Hey everyone - recommended to this forum by a friend who works as a consultant. I'm currently a contractor in the public sector where I've spent the majority of my career (over 10 years) doing jobs that have given me skills applicable to consultancy. My friend is desperately trying to convince me to try and make the jump given my skills and what he considers to be the right approach and "face" for a consulting role, however I have some reservations about that working and would appreciate advice.1. I don't have a bachelors, and virtually every consultancy firm seems to make that a basic requirement. My friend is adamant that that my experience makes up for it, but I'd welcome other views. I'm considering doing a masters to make up for this (a bachelors for the sake of it at 35 seems a waste of time) but if it's really unnecessary I'd like to get the consulting job first and start part time studying after. I have a good reason for why I don't have a bachelors, but it's whether anyone would look past the distance between their desk and the bin to hear it.2. I've essentially only worked in one industry which is government/public sector. As much as this is a big market for consultancy firms, is this a limitation? I know a lot of civil servants go into consultancy when leaving.If anyone has any thoughts (good or bad) to share I'd really welcome it. I don't really care about working a big firm or anything like that, it's more the opportunity to work in a high quality profession and have some greater work variety, and a more interesting career trajectory.

would suggest you approach consultancies who have work within the sector, you could either do this directly eg Capita has a consulting practice, Serco, likewise the tier1s such as PWC etc have local government practices so your sector experience is a great selling point.As for the degree thing, at this point your selling your career as an experienced hire, the chances are you will also have contacts that you can bring to the fore and selling skills so in many ways have a rounded package that goes beyond a degree.You may also wish to approach a few recruitment agencies who specialise in management consulting so as to get a perspective on what the market is currently looking for and how to pitch yourself to make the most of what you have attractive to a prospective employer

Now I'm curious! What sort of "face" is the "right" "face" for consultancy?

oO,crazed, with a cheeky smirk

Afternoon, would you consider looking at further training in this area so this would then look even better on your CV?

Why would you want to leave contracting to work for someone else, earning less money, with less flexibility and control over your work/life balance and no more certainty that you will have work 6 months hence? If all your experience has been in one sector, the compromises which go with consulting wont be balanced with variety of work - you can expect more public sector, not diversity of projects. Civil servants do go into consulting, but usually from a senior point in their careers and in a position to be able to open doors for the firm in question. Specific technical relevance could sidestep this of course e.g. you are working with an industry regulator and look to join an advisory practice in that area. But ask yourself - would you join a consulting firm at a point where you would take home the same, and would be in a position to open doors for the firm?