Management Consultant Jobs in the United States

Management Consulting Jobs Overview

Management consulting jobs involve solving business challenges and creating strategies to optimize a companies’ performances. People in these professions are highly knowledgeable and trained to help companies thrive.

It’s no surprise they are in high demand as the job field has a projected growth of 11%. If your strong suits are problem-solving and effective communication, this could be your ideal career.

Management consultant jobs deal with project management, business analysis, and industry-specific consulting tasks like:

• Organizing strategies targeted to the company’s needs.
• Conducting extensive and objective research and analysis on business issues.
• Reorganizing the company’s structure, operations or any area that needs improvement.
• Following processes from start to end.
• Defining plan timelines and parties involved.
• Tracking and reporting progress.

Management consulting jobs are classic nine-to-five professions. You’ll work 40 hours a week and you might have to travel frequently to meet clients.

Salaries for Management Consulting Jobs

The salary of a management consultant can fall anywhere between $60,964 and $113,661 a year on average, with $88,243 as a median figure. Keep in mind, however, that your income depends on your experience, industry, and location.

For example, here are the industries that pay the most for management consulting jobs per year:

• web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services: $191,030
• metal ore mining: $154,900
• petroleum and coal products manufacturing: $142,940
• computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing: $141,870
• clothing and clothing accessories retailers: $136,010

When it comes to location, below are the states in which you’ll earn the most as a management consultant:

• New Jersey: $126,000 per year
• Massachusetts: $123,010 per year
• New Hampshire: $121,320 per year
• New York: $120,730 per year
• Illinois: $116,650 per year

Have a look at Monster’s Salary Calculator to find out what your wage as a management consultant could be in your city. On top of that, we’ll also show you salaries of similar roles and helpful skills to pursue career growth.

How to Find the Best Management Consulting Jobs

Be intentional when browsing through job openings and you’ll have an easier time finding exactly what you need. Here is how you do it:

Identify Your Priorities

Define your needs and aspirations so you can select the best management consulting jobs for you. Factors you should take into consideration include:

• The type of industry and projects you’d like to and are qualified to work on.
• The client exposure you’ll have.
• The travel expectations your specific role might require.
• The work flexibility you need to adjust to your personal commitments.
• Whether you’re interested in climbing the corporate ladder or not.

Research Companies

Before applying for any position, do some digging on the company you’re interested in. Carefully read the job ad and pay attention to the type of language they use to describe themselves and the ideal candidate.

Next, visit their website, social media pages and read previous employees’ opinions. All the above will give you an idea about the company culture and values so you can decide if they match your own.

How to Apply to Management Consulting Jobs

Get invited for job interviews by crafting powerful resumes and cover letters. Here’s how:

Update Your Resume for Management Consultant Jobs

To create the perfect management consultant resume you don’t have to list every single job title you ever held in your career. When you write your resume focus on relevant experience and make your resume scannable.

To achieve the latter, use paragraphs, spacing, bullet points, and bold text. Guide the readers through your resume and help them find what they need quickly. Remember, a recruiter only has a few seconds to evaluate a resume.

As far as relevance goes, check the job listing itself. It will tell you exactly what skills the company is looking for. You’ll get recruiters’ attention if you use the very same skills and industry keywords they use. The most common terms for management consultants are:

• analytical mindset
• problem-solving
• strategic thinking
• organization
• excellent communication skills
• time management
• goal-oriented attitude

Improve your document by signing up to Monster’s Resume Writing Services. One of our resume experts will help you craft and optimize the perfect resume for your targeted role.

Tips for Your Management Consultant Cover Letter

An application is only really complete with a customized consulting cover letter. Don’t miss the opportunity to provide hiring managers with more information on why you are the best fit for their company and what you could do for them. An easy cover letter structure to follow looks like this:

• Opening: State what role you’re applying for and what overall experience you have to qualify.
• Experience: Be more specific about your experience and biggest achievements from your past management consulting jobs.
• Skills: Mention what skills make you the ideal candidate and how you developed them.
• Closing: Sum up your strengths in a powerful closing line and offer to provide any additional information the employer might need.

Once your resume and cover letter are good to go, upload them on your free Monster account. You’ll be able to apply for management consultant jobs in a matter of seconds. Plus, we’ll keep you posted with all the latest roles matching your preferences.

How to Follow Up with an Employer

Has it been more than a week since you applied but no answer? If you’re still interested in the role, it’s time to follow up.

At this stage of the recruitment process, stick to email as the preferred medium to get in touch with hiring managers. Look up their contact details in the job opening. Can't find them? Give the company a call to get the hiring managers’ contact information.

Your follow-up message should be nice and short:

1. Introduce yourself and the position you applied for.
2. Briefly mention your background and qualifications.
3. Ask for an update on your job application.

Remember to attach your resume to the email as well. This way, recruiters will more than likely have a look at it.

Interview Tips for Management Consulting Jobs

Looking for tips to improve your interview performance and make the best impression on hiring managers? We’ve got you covered. Check out our interview preparation library. You’ll find all the resources you need to understand how different types of interviews work and how to formulate answers to every job interview question.

For a management consultant role, critical thinking and problem solving are key. That’s why recruiters will challenge you with competency-based interview questions, as well as behavioral questions. Other common questions you should expect include:

• “Tell me about a time when you worked within a cross-functional team to complete a project.”
• “How do you identify your clients' needs and what approach do you use to solve those needs?”
• “Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult client. How did you handle that?”
• “Did you ever fail a project? What did you learn from that experience?

What to Do When You Get an Offer

Unsure what to do after receiving an offer for your dream management consultant job? Here are the steps we recommend:

1. Express gratitude. When the company contacts you with the job offer, your first reply should be “Thank you”. This is important both if you’re going to accept or decline the offer. Showing appreciation for the company recruitment efforts always helps you keep an open door for future positions.
2. Set a timeline to reply with an answer. Consultants have high-responsibility roles in companies, so it’s acceptable to take up to a week to decide. Be sure to set clear expectations with the company about the time you need.
3. Evaluate the offer. A job offer is a contract proposal, so make sure to take the time to read it carefully. Are you happy with the terms including responsibilities, job title, pay and benefits? It’s a good idea to do some research to make sure all is in line with the industry standards.
4. Consider the company fit. How well does the company’s mission and values resonate with you? What’s your gut feeling about their work environment? These are only a few of the questions you should ask yourself to assess if it’s a good fit for you.
5. Negotiate better terms, if needed. Do you love the job, but the salary is below your expectations? Prepare a bullet-proof case to why you deserve a higher salary and start your negotiation.

Management Consulting Job Career Paths

Management consulting jobs provide you with versatile knowledge to transition to several careers. Depending on your interests, eagerness to upskill and goals, you could move into:

• Project Management: A natural shift you could make from management consultant jobs is project management. Your expertise in project execution, stakeholder management, and resource allocation is beneficial to companies. Sharpen your organizational and leadership skills to succeed in this role.
• Corporate Strategy: These positions involve working closely with senior management of organizations. You’ll develop and implement long-term strategies, conduct market research, and optimize business operations. With your background you’ll be able to make informed, complex decisions.
• Nonprofit Management: Wish to make a social impact? Consider moving into management roles in nonprofit organizations or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). You’ll apply your problem-solving and strategic skills to help improve social and humanitarian issues.
• Teaching: Do you have a passion for sharing your knowledge? Contributing to the development of future professionals in a university or other academic environment could be a fulfilling option. Keep in mind that to access these roles, you might have to pursue advanced degrees.

Similar Occupations

Are you open to other management jobs? Check out the following popular options:

• business management jobs
• marketing consultant jobs
• contracting manager jobs