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Consulting as a career option?

Sarah

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?

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  • I worked as a freelance consultant for several years when I had small children. It was something I fell into rather than planned (I was on mat leave and was offered work by someone that led to a longer term commitment from them - so I resigned from my permanent role). It was great to have the flexibility, but less than a year later I took on a part time role too - partly for the stable income, but mostly because I missed so many of the things that I love about what I do: the people.

    I found it was really hard being parachuted in to deal with a redundancy, for example, without the chance to get to know any of the people involved. It became about the process, rather than the way that I feel I add the most value.

    The part time role for me led to a full time and flexible role, so I gave up the freelance work then - but when I was made redundant, many years later, I thought I'd return to consulting. It was then that I went to talk to a friend of a family member, who ran a very successful HR consulting business. She was happy to offer me work, and did so, but most valuably she talked to me about the WHY - why she loved running her business, and the passion she brought to being her own boss and developing her team. It really made me think - and actually to change my mind. I realised that I like being part of an established team, I like having a much wider team that I know and support, I like being part of something with a different purpose, and (realistically) I like getting a salary, sick pay, pension etc.

    I'll be forever grateful to have had that conversation at the right time. Like Gemma, it's a never-say-never situation for me: but if I change my mind in future, it will be with open eyes.

    Good luck.

    Nina
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  • I worked as a freelance consultant for several years when I had small children. It was something I fell into rather than planned (I was on mat leave and was offered work by someone that led to a longer term commitment from them - so I resigned from my permanent role). It was great to have the flexibility, but less than a year later I took on a part time role too - partly for the stable income, but mostly because I missed so many of the things that I love about what I do: the people.

    I found it was really hard being parachuted in to deal with a redundancy, for example, without the chance to get to know any of the people involved. It became about the process, rather than the way that I feel I add the most value.

    The part time role for me led to a full time and flexible role, so I gave up the freelance work then - but when I was made redundant, many years later, I thought I'd return to consulting. It was then that I went to talk to a friend of a family member, who ran a very successful HR consulting business. She was happy to offer me work, and did so, but most valuably she talked to me about the WHY - why she loved running her business, and the passion she brought to being her own boss and developing her team. It really made me think - and actually to change my mind. I realised that I like being part of an established team, I like having a much wider team that I know and support, I like being part of something with a different purpose, and (realistically) I like getting a salary, sick pay, pension etc.

    I'll be forever grateful to have had that conversation at the right time. Like Gemma, it's a never-say-never situation for me: but if I change my mind in future, it will be with open eyes.

    Good luck.

    Nina
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