However, in order to get into a consulting career, you will in all likelihood need to have experience in the field in which you would like to consult. In essence consulting is not really a career that many people start in, but rather a second career. It is a field that one would get into if they have reached the top of their current profession or if they are looking to move on and expand into a different career.
To some degree, it would be what people would consider a lateral movement, but there are wonderful benefits to consulting. If you are operating as an independent consultant, you can pick and choose your clients as well as when it is that you are going to go to work as well as for how long. The drawback is that as an independent consultant, you will have no benefits except for those that your provide yourself. So yes, there is a great deal of freedom that is associated with the ability to run your own consulting firm, but there are drawbacks and things to worry about as well.
Not all people are able to go out on their own into the field of consulting. There are many companies and firms that are designed to provide multiple people to one company or facility as consultants. Here if you go to work as a consultant you will be a part of a team and thus will not have all of the freedom you had envisioned when you were initially looking to become a consultant. Here you would again be an employee and would work set hours, performing the tasks that the company required as opposed to simply going and working for yourself. There is the security as well as the benefits that are provided from going to work for such a firm; however, these seem to be the best selling points available.
In essence, consulting is not a bad career to get into as long as you are able to get your foot in the door. If you are going to go and work for yourself, make sure to have a client base established before quitting your current job and not to end up hanging in the wind. If you are looking to work for a consulting firm research the company you are looking to join and make sure they are established and have a proven track record. You do not want to go to a start up consulting firm and end up back at your old job because it folded. Make sure to do your research and to be ready for anything when it comes to going and finding a consulting job or changing your careers.
