Dear gentlemen/ladiesFurther to my previous post, I am disheartened at the lack of responses. I can only presume that someone on £74k a year in education looking for a new challenge is not worthy of response.I am interested in the opinion of anyone, who can spare a moment, to help me plan what is a significant career change. I have the MBA, am currently going through the Prince2 training and above all have the personal skills to deal with a workforce (some of whom have militant union backgrounds) and the appropriate manner to get the best from people and make them feel valued. Thus their productivity increases. I have presented to over 400 people at a regional event, project managed and effectively marketed an organisation.So, if you can tear yourselves away from your wealth management portfolio, even the most brief responses would be appreciated.Yours (in all sincerity)

What was the question?

Please see post 36233 yesterday.

Again have to ask what is you question? 'just wondering what my chances are of moving into industry after 7 seven years of leading and managing a workforce of 70. Set up a small successful business with my wife along the way [what sort of company? You 've been doing it what are your strenghts, what skills can you afford to buy in? . Change management consultancy particularly interests me. Again what sort of company do you run? Where do you want to go in the future, if its change do you have the skills or can you afford to buy them in?

Your post makes you sound very arrogant. This site is for people who choose to reply because that is their choice. I highly doubt that anyone actually thinks you are unworthy of a response due to a £74K salary and the fact you work in education. That really was an idiotic comment. I can only assume it was to provoke reaction.

Thanks for your reply.In my experience, the majority of consulting is obviously most effective when the client gets what they want. Whether it be project management, coaching or implementation of a new system. I don't have all the skills necessary to do all of these things but there are people who do. My skill is in client interaction. These skills developed at an early age when I was approached, as a teacher, by a parent with an axe. That parent left after 15 minutes thinking I was the best thing since sliced bread. Harvard, Yale, LBS - how many of these graduates have the skills to think on their feet like this.I set up a business that, after year 1, had paid three full-time salaries and still made a net profit. How many of these MBA superstars on 100K a year could add that to their CV.Business is all about people. People are what I am good at. My skills as far as a CV goes are probably less developed than others and although I have an MBA I know that I am lacking in industry experience.I suppose what I am asking is whether firms would take the MBA and my experience in the public sector as a positive or whether they would prefer a 24 year old, wet behind the ears, MBA with no life experience and people skills.Thanks

Sorry BubblebathThat certainly wasn't my intention. This is a big step for me and I guess I was frustrated at the lack of response. I see this forum as a great place to get ideas from people who have been there and done it.My initial posting wasn't very clear and I hope I have clarified this since then.Apologies again if it came over all pompous. One thing we are not in the public sector is arrogant. We are light years behind industry in terms of reward for skills effort.

Andy,You seem to clearly have a wide range of experience both in education and the running of a business. I think if your description of your people skills are accurate then a consultancy would be bonkers to at least give you an interview. Once there you can use your people skills to win you the position. My personal views on age (as you mention 24 year olds) is that consultants are client facing. In order to build true meaningful relationships with clients you need to understand their business model. You would also require experience in building relationships. These are not skills that a 24 year old who has not had over 2+ (more like 5+) is likely to have developed.Obviously it would depend on the type of project that the company you were applying to had acquired but I would say that your chances of successfully transcending from industry to consultancy are actually pretty strong.

Many thanksI really appreciate your response. If I could dig a little further. I am obviously not going to be applying to McKinsey but would you be able to offer any ideas other than Tribal etc that deal with lots of public sector work - or would this be my best option.RegardsThanks again

Andy from reading your posts, you strike me as ever so slightly mad with a huge chip on your shoulder. I hope this is not how you always come accross or I would say you would struggleYou also have significant difficulty in clarifying your points. Having read all your posts I still have no real understanding of your background or your question. This is a vey important skill for consulting and something that you seem to be lacking. I appreciate that on an internet forum you don't want to say too much, but you need to be clear in what you do say.To answer what I assume is your question. You seem to have an intersting background and consultancies may be intersted in you. This will depend very much on their areas of interest and requirements and your bility to sell yourself through your CV. My advice would be to not be so defensive and emphasise your key skills and how they would meet the specific companies needs. A lot of research is needed first to identify those companies first. sorry I can't help much on that but I would say target those companies you have come accross in your aducation career

Thanks RealistI am certainly not mad and I don't think I have a chip on my shoulder. I do however have an ounce of regret that I did not consider this line of work earlier in life. That is my issue obviously but I now want to try something new.I enjoy my job but do not feel it challenges me sufficiently. That isn't being big-headed, just a circumstancial view. I have friends that have worked for KPMG, A Anderson etc and they are academically bright but with little in the people skills dept. which leads me to believe I may have a chance of a reasonable career with a decent firm.I appreciate your advice and as you suggested, one of the education/training based organisations may be a more appropriate option.Thanks again

"I suppose what I am asking is whether firms would take the MBA and my experience in the public sector as a positive or whether they would prefer a 24 year old, wet behind the ears, MBA with no life experience and people skills."What are you looking for, a pat on the back? I'm not sure what it is you're trying to achieve by your posts. They seem to rant about how the world is against you and tell us how great you are, without asking any real questions.

I'm not looking for a pat on the back. I have worked hard like most of the people posting here. My question is simply, in your experience, how feasible it is for someone with a background in education to move into business orientated change management/organisational restructuring consultancy.I am merely trying to outline my experience thus far and whether these skills are what employers are looking for and would I stand a realistic chance of employment.I am sorry if my initial post has wound people up but it has at least got some response which is more than my previous post did.I am simply asking for a "give it a go" you stand a chance or don't bother you won't get a look in.Believe me, if it was a pat on the back I was looking for I certainly would not have gone into education.Regards

Stop being such a martyr. Those who can't do, teach, remember? Another tip: stop using words like "simply" and "merely" all the time, as this is patronizing and quite a turn off. Finally, what do you know about organisational restructuring? Can you connect organizational design and strategy to corporate strategy? What do you know about corporate strategy? How about the current state of various industries/markets? Trends? Companies? What can you offer?

Please choose a market/industry and I will give you what I can. Certain industries I keep a close eye on, others I dip into.Bearing in mind I don't do this for a living, I think I have a pretty sound knowledge of the current state of play.PS I don't understand why the words 'simply' and 'merely' irritate you so much. As far as I can see they are correct in the content in which they were written. I am very conscious of some people being very critical of slap-dash posts with little thought to presentation.A previous poster said I had a chip on my shoulder. I have been polite since my first post and thanked all who have contributed. If I wanted to be a martyr I would have let the parent put the axe in my head. Go figure.

PPS - With regards 'merely' and 'simply' being a turn off. I know it is early morning but I was not intending to excite you. Sorry.

Andy2 organisations spring to mind - not as big as Tribal but in the same sphere:Oakleigh Management Consulting - http://www.oakleigh.co.uk - do a lot of work in education but the 3 people I used to know there all left at the same time, so not sure about the co. A colleague tells me they've just acquired an HR co. There used to be some threads about them on here but these seem to have been removed - make of that what you will!The Place Group - place-group.com - I don't know a lot about them but the clients we have in common speak very highly of them. I think they are relatively young and have grown really quickly. They work in the education space but I would guess they have a reasonably wide remit.Good luckP

Thanks very much Panter, that's just the sort of reply I was after. Thanks for taking the time and I will let you know what I find out or how I get on.Best wishesAndy

Andy,Almost all of the big guys ( Accenture, EDS, IBM Global Svc) have offerings in the education sector. From your background, im sure they would be able to find a position ( as an experienced hire) in their educational practices.

Yes as dilbert says get into 'Knowledge Management', and ensure you dont end up in Pseuds corner :D