Phases of professional development in consulting

The concept of career stages or phases is extended to the career progression challenges faced by consultants in professional service firms. Professions such as consulting typically have rigorous entry requirements, demand newcomers to be individual contributors and revenue generators early in their careers, and often enforce up‐or‐out advancement policies. The nature of the work done changes significantly with advancement with the more senior professionals being responsible for the generation of demand for the firm’s services, the management of projects and people, and leadership of the institution. None of these activities is typically part of the formal education required to become a consultant, nor of the standards governments may enforce for one to remain in practice. These work changes and progression challenges are explored within five phases of professional development phases that parallel the personal growth and job challenges one confronts in moving from newcomer to senior professional.