First of all, is this what you really want? What are your reasons for wanting to become a consultant in the first place? If the answer is money, then this probably isn't a very good idea for you. Of course there is going to be a lot of money involved, especially for those who come from banking jobs and finance careers, but what are the real reasons that you should be doing this?
Do you want to help companies succeed? Do you want to do something rewarding? Overall, do you want to be the person that everyone looks to for an answer? If the answer to these questions is a resounding 'yes' then consulting is probably for you. But remember, if you're going to make an impact in the consulting industry then you need to make sure that you have all of the certifications required.
You need to make sure that in whatever field you are trying to be a consultant in, you have the certifications such as degrees, diplomas, and anything of that nature. All of your triumphs and achievements need to be on display for the entire world to see. You might be a modest person by nature, but modesty is not going to get you anywhere in this industry! You might have been the best in your banking jobs or finance careers, but none of that is going to matter if you don't have some sort of paper to show you are the best.
It sounds unfair yes, but so many businesses require that you have that piece of paper. You could have all the knowledge in the world but without a degree it means nothing. But believe it or not, the degree alone isn't going to get you the job. You need to be a confident person. You need to be able to share your knowledge in a way that others can understand in their own banking jobs or finance jobs, and you need to be able to teach them to use that knowledge effectively.
On top of that you need to remember that you don't know everything. There is always going to be something new to learn and with every new skill or piece of information that you learn, you're going to need to be able to apply it immediately and without hesitation. The bar in this industry is set very high; do you think you can reach it? Do you think you can compare with all the others that have entered this field? It's a fair question, and hopefully the answer is a resounding yes, otherwise you're going to run into some serious problems when trying to enter this field.
This is a very competitive occupation. Your ability to adapt is very important. Do you have what it takes to become the best consultant out there? There's only one way to find out! Do some research and dive right in!
