How to Become a Change Management Consultant
If you become a change management consultant you’ll be supporting employers as they lead their team through a period of significant change. This could be a change to business systems, a change to an established process or even a change to employees.
Interested? There’s plenty of variety on offer, as well as the chance to develop valuable leadership skills. Check out our guide below to discover how to become a change management consultant.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Change Management Consultant?
Many change management consultants have a degree or an HND in a related subject such as business studies, psychology, law, management or human resources management. However, you can also enter the profession via two change management certifications that are accredited by the industry’s examination body, APMG.
1. Change Management Foundation Certification
If you want to develop a career in change management, this entry-level certification is your starting point. It covers:
The assessment for this certification is carried out via a 40-minute exam which includes multiple-choice questions.
2. Change Management Practitioner Certification
If you gain this certification, you’ll be recognised as a reliable and competent manager of organisational change. It covers:
The assessment for this certification involves a 2-5 hour exam based on a case study scenario.
Skill Set Required for a Change Management Consultant
As well as gaining the right qualifications you’ll need to develop excellent interpersonal skills to become an effective change management consultant. These will enable you to reduce employee resistance by listening sensitively and communicating the benefits of change.
Aspiring change management consultants also need to gain the following skills:
Teamwork
Excellent organisational skills
Problem-solving skills
The ability to prioritise tasks
Project management skills
Coaching skills
What Does a Change Management Consultant Do?
Change management consultants help employers to identify which areas of an organisation need to change, before assessing how this will affect the organisation and its employees. The final step in the process is to ensure that any change initiatives are implemented effectively.
Typical Duties for a Change Management Consultant
If you become a consultant your responsibilities will include:
Popular Career Pathways for Change Management Consultants
A career in change management consultancy offers the chance to work with a variety of companies and the opportunity to work on lots of different projects. In addition, some jobs involve travel in the UK and overseas.
The skills you’ll learn by qualifying as a change management consultant are also useful in other roles related to the design, development and implementation of organizational change. These include:
