Expanding Your Credentials
As you develop your list of consulting credentials, you may see holes. Your specialty may require a specific degree or a professional certification that you don't have. If so, it's time to beef up your consulting resume. You'll add more education and more experience.
More Education
Many people get a formal education in one field, then move to a related or even dissimilar field for their career. For example, an arts major may wind up working in the computer field. If your new consulting field requires a specific level of education, you may have to get it.
Not all educational institutions are fully accredited. Some will sell you a degree on easy terms, but the degree is worthless if it isn't accepted by other learning institutions, employers, or knowledgeable clients. Talk with colleges and professional educators in your field to help you choose accredited education and training sources.
To expand your formal education or training, first define exactly what credentials are required in your field. It may be a specific degree, such as an AS or MBA. Or you may need technical certification, such as the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+ certification program (
More Experience
Knowledge also can come from experience. Your consulting field may not require a college degree, but it will require that you have worked in your chosen field for many years — and learned valuable lessons.
If your field is experience-based, make sure that your consulting resume includes that experience. If not, begin to develop it now. For example, if you want to be a retail consultant and have worked in the retail trade as a manager but never as a clerk, get a job as a clerk to see the business from that perspective. You won't have to work very long to recognize challenges and opportunities that add to your experience and knowledge.
