What is the Difference Between Strategy Consulting and General Consulting? Comparing Responsibilities, Salary, and Selection Process

Some of you may be wondering, “What’s the difference between a strategy consultant and a general consultant?” The consulting industry is divided into many segments, so many people find it difficult to determine which field suits them best.

In fact, there are significant differences between strategy consultants and general consultants, so it is important to have a clear understanding of these differences in order to find your ideal position.

In this article, we will explain in detail the differences between strategy consultants and general consultants. We will also introduce the benefits of transitioning to each type of consulting, so if you are considering a career change into consulting, please read to the end.

Differences in Job Responsibilities and Salary Between Strategy Consultants and General Consultants

Here, we will introduce the differences between strategy consultants and general consultants.

Let’s compare their respective job responsibilities, required skills, skills gained, and salaries.

Strategy Consultant

Strategy consultants work with corporate management to develop solutions aimed at resolving the business challenges companies face.

They start by identifying the client’s pain points and formulating measures from scratch to determine what the problems are and what needs to be resolved. Therefore, logical thinking ability, analytical skills, and communication skills with clients are required.

Also, while this may vary by firm, the main focus is often on launching new businesses, formulating business strategies, and developing company-wide strategies. Since you can be involved in projects that significantly impact the management of large corporations, this role is popular among those looking to advance their careers.

Job Responsibilities of a Strategy Consultant

The main job of a strategy consultant is to investigate and analyze the company’s situation, form hypotheses, and then formulate the optimal strategy.

In recent years, it has become common not only to formulate strategies but also to execute them, and many cases involve working in a team structure. Teams are usually small and elite, with personnel focused on strategy formulation incorporated into the team.

After being hired by a strategy consulting firm, you will spend approximately two years gaining experience as an analyst, after which your position will advance through consultant, manager, and partner roles.

The job responsibilities of a strategy consultant vary by position, as does the degree of influence on clients, so be sure to confirm this in advance.

Salary of a Strategy Consultant

The estimated average annual salary for each position of a strategy consultant is as follows:

• Analyst: 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 yen
• Consultant: 9,000,000 – 13,000,000 yen
• Manager: 14,000,000 – 20,000,000 yen
• Principal: 17,000,000 – 25,000,000 yen
• Partner: 25,000,000 yen or more

For second-career new graduates entering a strategy consulting firm, the estimated annual salary as an analyst is around 6,000,000 yen.

In addition, strategy consultants have a performance bonus structure equivalent to 20% of their fixed salary. Since the salary of a strategy consultant varies by position, those considering a career change should note that inexperienced candidates will start as analysts.

Skills and Experience Gained as a Strategy Consultant

Strategy consultants basically work in teams to address the business challenges their clients face. Since you will often work with specialists from different fields, you can expect to acquire a wide range of knowledge.

In addition, strategy consultants can also enhance their communication and analytical skills. Since the skills required differ by position, this role is also recommended for those who want to continually build on their skill set.

General Consultant

General consultants are involved not only in formulating strategies to resolve the management challenges clients face, but also in a wide range of projects including operational restructuring and organizational reform.

Unlike strategy consultants, another characteristic of general consultants is that they provide services broadly, from corporate management to general employees.

Job Responsibilities of a General Consultant

General consultants address the business challenges clients face through strategy formulation, implementation support, maintenance and operations, process improvement, and system implementation.

While strategy consultants frequently interact with upper management, general consultants often work with people across a wide range of positions, not just the top leadership. Since the scope of work varies depending on the size of the client, it is important to have broad knowledge.

General consulting firms also create project teams for each engagement, but unlike strategy consulting, these projects are carried out by teams of specialists from various fields.

Additionally, depending on the general consulting firm, you may be assigned to global projects, so it is recommended to have business-level English proficiency as well.

Salary of a General Consultant

The average annual salary for each position of a general consultant is as follows:

• Consultant: 5,000,000 – 7,000,000 yen
• Senior Consultant: 7,000,000 – 9,000,000 yen
• Manager: 9,000,000 – 14,000,000 yen
• Senior Manager / Director: 13,000,000 – 18,000,000 yen
• Partner: 20,000,000 yen or more

At general consulting firms, salary and position are determined by performance rather than seniority. In addition to a fixed salary, a performance bonus equivalent to 10–20% of the fixed salary is provided, making it recommended for those aiming for a salary increase or looking to build their career.

Skills and Experience Gained as a General Consultant

General consultants have many opportunities to interact with members from diverse backgrounds, such as marketers and data scientists. Broadening the scope of your knowledge will greatly contribute to further career advancement.

Additionally, since general consulting firms tend to have a large number of employees, you can also expect to improve your communication skills and logical thinking. In the case of global projects, you will need to coordinate with overseas clients and teammates, which will also lead to improvements in your language skills.

Differences in the Selection Process Between Strategy and General Consulting Industries

Here are three differences in the selection process between strategy consulting and general consulting industries.

• Strategy consulting firms do not allow re-application after rejection
• The content covered in application essays (ES) differs
• The points emphasized in interviews differ

In order to transition to your ideal firm, make sure you thoroughly understand the differences.

Strategy Consulting Firms Often Do Not Allow Re-Application After Rejection

While general consulting firms have few restrictions on re-applications, strategy consulting firms are highly likely to not allow re-entry once you have been rejected.

This is because many firms consider it a risk to spend time re-evaluating someone who has already been rejected.

However, some firms do allow re-applications. For example, McKinsey & Company allows re-application if there is an interval of two or more years. Some consulting firms allow two or three entries, so check the official website of your desired company to see if there are any restrictions on the number of applications.

There are also differences between consulting firms in terms of when applications are accepted. Depending on the number of applicants during each period and your own level of preparation, staggering your application timing can also be one strategy for securing an offer.

The Content Covered in Application Essays (ES) Differs

The content covered in application essays also differs between strategy consulting and general consulting industries. While strategy consulting ES questions tend to be around 200 characters, general consulting ES questions tend to be around 400 characters.

For example, in the case of PwC Consulting, you might be asked questions such as “Please tell us your reason for applying for the [X] position” or “Please tell us about the biggest challenge you have faced in your life.”

Within the short limit of 200 characters, you are being tested on “whether you can convey important information more clearly and concisely.” Therefore, be conscious of stating your conclusion first, then briefly explaining your reasoning.

On the other hand, general consulting ES content is likely to be probed further during the interview. As a result, if you forget what you wrote in your ES, you will not be able to answer smoothly when asked in detail, so be sure to fill out your ES with the interview in mind.

The Points Emphasized in Interviews Differ

The points emphasized in interviews also differ between strategy consulting and general consulting industries.

While general consulting interviews tend to be standard interviews, strategy consulting firms often use case interviews. In a case interview, you are given a scenario simulating an actual client consultation and asked to propose a solution on the spot.

Case interviews require you to respond within a time limit, and if you panic, you will not be able to fully showcase yourself, so be sure to prepare thoroughly.

For example, you can prepare by reading case interview prep books to understand what they entail, or by asking friends, company employees, or fellow job seekers to practice mock case interviews with you.

If you don’t have anyone to rely on, registering with a consulting-specialized recruitment agency and having an advisor conduct a mock interview is also a good option.

Benefits of Transitioning to Strategy or General Consulting

Here, we will introduce the benefits of transitioning to strategy consulting or general consulting. If you are considering a career change to either type of consulting, please use this as a reference.

Benefits of Transitioning to General Consulting

A major benefit of transitioning to general consulting is the ability to “work globally”.

Especially at foreign-affiliated general consulting firms, you can collaborate with local teams on global projects and leverage your English skills. Therefore, if you are thinking about career advancement, transitioning to general consulting is recommended.

Additionally, general consulting is also more accessible to career changers without prior consulting experience. General consulting firms provide a wide range of services and handle many projects, resulting in very large corporate sizes.

Since they often have many employees and multiple bases, transitioning without prior experience is achievable. Many companies also have robust training programs for new hires, so those who want to “steadily build experience within a well-established organization” are recommended to consider general consulting.

Benefits of Transitioning from Strategy Consulting to General Consulting

One benefit of transitioning from strategy consulting to general consulting is the ability to “enhance your overall capabilities”.

While strategy consulting focuses primarily on formulating strategies for large corporations, general consulting provides end-to-end support for management challenges across a wide range of companies. Therefore, since general consulting has a broader service scope than strategy consulting, it is recommended for those who want to strengthen their overall capabilities.

Benefits of Transitioning to Strategy Consulting

A benefit of transitioning to strategy consulting is being stimulated by projects targeting large corporations and executive management. The projects you handle span a wide range, including new business planning, global projects, corporate accounting, HR matters, and projects requiring specialized knowledge.

In strategy consulting, teams are formed for each project to tackle problems that determine the fate of a corporation’s management. When the strategies you’ve developed are adopted, or when the numbers recover after execution, you will likely feel a tremendous sense of achievement and fulfillment.

Additionally, depending on the project, you may interact with highly skilled talent and specialists from different fields, making it recommended for those who want constant stimulation and those seeking career advancement.

Benefits of Transitioning from General Consulting to Strategy Consulting

Since general consulting has a broader scope of work than strategy consulting, it is suited for those who want to build resilience and broaden their knowledge base.

General consulting handles a wide range of themes including global strategy and talent development. Since it provides comprehensive support, those looking to upskill should consider giving it a try.

General Consulting Firms with In-House Strategy Consulting Teams

Here, we will introduce in detail general consulting firms that have in-house strategy consulting teams.

• Accenture
• PwC Consulting
• Deloitte Tohmatsu
• EY Strategy & Consulting

If you want to learn more about general consulting firms with in-house strategy consulting teams, be sure to check them out.

Accenture

Accenture is a consulting firm operating in 49 countries worldwide. With approximately 730,000 employees in total, it is said to be the world’s largest consulting firm. In Japan alone, it employs approximately 20,000 people, making it an extremely large corporation.

“Accenture Strategy” leverages a global network to deliver services. Accenture supports companies through business strategy development that combines a human-centered approach, advanced analytical capabilities, and specialized expertise.

Its strategy consulting services include proposing solutions for challenges such as M&A, new business model development, digital optimization, cost restructuring, talent development, and sales promotion.

For example, it supported Taisho Pharmaceutical in launching IT operations and IT systems for the acquisition of a European business base for its OTC business.

Since it offers a wide range of services targeting major corporations, those considering career advancement are recommended to check it out.

According to OpenWork, Accenture’s average annual salary as of December 2025 was approximately 8,670,000 yen.

PwC Consulting

“PwC Consulting LLC” provides broad support from strategy formulation to execution. PwC Consulting LLC stands alongside clients facing management challenges and supports the strengthening of their competitiveness not only domestically but also in the global market. It is a consulting firm with offices in 157 countries worldwide and over 270,000 employees.

The services provided by PwC Consulting are as follows:

• Corporate and business strategy
• Operations strategy
• Overseas market entry strategy
• Digital strategy
• Innovation strategy
• Customer strategy
• Human capital and organizational strategy

PwC Consulting adopts an industry-specific team structure to find appropriate solutions for the challenges clients face. As a company that places particular emphasis on teamwork within the consulting industry, it is recommended for those who want to gain experience early in their career or who want to implement initiatives in collaboration with project members.

Since they provide support with an understanding of industry trends and sector-specific characteristics, it is recommended for those who want to leverage their skills in a new role.

According to OpenWork, PwC Consulting’s average annual salary as of December 2025 was 10,020,000 yen. Since reaching manager level can mean earning over 10,000,000 yen, gaining experience and achieving that position could lead to a significant salary increase.

Deloitte Tohmatsu

“Deloitte Tohmatsu” provides consistent support from recommendations through to strategy execution. With approximately 450,000 employees, it is one of the world’s most renowned consulting firms. The total number of employees at its domestic firms exceeds 14,000. As a member of Deloitte, it supports the sustainable growth of clients and the creation of new industries.

For example, Deloitte Tohmatsu offers the following services:

• Consulting
• Human Capital
• Core Business Operations
• Customer & Marketing
• Strategy, Analytics & M&A
• Enterprise Technology & Performance

With over 5,000 consultants on staff, consultants collaborate with local offices around the world to deliver the most appropriate services for each region.

According to OpenWork, Deloitte Tohmatsu’s average annual salary as of December 2025 was 9,600,000 yen. It is said that reaching the manager level can bring average annual earnings of over 12,000,000 yen.

EY Strategy & Consulting

“EY Strategy & Consulting” provides complex services aimed at resolving corporate challenges. It is a consulting firm operating in over 150 countries and regions worldwide, with approximately 300,000 employees. In Japan alone, it employs 4,170 people (as of December 1, 2023).

EY Strategy & Consulting works together with members from over 150 countries and regions to support clients in addressing their challenges.

In addition to formulating growth strategies and new business strategies, it also handles customer experience, finance, and organizational restructuring, so those wishing to apply their skills in a new role are recommended to check it out.

According to OpenWork, EY Strategy & Consulting’s average annual salary as of December 2025 was approximately 9,110,000 yen. Since salary and bonuses vary by job grade, accumulating results and experience makes it possible to look forward to salary increases.

Frequently Asked Questions About General Consulting and Strategy Consulting

Here, we will introduce frequently asked questions when transitioning to general consulting or strategy consulting without prior experience.

• Is it possible to transition to consulting without prior experience?
• What is the difference between general consulting and strategy consulting?
• What skills are needed to transition to general consulting?
• What skills are needed to transition to strategy consulting?

We will introduce each one, so please use this as a reference if you are considering a career change.

Summary

In this article, we explained in detail the differences between strategy consulting and general consulting. The differences in their respective job responsibilities are as follows:

Since transitioning to strategy or general consulting is possible even without prior experience, early action is essential if you are even slightly considering a career change.

Please use the information introduced in this article as a reference to find the career path that suits you best.