Consulting as a career option?

Rocket Is HR Consulting a Career Move or a Leap of Faith? Let’s Discuss! Thinking

For many HR professionals, consulting feels like a distant possibility — something that happens after years of climbing the corporate ladder or perhaps even post-retirement.

But is that really the case? Thought balloon
At what point does HR consulting feel like a realistic career option?

Question Is it when you reach a crossroads in your career?
 Question After experiencing burnout in a corporate role?
 Question Or do you see it as a planned pivot towards freedom and flexibility?

Over the last few years, I’ve seen HR professionals at all stages make the move into consulting — from early-career professionals to senior directors with decades of experience.

Some made the leap after a corporate restructure, others after feeling they wanted more control and flexibility in their careers. And let’s not forget those who were simply ready to make a bigger impact on their own terms.

I’d love to hear your thoughts:
 Speech balloon Do you see HR consulting as a career move? At what stage would you consider it a viable option for yourself?

Parents
  • Having made the move, I can certainly vouch for it being different to an internal role. I think, as it's already been pointed out, it requires a particular mentality and has different requirements to a solely 'in-house' job.
    For me, I initially moved to a consultancy, where I learned an awful lot in a very short period of time, working with multiple clients on multiple projects means you've got to have your head screwed on and taught me to manage my time. From there I started my own consultancy and through networking and some concerted effort I've been fortunate to make a good start of it.
    I certainly had/have hopes and dreams of working in blocks on specific work or less overall, but this comes with other requirements like making enough for the rest of the time to be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour as well as forward planning to make sure the highs and lows balance out.
Reply
  • Having made the move, I can certainly vouch for it being different to an internal role. I think, as it's already been pointed out, it requires a particular mentality and has different requirements to a solely 'in-house' job.
    For me, I initially moved to a consultancy, where I learned an awful lot in a very short period of time, working with multiple clients on multiple projects means you've got to have your head screwed on and taught me to manage my time. From there I started my own consultancy and through networking and some concerted effort I've been fortunate to make a good start of it.
    I certainly had/have hopes and dreams of working in blocks on specific work or less overall, but this comes with other requirements like making enough for the rest of the time to be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour as well as forward planning to make sure the highs and lows balance out.
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