Consulting careers abound for Boomers

The demand for consultants is growing rapidly in the work force as companies capitalize on the opportunity to hire expert opinions on an “as-needed” basis, rather than as full-time employees. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 55 percent increase in the number of consulting opportunities between 2002 and 2012.

“Companies now hire consultants to avoid the costs associated with full-time, permanent employees. They hire the staff they need just when they need them—and when those people are no longer needed, they’re gone,” say career coaches Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, authors of Expert Resumes for Baby Boomers.

For the 80 percent of today’s 78 million baby boomers who plan to continue working into their retirement years, according to a recent Merrill Lynch survey, careers as consultants may offer the best opportunities. Enelow and Kursmark believe companies’ need for experienced, knowledgeable advisors offers baby boomers one of the best opportunities to have a flexible work schedule that allows them to make the most of their work history and skills.

“The strong demand for consultants is great news for baby boomers who are interested in part-time positions, short-term assignments, and other nontraditional working situations—especially for boomers who don’t depend on an employer to provide their health insurance,” say Kursmark and Enelow.

“If you are a baby boomer with a particular expertise, for example, marketing communications; project management; new product development; business turn around; or corporate relocation, you might want to give serious consideration to a consulting career where you will have options and flexibility for your work life and schedule.”