Consultancy

Consulting firms sell expertise and time. A client has a problem they cannot or do not want to solve internally, and they hire a consultancy to do it. This might mean analysing whether a company should enter a new market, helping a bank build a credit risk model, evaluating a government programme, or implementing a new data platform. The scope and content depend entirely on the engagement.

Because consultants work across many clients and industries, the work changes frequently. One project might be in financial services, the next in healthcare or logistics. This breadth is one of the main differences between consulting and an in-house role. It means you build knowledge across sectors quickly, but rarely go as deep into one organisation as someone who works there permanently.

The daily work is project-based and deadline-driven. Most of the time you are working toward a specific deliverable, whether that is a report, a model, a recommendation, or an implemented solution. A large part of the job is structuring problems clearly, doing rigorous analysis, and presenting findings convincingly to senior stakeholders at the client.

The tools and skills required depend on the type of consultancy. Strategy consultants use Excel and PowerPoint heavily. Risk and quantitative consultants use Python, R, and SQL. Data and technology consultants work with cloud platforms and data infrastructure tools. Across all types, the ability to work under time pressure, communicate clearly, and adapt quickly to new environments is important. In the Netherlands, consulting work is spread across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague, with firms working across all sectors of the economy.