratization of knowledge. Curiosity is an important characteristic of acquiring new knowledge and skills. New knowledge and skills lead to upskilling, especially if acquired regularly. The future belongs to those willing to get out of their comfort zone, upskill, and adopt a lifetime learning worldview. This is a matter of values and priorities. We see lifetime learning in action in business, too - Netflix and SpaceX, for example, have adopted innovative business models that no one had thought of before, and they have not stopped innovating. These companies did not rest on their laurels. Likewise, graduates need to be proactive, do research, and find the answers the company is looking for. "Data" is all around us and is valuable. Learning the basics of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI and getting certified in them can be very useful, too. For more advanced software features, the makers of these programs have online classes, support, and user manuals. Learning data analytics skills may take some time, but it will save a lot of time and effort in the long run. Finally, adaptability.
My native country, Bulgaria, for example, has seen an influx of workers from Latin America, North America, the rest of Europe, and other places since the mid-2000s. Big Western pharmaceutical and software companies, among others, have offshored their offices there because the cost of labor and the income taxes are lower than those in Western countries. A low cost of labor corresponds to a low cost of living, too. Today, recent graduates should stay open-minded as to the location of their employer. We live in a global village that constantly changes. Sometimes, one's ideal job is far away from home. Accepting a job opportunity abroad requires flexibility and the long term in mind. It may come with nice surprises - a generous foreign earned income tax credit (for U.S. citizens working abroad), college debt forgiveness or postponement (for jobs with the Peace Corps and the Fulbright Commission, for example), new places to see, new languages to learn, and new friends to make. When one door shuts, another one opens.
Mike Halloran
Teaching Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship, Taskforce Member, Center for InnovationXavier University
Management Department
What skills stand out on Small Business 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 Small Business 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 Small Business Consultants?
Mike Halloran: Excel
-Digital communication
-Budget management
Pat Obi Ph.D.
White Lodging Professor of Finance, Director, Executive MBA ProgramPurdue University Northwest
Finance Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Small Business Consultants?
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Data analysis and presentation skills - spreadsheet, statistical software, presentation software.
Russell Triplett Ph.D.
Interim Chair and Associate ProfessorUniversity of North Florida
Department of Economics and Geography
What skills stand out on Small Business 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 Small Business 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 Small Business Consultants possess?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Creative thinking, Leadership, Adaptability, Communication, Empathy, Conflict Resolution, Work Ethic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Small Business 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 Small Business 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.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What skills stand out on Small Business Consultant resumes?
Jim McClenahan: It continues to be a balance of soft skills and technical skills. Perseverance and Grit are things to highlight. Adapting to changing environments is something not advertised, but everyone is looking for with the times we are in. With adapting to change, empathy is very important. For students, employers want to see levels of engagement. A high GPA is not enough. What clubs were you involved in? What part-time jobs did you hold? Finally, technical skills will never go out of style. A little coding is nice, and Excel mastery in any position dealing with data is vital.
Anthony McMullen
Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, vUniversity of Central Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Small Business Consultant resumes?
Anthony McMullen: This will depend on the specific field. Business is an incredibly broad area. Anyone with a business type of degree will at least obtain basic knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. These skills should be highlighted. But when thinking about a resume, workers should think about (and participate in) experiences that allow them to use these skills. And once they have these experiences, they should be able to articulate how they used these skills on a resume. Don't just say, "I did ______." Say, "I used _________ in order to accomplish __________."
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 Small Business 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 soft skills should all Small Business 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 Small Business 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 Small Business 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Small Business 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 skills will help Small Business 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.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Small Business 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 Small Business 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 Small Business 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.