Consulting - Information Technology

As the consulting business model proliferated in the 1980s and 1990s, all of the major U.S. accounting firms created consulting practices that could leverage their massive existing client bases, offering both business strategy consulting and IT consulting expertise to private sector and government clients. Moreover, software firms like Oracle have moved into the consulting field to capture some of the enormous new demand for design, implementation and management of all sorts of technology based business information processes. Finally, newer "pure play" IT consulting firms such as Infosys Technologies and Diamond Management & Technology Consultants have formed their entire business models around providing clients with technology strategy advice, systems implementation support and/or outsourcing services.

Some schools now have programs that train students to become IT consultants. For example, Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology has an information technology consulting track. Information technology consultants give their clients advice on the best ways to use information technology to reach their business goals. Often, IT consultants specialize in information security, network installation, help desk administration and so forth. In addition to having knowledge about information technology, you need other skills such as strong communication and customer service skills to be a successful IT consultant.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects wage and salary employment in management, scientific and technical consulting services to increase by 78 percent between 2006 and 2016. According to the BLS, consulting is the fastest growing industry in the U.S. economy. The BLS expects that all areas of consulting will show strong growth.