Do you have questions like “Do HR consultants have a promising future?” or “Is working as an HR consultant likely to be demanding?”
This article addresses those questions by covering the following topics:
- Basic knowledge about HR consultants
- Skills required and useful certifications for HR consultants
- Frequently asked questions about HR consultants
in that order.
This article is useful for those interested in transitioning to a career as an HR consultant. Please read to the end.
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What Is an HR Consultant?
An HR (Human Resource) consultant is a consultant who supports clients in solving issues related to their organizational structure and human resources systems.
HR consultants are sometimes called “personnel consultants,” but the roles are essentially the same.
In recent years, “human capital management” — which views human resources as capital and aims for medium- to long-term corporate growth — has been gaining attention.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry found that many companies understand the importance of human capital management but have yet to take concrete action.
As a result, an increasing number of companies are turning to HR consultants with specialized knowledge in human resources.
Types of HR Consultants
HR consultants can be categorized as follows:
| Type of HR Consultant | Role |
|---|---|
| HR & Organization Consultant | Supports structural reform of organizations and review of evaluation and compensation systems |
| Talent Development Consultant | Supports capability development and mindset transformation of human resources |
| Recruitment Consultant | Supports clients’ recruitment activities |
HR & Organization Consultant
An HR & organization consultant supports “organizational structural reform” and “review of evaluation and compensation systems.” With talent shortages being reported across virtually every industry today, securing highly productive talent has become a critical challenge.
HR & organization consultants are therefore expected to prevent high-performing employees from leaving due to dissatisfaction with evaluation and compensation systems, and to optimize the organization as a whole.
Talent Development Consultant
A talent development consultant supports capability development and mindset transformation of human resources.
This may involve planning and designing training programs, or the consultant themselves delivering training as a facilitator.
The approach varies by client — sometimes training programs are created from scratch for a specific company, while in other cases existing programs are introduced.
Recruitment Consultant
A recruitment consultant supports clients’ hiring activities. Specifically, they may take over the entire process from screening to onboarding on behalf of the client’s HR department, or propose effective recruitment strategies.
They also help address recruitment-related challenges such as “new hires leaving quickly” or “failing to meet hiring targets.”
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Future Prospects for HR Consultants
HR consulting is a career with strong future prospects. Demand for HR consultants has in fact been growing year by year. Let’s look at the reasons behind this increasing demand.
Digital Transformation (DX)
The need for digital transformation in the HR domain is growing, driving demand for HR consultants with IT skills.
DX (Digital Transformation) refers to “using digital technology to create and flexibly adapt new business models.”
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, failing to pursue DX could result in economic losses of “up to 12 trillion yen (annually)” from 2025 onwards. The HR domain is no exception, with growing adoption of online performance evaluation tools, online training programs, and applicant tracking systems.
Human Capital Management
“Human capital management” has become increasingly valued across various industries.
Human capital management refers to “an approach to management that treats people as [capital] and aims to maximize their value to drive medium- to long-term improvement in corporate value.”
As the workforce becomes increasingly diverse, the importance of maximizing each individual’s value — rather than applying uniform people management — is growing.
HR consultants are expected to support organizations in building structures and formulating talent strategies that leverage each individual’s strengths.
DEI
Efforts to achieve DEI are spreading, and more companies are seeking HR consultant support to advance their goals.
DEI stands for “Diversity,” “Equity,” and “Inclusion.” It refers to respecting diversity within an organization and enabling diverse talent to thrive.
HR consultants with specialized knowledge are expected to support everything from current-state diagnosis to DEI strategy development, action planning, and roadmap creation.
Average Salary of HR Consultants
The average annual salary for HR consultants is approximately 7.4 million yen.
However, this figure varies significantly by individual. Factors such as skills, track record, years of experience, work style, and the size of the consulting firm can all make a substantial difference.
That said, given that the national average annual salary in Japan is “4.78 million yen (FY2024)*,”
HR consultants tend to earn above average.
*Source: National Tax Agency, “FY2024 Survey on Private Sector Wage and Salary Statistics“
HR Consultant Salaries by Age Group
Average salaries for HR consultants also vary by age group (years of service). Below are estimated average salary ranges by age group.
| Age Group | Estimated Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Under 24 | Approx. 4 million yen |
| 25–29 | Approx. 6–8 million yen |
| 30–34 | Approx. 6–8 million yen |
| 35–39 | Approx. 6–8 million yen |
| 40–44 | Approx. 10–12 million yen |
| 45–49 | Approx. 12–14 million yen |
| 50 and above | Approx. 12–14 million yen |
After the age of 40, when a reasonable level of experience and skills have been accumulated, reaching an annual salary of 10 million yen becomes achievable. Of course, talented individuals can aim for high earnings even at a younger age.
Skills Required of HR Consultants
HR consultants are expected to have a wide range of skills, and the specific skills required can vary depending on the project. Here we look at some of the key skills typically expected of HR consultants.
Communication Skills
Communication skills are indispensable for HR consultants.
HR consultants constantly interact with a wide variety of people — clients, team members, subject matter experts, and more.
To move projects forward smoothly, it is essential to build strong relationships with those around you. This requires communication skills that enable you to accurately understand others’ perspectives and clearly convey the information they need.
Logical Thinking
Logical thinking (logical reasoning) is the ability to understand things systematically and think in a structured, reasoned way. HR consultants are responsible for identifying the root cause of client challenges and devising optimal solutions.
Without strong logical thinking, proposals lack grounding and fail to convince clients during presentations.
Management Skills
Management skills are essential for driving projects forward. These include managing schedules, costs, quality, and tasks, as well as overseeing communication with clients.
Strong management skills enable you to take a bird’s-eye view of a project, step back from immediate tasks, and focus on what truly matters.
These skills are especially important for those aspiring to advance to a managerial role.
Awareness of HR Challenges
Awareness of HR challenges is also an important quality for HR consultants, given that their work involves solving issues in the human resources domain across a variety of client organizations.
Compared to other types of consultants, HR consultants tend to require less specific prior work experience.
As a result, candidates who demonstrate an awareness of HR challenges — such as having advocated for improvements to HR systems or having been involved in recruiting out of an interest in talent development — tend to be well-regarded in HR consultant hiring processes.
Certifications Recommended for HR Consultants
Certifications are not mandatory to become an HR consultant. However, obtaining relevant certifications can strengthen your profile in job applications and contribute to your professional development. Below are certifications that are useful for HR consultants.
Career Consultant
The Career Consultant certification became a nationally recognized qualification in 2016 and is administered by the Japan Career Development Association, registered with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
This qualification is designed to support job seekers in their career development and is also valuable for HR consultants in areas such as talent development and strategy formulation.
| Administering Body | Japan Career Development Association / Career Consulting Council |
| Exam Schedule | Held on a rolling basis |
| Exam Format | ・Academic: Written exam ・Practical: Essay-based written exam and interview (role-play and oral questioning) |
| Exam Fee (tax included) | ・Academic: ¥8,900 ・Practical: ¥29,900 |
Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (Sharoushi)
The Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (Sharoushi) is a national qualification based on the Social Insurance and Labor Consultant Act, for specialists in labor and social insurance matters.
Since HR consultants often review clients’ HR systems, knowledge of compensation and working conditions gained through this qualification is highly applicable.
| Certification Name | Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant |
|---|---|
| Administering Body | National Federation of Social Insurance Labor Consultant Associations – Examination Center |
| Exam Schedule | Fourth Sunday of August |
| Exam Format | ・Selection-based questions ・Multiple-choice questions |
| Exam Fee (tax exempt) | ¥15,000 |
Occupational Safety Consultant
The Occupational Safety Consultant is a national examination based on the Industrial Safety and Health Act. As specialists in occupational safety and health, holders are expected to support workers in maintaining a safe working environment.
Knowledge of worker safety and health is directly applicable to the work of HR consultants, who support organizations in creating environments where employees can thrive.
| Certification Name | Occupational Safety Consultant |
|---|---|
| Administering Body | Japan Examination Center for Occupational Safety and Health Technology |
| Exam Schedule | ・Written exam: October 21, Reiwa 7 (2025) ・Oral exam: January 14–15, Reiwa 8 (Osaka); January 27–30, Reiwa 8 (Tokyo) |
| Exam Format | ・Written exam (multiple choice and essay) ・Oral exam |
| Exam Fee (tax exempt) | ¥24,700 |
Occupational Health Consultant
Like the Occupational Safety Consultant, the Occupational Health Consultant is a national examination based on the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Holders are responsible for assessing workplace hygiene conditions to prevent health and sanitation issues among employees.
From the perspective of creating comfortable working environments, hygiene and health knowledge is considered essential — and is also applicable to the HR consultant’s work in management strategy and HR system development.
| Certification Name | Occupational Health Consultant |
|---|---|
| Administering Body | Japan Examination Center for Occupational Safety and Health Technology |
| Exam Schedule | ・Written exam: October 21, Reiwa 7 (2025) ・Oral exam: January 14–15, Reiwa 8 (Osaka); January 27–30, Reiwa 8 (Tokyo) |
| Exam Format | ・Written exam (multiple choice and essay) ・Oral exam |
| Exam Fee (tax exempt) | ¥24,700 |
Characteristics of People Well-Suited to Being an HR Consultant
What kind of person is well-suited to a career as an HR consultant? Check the following traits to see if you might be a good fit.
Intellectually Curious
People with a high level of intellectual curiosity are likely to thrive in consulting roles, including HR consulting.
The challenges HR consultants are asked to address are often complex, and easy solutions are not always available. This requires the ability to engage persistently with difficult problems, driven by genuine curiosity.
In addition, making the best possible recommendations to clients requires knowledge from a wide range of angles. Therefore, an attitude of staying curious about diverse topics and continuously absorbing new information is essential.
Trustworthy and Discreet
HR consultants need to be people who can reliably maintain confidentiality.
This is because HR consultants frequently handle sensitive employee personal information and proprietary business data.
While this applies to most professions, leaking information to outside parties or sharing it on social media can cause serious problems.
Such breaches can damage not only the consultant’s own reputation but also the company’s credibility, making it essential to choose individuals who can strictly uphold confidentiality obligations.
Skilled at Supporting Others
People who are good at supporting others may be well-suited to HR consulting.
At its core, HR consulting is a role that supports clients in solving management challenges related to human resources. As such, HR consultants need a mindset of genuinely wanting to “be of service to clients” and “support them in solving their challenges.”
Physically and Mentally Resilient
Physical and mental resilience is another important trait for HR consultants.
Consulting is client-facing work, which tends to mean busy schedules — and at certain times, the workload can be intense. On top of that, working on projects that have a direct impact on a client’s business operations creates significant psychological pressure.
The ability to stay healthy and productive even in demanding circumstances is a key asset in this field.
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Major Consulting Firms Recruiting HR Consultants
Below are some major consulting firms that recruit HR consultants.
Mercer Japan
Mercer Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of Mercer, a human resources consulting firm headquartered in New York, USA. With offices in more than 130 cities across 44+ countries, Mercer provides consulting services leveraging its extensive global network.
In the area of organizational and HR transformation consulting, Mercer Japan has provided broad support in Japan for over 30 years, spanning management challenge identification and organizational/HR strategy formulation.
Korn Ferry Japan
Korn Ferry Japan is the Japanese arm of one of the world’s largest global organizational and HR consulting firms. It offers a proprietary job evaluation system along with a wide range of services including training, surveys, and diagnostic/analytical tools.
One of Korn Ferry Japan’s key strengths is its ability to provide end-to-end support spanning recruitment, development, and performance evaluation.
Persol Research and Consulting
Persol Research and Consulting is the organizational HR consulting and think-tank arm of the Persol Group, established in 1989.
Its core businesses include organizational and HR consulting, talent development, and educational support. In addition to consulting services, it also functions as a think tank, conducting research and disseminating information on the labor market.
A key attraction of the firm is the opportunity to develop specialized skills in solution development and delivery, leveraging its strengths as a think-tank firm.
PwC Consulting
PwC Consulting is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), headquartered in London, UK.
Along with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, KPMG, and Ernst & Young (EY), it is considered one of the “Big Four” (the world’s four largest consulting firms).
PwC Consulting offers People & Change (P&C) solutions, providing integrated support that spans strategy formulation, implementation, adoption, and information systems development.
For a basic overview of the Big Four, please refer to the following article.
Frequently Asked Questions About HR Consultants
Below we answer some frequently asked questions about HR consultants.
Are HR Consultants Untrustworthy?
Online, you may occasionally come across comments suggesting that “HR consultants seem untrustworthy.”
This perception likely stems from the fact that no formal license is required to work as an HR consultant, and that the impact of an HR consultant’s work can be difficult to quantify.
That said, while some people hold this view, the number of companies utilizing HR consultants continues to grow.
To overcome skepticism, it is important for HR consultants to build trust with clients and deliver tangible, measurable results.
Is the Work as an HR Consultant Demanding?
As with other consulting roles, HR consulting can be demanding at certain times.
In particular, the beginning and final stages of a project tend to be busy — requiring the absorption of large volumes of information and the delivery of final reports to clients. Managing multiple projects simultaneously is also common, leaving some consultants feeling stretched for time.
However, the period between projects can be relatively relaxed, and in recent years more firms have been adopting work-life balance policies.
What Kind of Job Openings Exist for HR Consultants?
Below is an example of an HR consultant job listing.
| Company Overview | A Japanese-founded consulting firm |
| Number of Employees | Approx. 300 |
| Job Description | Planning and execution of various HR-domain initiatives |
| Application Requirements | Must meet at least one of the following: ・HR experience at a business company (recruiting or other planning functions) ・Experience in planning roles (new business, corporate planning, business planning, etc.) with an interest in solving organizational challenges ・Experience in HR/organizational development consulting ・Background from an HR services company ・Bachelor’s degree or above ・At least 3 years of professional experience |
| Salary | Annual salary of ¥6 million or above |
| Selection Process | ・2 rounds of interviews → Offer ・Required documents: Resume, work history (職務経歴書) |
This is a job listing from a Japanese-founded consulting firm that operates a general management consulting business. This particular opening is for an open position (HR / Planning & Execution) within the HR department.
Specific responsibilities include recruiting, training, development planning and content creation, talent management, and initiatives to embed the company’s mission, vision, and values.
The HR department at this firm is positioned as a growth area, and the company is recruiting HR consultants to advance the specialization of HR functions.
Source: consulnext.jp “Lib Consulting Co., Ltd. [HR / Planning & Execution] HR Department Open Position”
Summary
In this article, we covered the job responsibilities, average salary, and required skills of HR consultants for those interested in pursuing this career path.
HR consultants provide consulting services in the human resources domain. People who are skilled at supporting others and who are aware of HR challenges are likely to be a good fit for this career.
If you are interested in transitioning to a career as an HR consultant, please register with “consulnext.jp,” a recruitment agency specializing in consulting careers.
consulnext.jp offers a wide range of job listings tailored to consultants. We also publish articles to help with your transition into consulting — please feel free to check them out.
