Considering Internal Versus External Consulting

When you are thinking about consulting, there is a real similarity between internal consulting and external consulting. While they might look quite similar to someone who doesn't do them, the truth of the matter is that the difference in environment can make one much more likely for you than the other. Take a moment to consider how consulting might be able to help you and to see how you are going to be able to get the kind of job that you need. While consulting simply means offering your expertise to a company to help better them, there are a number of different ways that you can do this. Take a moment to consider how you are going to be able to get the results that you need.

The first thing that you should consider is who your clients are going to be. If you are working as an external consultant, you may find yourself working with almost anyone. You will be looking to engage in meaningful consultations with startups and blue chips while if you are working as an internal consultant, you will simply be working with one company. Though it seems simple enough, you will find that this can lead to a world of difference. Take some time and consider what your options are going to be when you are thinking about moving forward and making sure that you get the results that you need. It can really change the way that you view things and how you are going to be able to understand the field itself.

How do you want to build relationships? While an external consultant can certainly build up a rapport with a company to the point where they are often invited back and to where that company will recommend their services, you will find that it can mean that you never get to see a project through to completion. This can be something that is a little bit disappointing, but some external consultants really love it because then they are going to be able to try something new every day. On the other hand, an internal consultant will have a lot more stability in looking over the projects that they oversee and in many cases, they will soon realize that they can really oversee a project from beginning to end. How well do you work and how do you feel about the different kinds of satisfaction that are offered by both?



There is also the issue of how internal and external consultants are treated by the firms that they are working with. If you are an internal consultant, you will be in a higher position of trust. Firms often are suspicious of even the basic care and concern that is expressed by external consultants because they are worried over the upcoming sales pitch. Take a moment to think about how you are going to need to consider your work and what you can do to get the level of trust you need.

There are so many issues that go into being an internal consultant versus an external one, so take a moment to see where you are going and how you can get what you want; it is essential to your future.