Introduction to Consulting

Looking to launch a career in consulting? This course offers a comprehensive, practical guide based on over 16 years of experience teaching consulting to students – including six years with KPMG's national consulting practice and over ten years at the University of Montana's College of Business. Dr. Firth, a nationally recognized expert in preparing students for successful consulting careers, shares invaluable insights that have helped hundreds of students secure well-paying positions with top firms.

Whether you're a college undergraduate, recent graduate, or an experienced professional looking to transition into consulting, this course provides actionable strategies. While primarily focused on securing a role within a consulting firm, the content is highly relevant for those considering starting their own consulting business.

Here's a breakdown of key topics covered:

• Making a Powerful First Impression: Learn how to excel during the consulting hiring process and consistently make a positive impact as a consultant.
• Understanding Consulting Firm Finances: Gain a clear understanding of how consulting firms generate revenue, enabling you to better understand your role and increase your value.
• Chargeability: The Key to Consultant Success: Discover why chargeability is the most important metric for a consultant, how it's calculated, and practical strategies to improve it.
• Realization: A Firm's Key Metric: Learn about realization, the crucial metric for consulting firms, how it's calculated, and your contribution to it.
• The Consulting Triangle: Scope, Cost, and Schedule: Master the fundamental consulting triangle and its impact on project success.
• Crafting Winning Consulting Proposals: We'll dissect every aspect of a real consulting proposal with a detailed example, ensuring you understand all the components.
• Budgeting for Consulting Projects: Analyze a real consulting project budget, understanding each element and how they interact.
• Mastering the Consulting Meeting: From planning to effective note-taking and insightful questioning, learn how to navigate all aspects of a consulting meeting.
• Avoiding Common Meeting Pitfalls: Identify and avoid common mistakes in consulting meetings, including problematic question types and issues related to social desirability bias.

This course equips you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the competitive world of consulting.