IT consultants are masters in IT systems and they help the firms to improve the structure and efficiency of applications they develop. They offer excellent advice to the firms so that they can accomplish their business goals and objectives without any delay and hurdle. IT consultants can provide advice in any of the following fields: project management, marketing, system development and client relationship management. Sometimes they may even have to train newcomers, but in many companies this work may be done by a separate team of IT professionals.
Responsibilities of IT Consultants
The basic responsibilities of IT consultants involve the following:
- Arrange meetings with the clients to understand their problems and find their solutions
- Assisting clients to define the scope of the project
- Managing time and making efficient use of the available resources
- Frequent traveling to the client site to discuss and solve their problems
- Maintain regular coordination with all the staff members
- Finding out the software, hardware and network requirement of the project
- Understand policies and strategies used by the clients in their business
- Continuously maintain contacts with the potential clients
- Preparing reports and documents and submitting them to the clients
- Whenever need for new system arises, IT consultants have to design, test and implement the system
- Responsible for creating the project plans
To get successful as an IT consultant a person needs to have the following skills:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with good command over the language because most of the work of the consultants depends on oral communication with the clients
- Should possess excellent problem solving skills
- Should have good command over the technical aspect of the field in which the IT consultant is specialized
- Should be able to handle pressure easily and be ready to work under any conditions
- Must possess good logical ability and good problem solving skills
- They should have good interpersonal skills as most of the time they have to interact with the people
- He should know how to convince his clients and suggest his own solutions
- IT consultant must be self motivated and should develop a positive attitude towards life
- He should be able to work well under pressure and must meet deadlines
Training may be in programming languages, system analysis and testing of the designed systems and developing excellent business skills. This job is open for all the graduates and people with knowledge in subjects like mathematics, electronics, and information systems are always in demand.
Career Prospects
IT consulting is a rapidly growing industry in the international business. Since past few years there has been around 50% growth seen in the IT consulting field. There are numerous job opportunities in the market and there has been rising demand for IT consultants because the industry is also expanding. It is predicted by the US department that this field is going to grow at rapid rate than it was before. IT field is a very diverse field and as an IT consultant a person has various tasks to do. A definite growth is guaranteed but for that an individual must show his eagerness to the work. Depending on the talent of IT consultants he may be promoted.
Salary
The average salary of IT consultants is around $80,000. This may vary depending on the experience and the type of position a person holds in the firm. An IT consultant job is reputed one in the market and without it is very difficult for the IT firms to manage their business efficiently. Besides, IT consultants have a good pay scale per year and it is going to increase with time.
IT consultants play an important role in ensuring that all IT activities in an IT company and all IT projects are being carried out well. You can work full time, on contract basis or start your own IT consulting firm.
