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What Is Consulting? An Overview of the Industry

Key Takeaways

  • Consulting is highly diverse: The industry includes fields such as Management, Strategy, Digital, Tech, and Sustainability Consulting, which differ significantly in tasks, projects, and ways of working.
  • Not every consulting field fits every profile: Depending on your interests, strengths, and career goals, certain specializations may be a better match—getting an early overview helps you make the right choice.
  • Differences show most clearly in day-to-day work: While consulting fields may look similar at first glance, they vary widely in project types, level of implementation, functional focus, and skill requirements.
  • Comparisons make career decisions easier: Directly comparing consulting fields helps you understand similarities and differences and find the right long-term career path.

Are you wondering what consulting actually is? 🤔 Many people think it’s simply about giving advice, but that’s only part of the picture. What consulting looks like in practice depends heavily on the context, work environment, and your specific role. For example, the day-to-day work of an independent consultant can be very different from that of someone working at a large consulting firm.

If you’re aiming for a career in consulting, having a solid understanding of the industry is essential. This section gives you a clear overview of how diverse consulting really is, which fields exist, and how they differ from one another helping you identify which directions might align best with your interests.

 

 

What Types of Consulting Are There?

When entering consulting, you’ll quickly realize that consulting is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the field, your work may be strategic, operational, technical, analytical, or strongly industry-focused. That’s why it’s worth getting to know the main specializations early on.

Management Consulting is probably the most well-known field, but consulting includes many others such as Strategy Consulting, Digital & Tech Consulting, Sustainability Consulting, and more. Each area comes with its own focus, responsibilities, and project types.

Here are the key consulting fields you should know:

Die wichtigsten Beratungsfelder

To help you figure out which field truly suits you, we provide in-depth articles on all major types of consulting—clearly explained and grounded in real-world practice.

Top Articles on Consulting Fields

Everything You Need to Know About Strategy Consulting
Everything You Need to Know About Strategy Consulting
May 27, 2025
9 min
Thinking about strategy consulting? Learn what it takes and how to land a job at top firms like McKinsey or BCG.
View article
Digital Consultant – What Is It And How to Become One?
Digital Consulting – What is it?
Oct 10, 2022
7 min
Find out what digital consultants do and if you would like to become one.
View article

 

How Do Different Types of Consulting Differ?

Have you already explored different consulting fields but aren’t sure which one might be the right long-term choice for you? At first glance, many areas seem similar, but in day-to-day work they often differ significantly whether in project types, requirements, ways of working, or proximity to implementation. If you’re torn between two paths, a clear comparison can be extremely helpful.

That’s exactly what this section is about: understanding how different consulting fields set themselves apart while also identifying where they overlap. To support a well-informed decision, we’ve directly compared the most important consulting areas. Our comparison articles help you clearly see the differences and find the path that truly matches your goals and interests.

Explore Our In-Depth Comparison Articles

What’s the Difference Between Strategy and Management Consulting?
What’s the Difference Between Strategy and Management Consulting?
Oct 27, 2025
10 min
Learn more about the key differences between strategy consulting and management consulting.
View article
Consulting vs. Investment Banking: Which One Is Right for You?
Consulting vs. Investment Banking: Which One Is Right for You?
May 08, 2025
3 min
Which path suits you better – Consulting or Investment Banking? Find out with our in-depth career comparison.
View article
What Is The Difference Between Sustainability Consulting and ESG?
What Is The Difference Between Sustainability Consulting and ESG?
Mar 24, 2025
10 min
In this article, you'll find out what's the distinction between Sustainability Consulting and ESG.
View article

Continue to Learn

Top Consulting Firms – Best Consulting Firms to Work For 2025
Top Consulting Firms – Best Consulting Firms to Work For 2025
Dec 16, 2025
8 min
Learn more about the top consulting firms to work for in 2025!
View article
Case Interview 2025 – The Ultimate Guide for Success
Case Interview 2025 – The Ultimate Guide for Success
Oct 28, 2025
20 min
Find out what a case interview is and how you can prepare best for your dream consulting job.
View article
Being An Entry-Level Consultant – What Is It Like?
Being An Entry-Level Consultant – What Is It Like?
Oct 12, 2022
6 min
All you need to know about your new career!
View article