Free Advice for Future Consultants

Dear Future Education Consultant,

Don’t be afraid to say out loud you eventually want to be a consultant. It’s kind of a fun job. In fact, at ERG, we think there is really nothing better than supporting teachers. If you are thinking educational consulting might be for you, it’s important to know what you want and even more important to know how to get there. We have a few tips for you as you take steps on this path:

Realize your content knowledge is the floor, not the ceiling. It is wonderful to be an expert in literacy, math, etc., but in the role of educational consultant, your content knowledge is just the foundation. In reality, your work with adult learners is going to be a key piece of your consulting life. At ERG, we have become experts at this and know we don’t just teach our content, we teach adults. So, keep reading and learning and teaching. But also make sure you work with adults along the way. Because educational consulting involves a LOT more adults than it does kids. If working with adults is not really your jam, then educational consulting might not be either.

Find ways to present to adults as many ways as possible. Present to your colleagues, present to your school, present to your district, present to your region, your state, and nationally. Find any and every opportunity to present your ideas and thoughts to others in as many different venues as possible. This is important because when you are in different contexts, you have to become even more clear and precise with your knowledge so you can effectively communicate it. This will come in handy when you are in the consulting world and no longer work with people you actually know.

Develop your own stuff. Get comfortable with taking your ideas and creating a PowerPoint or some other visual presentation that is truly your own. Not copied from a text, not purchased from Teachers Pay Teachers, and not from your district or state office. You need to work to edit, revise, and create resources on your own. This development work will sustain you when you are asked to create things that do not currently exist. And as a consultant, this will be part of your job. At ERG, we work diligently to listen and respond to what our customers need the most. Being able to develop resources as needed has helped us become a small giant in the business of education.

Educational consulting can be a worthwhile and rewarding career. It can challenge you and grow you in a variety of ways. If you think this work is for you, there are ways to start very small… just start.