Being an IT consultant is a rewarding and interesting job. There is a large degree of variety and good opportunities to grow and progress your career.
But there are many Information Technology jobs out there. Is IT consultant the best one for you?
Let's take a look into what an IT consultant does, their average salary, and the positives and negatives of this kind of consultancy as a career:
What does an IT consultant do?
As an IT consultant, it's your job to help the company you work for make the best use of their IT. This might include advising them about:
• How to use technology to improve efficiency
• How to change a business's use of technology as it grows
• How to best make use of IT resources
• How to better achieve strategic or business objectives using IT
• How to develop or implement new IT solutions to key business problems
What is the average salary of an IT consultant in the UK?
As with many IT jobs, the average salary of an IT consultant depends on your level of experience, the size of the company you work for, and the region you're in.
By way of some ballpark numbers, the average salary you might expect could be:
• £36,145 per year as an overall average
• £43,558 per year if you live in London
• Potentially an even higher salary in other cities in the south of England
• Likely a lower salary in cities in the north and Midlands
However, it is important to note that many IT consultants work remotely. This can enable you to get the best of both worlds, choosing the places you live and work.
The benefits of being an IT consultant
1) Career progression
As an IT consultant, there is a huge amount of potential for career growth. There is also great personal progression as you'll need to constantly update your skills and knowledge.
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As someone who will have adjacency to decision-making even at a relatively junior level, you will have influence and rapidly gain experience of how decisions are made and the strategies involved too.
This lends itself well to promotion to other strategic or senior roles.
2) Demand and flexibility across industries
Information Technology is vital to almost every modern business in every sector. As the global digital transformation continues, your skills will consistently be in demand.
You can also choose your preferred industry to a large degree – companies in every field need IT consultancy to maximise their productivity and profits.
If you are changing career to IT consultancy, this may give you the opportunity to leverage your existing skills and experience in a given industry.
3) Flexibility and benefits
Companies that engage IT consultants tend to be those that have positive remote working policies. As a consultant, you are also likely to have a great deal of flexibility and variety in your day-to-day work.
In addition to a strong salary, there are also excellent benefits packages included in many IT consultant jobs.
The downside of being an IT consultant
Being an IT consultant can be perceived as a fairly prestigious career in many respects. However, that does come with some degree of cost attached.
As with many roles with great remuneration, benefits, and growth potential, that cost comes in the form of a potential hit to your work-life balance. As a consultant, you may be required to work longer hours or respond to crises that occur outside of working hours.
Of course, this may be mitigated by remote working and the additional flexibility that most IT consultancy positions offer.
Is IT consultant a good career path?
In general, most people would view being an IT consultant as an excellent career path.
Of course, it might not be suited to your personal preference. But there are excellent rewards – financial and in other forms – as well as powerful possibilities for advancement and growth.
If you're looking for an IT career where the rewards are great so long as you are willing to put in the work, being an IT consultant is a great career.
Want to take the first steps towards your next – or your first – IT consultant job?
Let's talk. Ernest Gordon is a specialist IT recruitment company. Our proven, open, and honest recruitment process matches you with exclusive opportunities you won't find elsewhere.
Reach out to us today for a cost and commitment-free chat about your career goals.
