'Consultants Know Everything' and Other Consulting Career Myths
If you think you’re not “expert enough” to be a consultant, you might be selling yourself short. This mindset prevents many experienced professionals from entering consulting careers, but it needn’t be that way for you.
Consultants are highly skilled professionals that excel in their respective fields. That doesn’t mean they have all the answers. One of the biggest myths about consulting is that you need decades of experience or to be the top expert in your line of work. In reality, tenure isn’t nearly as important as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and the ability to stand confident in your experience and the outcomes you’ve achieved.
What else do people get wrong about consulting? Let’s explore some of the biggest consulting myths that could be holding you back from an exciting new career direction.
Myth: You work alone and will miss having coworkers.
If you think consulting is a lonely road, think again. Most consultants work as part of a project team. They develop strong, face-to-face relationships with their clients, fellow consultants and client colleagues. Depending on the type of project you’re working on, you may end up with a great balance of solo work and team collaboration.
Consulting at different client companies and on different projects will naturally help you grow your network without a lot of extra effort on your part. It’s a great way to grow your career.
Whether you prefer working alone or working as part of a team, let the recruiting team you are working with know. They can match you with potential projects that suit the way you like to work.
Myth: You have to work long, crazy hours.
Flexibility is one of the biggest benefits to consulting, especially if you don’t want your job to consume your entire life. Some consulting jobs can be quite demanding, but in our world, they don’t require you to work long hours.
Working with niche consulting firms allows you to set your own schedule. You can choose to work on a part-time or full-time basis and only take on projects that suit your preferences.
Myth: You will have to travel.
Consultants at other companies spend a good chunk of time on an airplane each week, but that’s not the reality for our consultants. Prime 8 consultants might travel occasionally for a special client event, but it’s very rare. Even pre-pandemic our consultants worked remotely using teleconferencing and other digital tools to get the job done from locations across the country.
Myth: You don’t get benefits.
In some circles, consultants operate independently. They are hired by clients as 1099 contractors, leaving the burden of taxes and benefits up to the consultant. Losing the security and cost-effectiveness of corporate benefits is one of the biggest hesitations we hear about from candidates considering a career in consulting, and understandably so.
In the Prime 8 world, consultants are not contractors. They are W2 employees. Full time consultants are eligible for the full set of company’s benefits. This includes vacation/sick leave, holiday pay, subsidized health/dental/vision insurance, 401k, worker’s compensation benefits, and the eligibility to file for unemployment insurance should you be separated from your job.
Myth: You don’t choose your assignments.
When you’re a contractor, you get to choose the work you do and turn down assignments that don’t interest you or that you feel aren’t a good fit. But can you do the same as a Prime 8 employee? The short answer — yes!
One of the biggest advantages of working for a firm like Prime 8 is the flexibility it offers. You get the best of both worlds — the autonomy of a freelancer or contractor and the security of an employee. If we offer you an assignment that doesn’t feel like a good fit for you, you don’t have to accept it. We’ll keep looking for the right match.
We want our consultants to provide excellent service and represent us in the best possible way. That’s not possible if you’re working outside of your comfort zone. So, think of it as a win/win. When you choose projects you want, you will shine and provide the best support for your (and our!) client.
Myth: Consulting is super competitive.
The myth of competition among consultants isn’t completely unfounded. It thrives on the other myth that you need to be an established expert in your field with decades of experience. That’s true for many consultants — they’ve worked for 20, 30, even 40 years at their jobs and transitioned to consulting. How can you compete for work against such seasoned talent?
Working as an employee at a consulting firm removes much of the competition. You have the backing of a professional firm, not just your own resume. We vet your skills and experience and vouch for you to our clients. You don’t have to compete against other professionals across the industry because your consulting firm has an established relationship with the client, and will work on your behalf to set up an interview for roles that fit your needs and skills.
Granted, landing a top consulting job at one of the Big 3 firms is a competitive process with very low acceptance rates (<1% in some cases). But working with smaller niche firms gives you more opportunities to get consulting work, building your resume with experience at some of the best-known companies in the world.
At Prime 8, we’re changing the narrative for consulting and enabling them to pursue a fulfilling career that enables them to thrive. Check our Consulting FAQ for more on what it really means to consult!
