consulting firms

How to become an Environmental Consultant

By Barbara Thomas 10 July, 2023 3 mins read

Being an environmental consultant might be the ideal career for you if you are passionate about these issues. This career will give you many opportunities to expand your skills and experience, as well as open doors for new positions. Your future career options include becoming an Executive Director at a nonprofit organization or starting your own. You could even be elected to public office for your dedication to environmental protection. If you can handle the pressures of public life, it is possible to be an adviser for high-ranking officials. Whatever your goals may be, becoming an environmental advisor will equip you with the skills to influence environmental policies. The best part? You can help save the world.

Postgraduate degrees

A Postgraduate degree, depending on your qualifications, can lead to a career as an environmental consultant. There are many areas of environmental engineering. These professionals are responsible for developing regulations to reduce environment pollution. Environmental engineers need to be good communicators. This field requires a broad skill set and a talent for problem solving.

A career in environmental science involves a combination of knowledge from different scientific disciplines, writing, and public policy. Reading Strunk & White is a great way for you to develop your writing skills. A field consultant or environmental technician is another option. They will gain valuable experience in the analysis and collection of samples. Environmental careers often lead to senior-level jobs, similar to corporate professionals, after graduation. However, these positions are limited to those with two to five years' experience.

Experience

Many jobs in environmental science require graduate education. A bachelor's is usually sufficient. However, some consultancies may prefer a Master's. Visiting local environmental agencies and looking at employee biographies can give you relevant experience and education. Environmental consultants generally work for a consulting company and are employed by the commercial and public sectors. The nature of the job will determine the amount of experience needed to become an environmental consultant.

Many environmental consultants are project managers. They supervise employees on behalf of clients. To fully understand the industry's needs, environmental consultants read and study environmental regulations. Being an environmental consultant requires excellent communication skills as well as organizational skills. The experience they have allows them to work more effectively and comes up with more effective solutions. They often work alongside other professionals so strong project management skills is essential for their success. They will be able to manage teams, finish projects on time and organize client files.

Salary

Salaries for environmental consultants range from $17,203 to $458,634. An environmental consultant's average annual salary is $76,530. The entry-level job of environmental consultant pays $38,000 to $47,000. The top 1% earns more than $180,000. Salary ranges also depend on experience, geographic location, and years in the field. Salary information is based on ZipRecruiter's analysis of employer job postings and third-party data sources.

There are many factors that affect the average salary of an environmental consultant. Starting salary is affected by a person's education, experience, and ability to negotiate higher salaries if they have more. Special skills and education can also have an impact on the salary. The Professional Salary Report will tell you more about these factors and the salary range for environmental consultants. But it is important that you understand regional differences and the ranges of annual salaries to decide what is best for your needs.

Career prospects

Environmental consulting offers many career opportunities. A degree is in environmental science could help you get there. While many environmental jobs require previous experience, there are some graduate training schemes. Volunteering for local agencies can provide relevant experience. The majority of environmental consultants work for both the public sector as well as commercial businesses. This job requires a deep understanding of business practices. Candidates should be careful about the degrees they plan to earn.

Working in an environmental consultancy firm requires knowledge of the latest laws and regulations, as well as excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Senior environmental consultants may be responsible for project management and business development. In addition to having solid soft skills and knowledge, environmental consultants must be able to meet tight deadlines. Many consultants work under pressure and must be able to manage their time and plan ahead. This type of work is most rewarding for those who enjoy working alongside others.

FAQ

What is the difference of a consultant versus an advisor?

A consultant provides advice on a topic. A consultant provides solutions to problems.

A consultant works directly with clients to help them achieve their goals. Clients are referred to advisors through books, magazines and lectures.

How is consulting different from freelancing

Freelancers can be self-employed people who provide their services to clients, without the involvement of employees. They typically charge hourly rates based on time spent working on a client's project. Consultants work for companies and agencies that employ them. They are often paid monthly or annually.

Freelancers tend to have more flexibility than consultants because they control their work hours and set their own prices. But consultants have more benefits like vacation days, health insurance and retirement plans.

How do I get clients for my consultancy business?

It is important to identify an area of passion. This could be social media or public relations. However, it must be something that you are passionate about. You may need to start small and find a niche market like web design. Once you've found this niche, make sure you understand what makes it tick. What problems does the solution solve? What problems can it solve? But most importantly, what can you do to help them?

It is also possible to approach businesses directly.

If all else fails, why not offer your services at free events like networking evenings and conferences? You will meet potential customers and be able show your skills without having to spend money advertising.

What qualifications are necessary to become a consultant

You don't just need to have a MBA, you also need to demonstrate your ability as a business consultant. A minimum of two years' experience in consulting, training and/or advising a major company is necessary.

You must have worked closely with senior management teams on strategy development projects. This requires you to feel confident presenting ideas to clients, and getting buy-in.

A professional qualification exam, such as the Certified Management Consultant (CMC), of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), is also required.

Statistics

According to IBISWorld, revenues in the consulting industry will exceed $261 billion in 2020. (nerdwallet.com)
So, if you help your clients increase their sales by 33%, then use a word like “revolution” instead of “increase.” (consultingsuccess.com)
Over 50% of consultants get their first consulting client through a referral from their network. (consultingsuccess.com)
WHY choose me: Why your ideal client should choose you (ex: 10 years of experience and 6-week program has helped over 20 clients boost their sales by an average of 33% in 6 months). (consultingsuccess.com)
"From there, I told them my rates were going up 25%, this is the new hourly rate, and every single one of them said 'done, fine.' (nerdwallet.com)