Is It Possible to Transition from Engineer to Consultant? Key Differences, Required Skills, and More

Are you wondering, “Can I switch from an engineer to a consultant?” or “What skills do I need to become a consultant?”

This article explains whether it is possible to transition from an engineer to a consultant, the types of consultants that are easier to aim for, the skills required, recommended certifications, and key points to keep in mind when making the career change.

This article is useful for those considering a career transition from engineering to consulting. Please read to the end.

What Does an Engineer Do?

Engineering encompasses a wide range of technical roles, but they are primarily classified into three categories: development, operations, and maintenance. Below is an explanation of each.

Development Engineers

Development engineers gather requirements from clients and propose and build systems that meet those needs within budget and deadlines.

Once the client approves the proposal, detailed design and development begin. Development engineers also handle budget management, serve as a liaison between clients and programmers, and may step in to do programming themselves when needed.

Once the program is complete, unit tests and integration tests with the client’s systems are conducted repeatedly to confirm there are no issues before the system goes live.

Operations Engineers

Operations engineers are responsible for constantly monitoring the status of servers and networks to prevent system disruptions and proactively avoid issues.

Key tasks include checking server uptime, managing backups, and confirming security. When issues do occur, investigating the root cause is also part of the operations engineer’s role.

They review operational procedures and create incident response manuals to prevent recurrence and ensure the system can recover quickly when problems arise.

Maintenance Engineers

Maintenance engineers are responsible for system maintenance, updates, and incident response. Investigating the root cause of issues is also part of their role.

If there is a problem with the program, they fix the code to restore stable system operation. If the issue is hardware-related rather than software, physical interventions such as replacing parts are also within their scope.

This may seem similar to the role of an operations engineer, but the key difference is that operations engineers focus on preventing issues from occurring in the first place.

Maintenance engineers, on the other hand, focus on quickly resolving issues that have already occurred and restoring stable system operation.

What Does a Consultant Do?

A consultant’s job is to solve the management challenges faced by their clients.

There are several types of consultants, but IT consultants specifically leverage IT to resolve clients’ management challenges. Compared to other types of consultants, IT consultants use technology more frequently and require a deeper knowledge of IT.

In today’s business environment, it is rare for IT not to be utilized in some way, which is why having IT knowledge is important for consultants of all types.

Is It Possible to Transition from Engineer to Consultant?

Yes, it is possible to transition from an engineer to a consultant. In recent years, demand for remote work and e-commerce has increased, and society as a whole is rapidly undergoing digital transformation.

To keep pace with these changes, the consulting industry is actively seeking professionals with strong IT expertise. Some consulting firms have relaxed their hiring criteria and are proactively recruiting candidates with engineering backgrounds, meaning the success rate of such career transitions is higher than it used to be.

Career Transition Trends by Age Group

While it is true that demand for engineers in the consulting industry is growing, what is required varies by age group.

Here is an overview of the differences in what is expected depending on your career stage.

In Your 20s

For candidates in their 20s, hiring is typically potential-based. You would likely be brought on as an Analyst or Consultant — the entry-level positions in a consulting firm.

For engineers in their 20s, the key factors evaluated in hiring are foundational consulting skills such as language proficiency, logical thinking, and communication skills.

Of course, your engineering experience and skills also factor into the evaluation, so make sure to highlight any involvement in system development or project work. Depending on the content, you may be assessed as someone who can contribute immediately.

Early 30s

If you are making the transition in your early 30s, there is a higher likelihood of being hired as a Consultant or Senior Consultant.

With nearly a decade of engineering experience, candidates in this age group are evaluated not only on their technical background but also on experience negotiating with clients, managing projects as a project lead, and their adaptability.

Transitioning in your early 30s often means that someone younger may become your superior. Whether you can take direction from anyone regardless of age, and whether you can adapt to a different work style and environment than engineering, are also key evaluation criteria for this age group.

Late 30s and Beyond

For those transitioning in their late 30s or later, hiring as a Manager is more likely. Key factors evaluated include whether you have project management experience as an engineer, problem-solving ability, and the ability to make proposals.

Generally speaking, successfully transitioning to consulting in your late 30s is considered difficult. To improve your chances, in addition to your engineering experience and skills, be sure to highlight extensive project management experience, strong management skills, problem-solving ability, and proposal-making ability.

Types of Consultants That Engineers Can Aim For

When engineers aim to transition into consulting, moving into IT consulting is the most common path. However, there are multiple types of IT consultants.

Here are the types of IT consultants that engineers are most likely to transition into successfully.

SAP Consultant

SAP consultants specialize in working with the ERP package developed by SAP SE, a German software company. SAP’s ERP package is highly versatile and is used by companies around the world, but it requires specialized knowledge to implement and manage — making dedicated SAP consultants highly sought after.

ERP Consultant

ERP consultants provide consulting services related to the implementation of ERP packages.

Since SAP is one type of ERP package, SAP consultants are a subset of ERP consultants. ERP consultants also work with ERP packages from companies other than SAP, giving them a broader scope of work than SAP consultants.

SCM Consultant

“SCM” stands for Supply Chain Management — the entire process from sourcing raw materials to delivering products to end users.

SCM consultants analyze and assess the entire supply chain to identify areas for improvement. In some cases, issues can be resolved through process redesign, but if a new system is deemed necessary, they also propose and support the implementation of new systems to drive problem resolution.

CRM Consultant

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. CRM consultants are experts in customer data management who propose and build optimal CRM systems, and also provide support and advice on marketing strategies based on customer insights.

In recent years, the number of channels connecting businesses and customers — such as social media — has grown significantly. As a result, demand for CRM consultants who can centralize information and connect it to sales and marketing efforts is on the rise.

Benefits of Transitioning from Engineer to Consultant

Here are four key benefits of transitioning from an engineering role to a consulting role.

Leverage Your Engineering Experience

The first benefit is the ability to apply your engineering experience and skills in your new role. IT consulting and engineering share a common foundation in leveraging technology.

While engineering and consulting are different industries and roles — making the transition challenging — and while you will need to develop business knowledge, the ability to make concrete, realistic proposals grounded in your engineering experience means there is a strong chance you can thrive in this new field.

Involvement in Upstream Processes

Another benefit of moving into consulting is the opportunity to engage in upstream business processes — such as contributing to clients’ strategic planning — which is difficult to do as an engineer.

Engineers typically join projects at the requirements definition and design stages, whereas consultants get involved from the earlier stages of issue investigation and analysis, allowing them to work from a more business-oriented position.

Additionally, consultants are not constrained by obligations to use their own company’s products, which means they can objectively evaluate and select the best vendors and solutions for solving the client’s challenges — another advantage of the consulting role.

Higher Earning Potential

Consulting also offers greater potential for income growth compared to engineering.

According to a survey by job site doda, the average annual salary for consultants is approximately 6.46 million yen.

Since engineering also offers high earning potential, some engineers may already earn above this average. However, consulting is a performance-driven field.

Depending on results, reaching an annual income of over 10 million yen is possible regardless of tenure. The ability to significantly increase your income based on performance is one of the major attractions of consulting.

Expanded Career Options

Gaining experience as a consultant opens up a wider range of career possibilities.

By building diverse experience in consulting, you can move into other types of consulting such as strategy or full-service consulting. Additionally, if you have built a strong network with senior executives, you may be able to go independent by securing and receiving referrals for projects.

Drawbacks of Transitioning from Engineer to Consultant

Where there are benefits, there are also drawbacks. Here are three key drawbacks of transitioning from engineering to consulting.

The Work Can Be Demanding

Consulting tends to be a demanding profession. While working conditions are said to have improved compared to the past, overtime and weekend work are still common as project deadlines approach.

If you are unable to work efficiently, the frequency of overtime and weekend work can increase significantly. This is especially true soon after transitioning into consulting, when efficient work habits are harder to develop — leading some people to regret making the switch.

A Large Amount of Learning Is Required

In order to make better proposals to clients, consultants must continually absorb a wide range of knowledge.

Beyond business and IT knowledge, consultants need to take in information about the client’s industry and sector, the client’s financial status, and much more in order to solve complex challenges.

Failing to make proposals that satisfy clients can damage your credibility and lower your standing, so continuous learning is non-negotiable. Some people end up regretting the transition because they cannot keep up with the sheer volume of information they need to absorb.

Much of the Work Is Unglamorous

Many people have a glamorous image of consulting, but in reality much of the day-to-day work is quite mundane. Creating materials for client presentations, gathering information, taking meeting minutes — while all of these are important tasks, those who picture consulting as a glamorous profession may find them underwhelming.

Skills Required to Become a Consultant as a Former Engineer

The skills required of engineers and consultants differ. Here is an overview of the skills needed to become a consultant.

IT Knowledge

IT knowledge and skills are essential for consultants as well. This is because leveraging technology is indispensable for driving business strategy and solving management challenges. While this is especially true for IT consultants, all types of consultants need a solid foundation in IT.

For non-IT consultants, deep technical expertise may not be required, but understanding how IT can be applied in a business context is necessary.

Combining broad IT knowledge and skills with business acumen will enhance your ability to make effective proposals.

Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is essential for identifying and proposing solutions to a client’s management challenges. Thinking through problems in a structured, step-by-step manner clarifies cause-and-effect relationships.

Once cause-and-effect relationships are clear, solutions become easier to identify. Consultants also frequently need to present and explain their ideas. Logical thinking is indispensable for helping clients understand your proposals and gaining their approval.

Communication Skills

Communication skills are necessary to build trust with clients, project team members, and stakeholders, but most importantly, they are needed to accurately understand others’ perspectives and clearly convey your own.

Building good relationships with everyone involved in a project is important, but without complete mutual understanding, the project cannot succeed. Work on developing communication skills that allow for accurate mutual understanding while also fostering positive relationships — all in service of driving projects to success.

Willingness to Learn

Consultants need a strong desire to continuously learn new knowledge and skills in order to resolve client challenges. IT knowledge and skills are constantly evolving, requiring regular updates.

The same applies to non-IT knowledge and skills. Without the motivation to continuously update existing knowledge and learn new skills as needed, it will be difficult to thrive in the performance-driven consulting industry.

Management Skills

Management skills are also necessary for consultants.

In order to deliver successful projects, consultants must assign team members to the roles that best suit their abilities, manage budgets and deadlines, and handle unexpected issues — all of which require broad perspective and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Management skills are not something developed overnight, so look to the approaches of senior colleagues and managers for guidance, and build these skills gradually.

Recommended Certifications for Transitioning to Consulting

While certifications are not strictly required for basic consulting work, having them can strengthen your case during the job search and serve as proof of your knowledge and skills to clients after you have made the transition.

Here are some certifications that can be helpful when transitioning into consulting.

MBA

Strictly speaking, an MBA is not a certification but a graduate-level academic degree awarded upon completing a master’s program. It stands for Master of Business Administration.

It provides a systematic foundation in business management, equipping you with knowledge directly applicable to consulting work. Completion typically takes about two years and requires tuition fees.

While an MBA once required studying at an overseas graduate school, it is now also possible to earn the degree at domestic institutions in Japan. In addition to the business knowledge gained, completing an MBA program adds a graduate-level credential to your academic background.

SME Management Consultant (Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi)

The SME Management Consultant qualification is a national certification that validates the ability to provide appropriate advice and support for management challenges faced by businesses.

In other words, it is a national certification that demonstrates consulting skills. While the name includes “SME” (small and medium-sized enterprises), the knowledge covers finance, accounting, and legal matters necessary for corporate management, making it applicable and useful for consulting across all company sizes — from large corporations to small businesses.

Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination

The Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination is a national certification recognized by the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) of Japan. IPA’s certification framework has four difficulty levels.

The Fundamental IT Engineer exam is Level 2 and validates foundational IT engineering knowledge. For those with a background in IT engineering, the difficulty level is said to be relatively manageable, making it a useful certification both for demonstrating basic IT knowledge and for building confidence through earning a nationally recognized qualification.

Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination

The Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination is also a national certification recognized by IPA, the same body that certifies the Fundamental IT exam.

At Level 3 in the IPA framework, it is a step above the Fundamental IT exam. It validates two things: advanced IT expertise and management capability.

This certification is said to be suited for those with extensive practical experience in system development. Earning it demonstrates that you are a consultant with practical, hands-on knowledge and skills.

IT Strategist

The IT Strategist certification is also a national qualification recognized by IPA.

It validates advanced IT knowledge and skills sufficient to formulate and drive business strategy using IT. Classified at the most challenging Level 4 in the IPA framework, obtaining this certification is not easy — even for those with extensive engineering experience.

However, earning it demonstrates that you are capable of delivering IT-driven consulting at an advanced level, which will earn high regard and trust from clients. If you are aiming to become an IT consultant, this is a certification worth pursuing.

IT Coordinator

The IT Coordinator is a private-sector certification that provides systematic knowledge covering business strategy, formulation of IT-enabled strategies, and through to IT implementation.

The knowledge gained through the IT Coordinator certification is viewed from the perspective of management, making it highly applicable to real-world consulting practice. Leveraging IT to drive business strategy and resolve management challenges is essential in consulting. This knowledge is a must-have for consultants, and especially valuable for those aiming to become IT consultants.

CCNA

CCNA is a globally recognized certification issued by Cisco Systems, one of the world’s largest developers of computer networking equipment, validating network engineering proficiency.

Cisco’s certification program is tiered across four difficulty levels, so it is advisable to work your way up from the most accessible level. Since CCNA is a globally recognized standard, it is valued by both Japanese and international consulting firms, making it useful both as a credential when job hunting and for practical use after joining a firm.

LPIC

LPIC stands for Linux Professional Institute Certification — an internationally recognized credential for Linux engineers.

Linux is an operating system widely used around the world, installed on computers and smartphones alike. LPIC is divided into three levels; Level 1 covers basic knowledge and skills and is considered relatively accessible. Level 3 requires highly specialized expertise and is regarded as a very challenging exam. Since Linux is globally widespread, the knowledge gained applies across a wide range of industries and company types — both domestically and internationally — making it highly practical for consulting work.

ITIL Foundation

ITIL Foundation is a globally recognized certification that validates foundational knowledge of IT service management.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) refers to a collection of publications compiling best practices in IT service management gathered from companies and organizations worldwide. There are five levels, with ITIL Foundation classified at Level 1.

In recent years, a growing number of Japanese companies have made obtaining ITIL Foundation mandatory for new employees, which is a testament to the value and relevance of the knowledge it provides.

Since it demonstrates globally standardized IT management skills, it is also an effective credential to highlight during a job search.

TOEIC

TOEIC is a test that validates English language proficiency. Business is becoming increasingly global, and it is not uncommon for consultants to handle international projects.

For those targeting foreign-affiliated firms or consulting companies with overseas operations, language proficiency is essential. Aim for a score of 750 or above — which is widely considered business-level proficiency — or meet the minimum score required by the firm you are applying to.

Career Outlook for Consultants

The bottom line: the outlook for consultants is strong. The consulting market continues to grow.

In recent years, more companies are pursuing overseas expansion and are consulting with consultants to determine the best strategy for entering a target country or region, and to find ways to resolve challenges at local subsidiaries.

Beyond overseas expansion, many companies face challenges around evolving business models and the need to redesign operational processes — all of which contribute to strong and growing demand for consultants.

The Outlook for IT Consultants Is Also Strong

The future looks bright for IT consultants as well, one of the many types within the consulting field.

In particular, many companies are currently advancing IT adoption and digital transformation (DX), making IT consultants — as specialists in technology — critically important. As IT continues to evolve, new applications for business keep emerging.

As long as IT continues to advance, demand for IT consultants will continue to grow. That said, not all IT consultants are equally in demand.

Since IT trends shift over time, it is essential to stay attuned to the latest developments and continuously build up-to-date knowledge and skills.

Key Points When Transitioning from Engineer to Consultant

While it is true that engineers are in demand in the consulting industry, transitioning is not easy. Make sure to cover the following points and prepare thoroughly for your job search.

Conduct Self, Industry, and Company Research

Start by conducting thorough self-analysis, industry research, and company research. While consulting allows you to leverage your engineering knowledge and skills, it is a different industry and role. Without sufficient research in these three areas, you risk landing a position that turns out to be a poor fit — even if the transition itself is successful.

Just as the engineering company you worked at had its own culture and atmosphere, consulting firms have their own as well. Conduct thorough self-analysis, industry research, and company research to identify which consulting firm best aligns with your values and working style, and minimize the risk of a mismatch.

Take Stock of Your Career

Even after identifying a great-fit target firm through research, you will struggle to advance in the selection process without compelling selling points. Take stock of your career to identify experiences and strengths that can be applied in consulting, and turn them into your pitch.

For example, if you have hands-on experience implementing SAP’s ERP package, this would be highly regarded as someone who can hit the ground running when transitioning into SAP consulting.

Management experience and involvement in requirements definition are also effective talking points. Your company research should help clarify what kind of experience makes for the most compelling pitch — so take a thorough inventory of your career and identify the best angles to highlight.

Keep Your Reason for Leaving and Motivation for Applying Consistent

Make sure your reason for leaving your current job and your motivation for applying are consistent with each other. A coherent narrative is more persuasive — and persuasiveness is one of the key skills for a consultant, who frequently negotiates with clients and others.

Being able to explain your reasons for leaving and your motivation for applying clearly and without contradiction also serves as proof of logical thinking ability. Work on crafting a consistent and coherent story.

Use Job Boards and Recruitment Agencies

To successfully transition into consulting, rather than applying to consulting firms on your own, make use of job boards and recruitment agencies.

Job boards and recruitment agencies with a strong track record of placing consulting candidates are well-versed in the culture and hiring tendencies of consulting firms, and can introduce you to opportunities that best match your background and skills.

They may also provide assistance with reviewing your application documents and preparing for interviews, which increases your chances of a successful transition compared to going it alone. Leverage job boards and recruitment agencies that specialize in consulting placements.

Conclusion

While it is true that engineers are in demand in the consulting industry, transitioning into consulting is not something that happens easily.

Consultants are expected to have not only IT knowledge and skills but also business acumen. We hope this article has been a useful reference for understanding what knowledge and skills are most valuable for a consulting career, and which certifications can strengthen both your candidacy and your practical work as a consultant.

ConsulNext.jp offers a wide range of job listings for engineers looking to transition into consulting.

If you are considering a move into consulting, we encourage you to register with us.