Automotive Industry x Consulting Firms｜Consultant Job Description, Annual Income, and Career Opportunities

What is a consulting firm?

Consulting is the business of providing solutions to various problems and issues faced by companies. A consulting firm is a company whose main business is to help companies solve their problems.

The issues that companies seek solutions for from consulting firms vary from “business strategy” and “business operation reform” to “system implementation” and “corporate organization change.

Types and Classifications of Consulting Firms

There are many types of consulting firms, ranging from those that deal with management issues in a comprehensive manner to those that “specialize in operational fields” such as strategy, IT, human resources, and finance, and those that “specialize in industries” such as manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.

The main classifications by business area are as follows

Consulting firms by business domain
・General consulting firms (providing a wide range of services to clients in all industries)
・Strategic consulting firms (in the areas of management, finance, business and other strategies and medium- to long-term management issues)
・IT consulting firms (IT strategy planning, business reform, system implementation support, etc.)
・Organizational human resources consulting firms (human resources strategy such as recruitment/training and system development) ・Think tank consulting firms (mainly three divisions: economic research, IT consulting and management consulting) Organizational human resources (human resource strategies such as recruitment/training, system development, etc.)
・Think tanks (three main divisions: “economic research,” “IT consulting,” and “management consulting”)

In recent years, in addition to firms based on these typical business categories, various “industry/sector-specific” specialist professional firms have emerged.

Consulting firms that specialize in industries
・Manufacturing industry type (support for reforms in manufacturing and other industries that need to respond to global competition)
・Risk management type (specializing in support for compliance with laws and regulations and acquisition of internationally accepted certifications)
・Web type (specializing in planning and implementation support for strategies for effective use of the Internet) (Specializing in support for planning/implementation of strategies for effective use of the Internet)

These specialized consulting firms have the advantage of providing more in-depth consulting services because of their industry-specific knowledge and expertise.

Background of the need for consulting in the automotive industry

In order to survive this turbulent period in the automotive industry, there are high expectations for consulting services to solve problems. Professional firms “specializing in the automotive industry” have emerged one after another, specializing in various issues in the automotive and mobility industry.

Consultant Job Description and Annual Income

Now that you understand the types of consulting firms and the roles they play, let’s take a look at what exactly consultants do.

Consultant Job Description

In general, there are four main common consultant job descriptions

[Consultant’s job description.
Analyze client company’s current situation & understand issues
・Gather information on issues
・Develop vision to solve issues
・Support implementation to solve issues
(*Some consulting firms do not focus on this area.)

Consultants do not all perform the same tasks. Each consultant is specialized in a certain field and is involved in work where he or she can make the most of his or her knowledge and experience.
For example, there are different categories of consultants, such as “strategic consultants” who solve management issues, and “IT consultants” who are IT experts and whose expertise is indispensable.
There are also “industry-specific consultants” whose strength lies in their knowledge and experience in a certain industry or sector, such as the manufacturing or medical industry.

Consultant Salary

Annual salaries in the consulting industry tend to be higher than other occupations, and it is possible to achieve an annual salary of ¥10 million in one’s 20s or 30s.
According to the “Latest! The “Top 500 Companies in Japan with Annual Salaries for 30-Year-Olds,” published by Toyo Keizai Online, shows that three major consulting firms (Frontier Management, BAYCALENT Consulting, and SIGMAXIS) are ranked among the top 15.

In addition, positions for consultants are determined by merit regardless of age and gender , and there is generally a system in which annual salaries differ for each position. In addition, it varies by type of consultant and by company, and is characterized by a wide variation in annual salary.

Reference: Toyo Keizai Online “Latest! The top 500 companies in Japan in terms of annual salary at age 30” (Japanese only)

Automotive Industry Consultant

So far we have gained a better understanding of consulting in general. Let us now look more specifically at the automotive industry.

What is the “automotive industry” consulting?

The automotive industry is one of the most globalized industries. It is also one of the most active consulting themes in recent years, as the industry is undergoing a period of structural change and other upheaval.
Our consulting services in the automotive and mobility industry include the following

[Major consulting services for the automotive industry

■ Strengthening competitiveness
-Branding, technology strategy, M&A, etc.

■ Industry structural transformation
-Anticipation of and response strategies to structural changes in the industry, alliance strategies, etc.

Regional/Functional Strategies
-External relations strategy, entry strategy, organizational restructuring, etc.

New Business/Entry Competition
-Urban transportation, entry into different industries, IT, etc.

Specific projects include sales strategies and overseas expansion for automobile manufacturers, business improvement and cost reduction for parts manufacturers, organizational reform for collaboration across industries, and consulting on new businesses such as electric vehicles and automation.

Leading consulting firms in the automotive industry

Consulting firms that focus or specialize in the automotive industry include

[Representative consulting firms in the automotive industry]
■Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting
■Abeam Consulting
■Accenture
■PwC
■Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting (MURC)
■Funai Research Institute, Ltd. etc.

Skills and qualifications required for automotive industry consultants

There are no qualifications required to become a consultant, regardless of whether you are an automotive industry consultant or not.
To become a consultant in the automotive industry, experience and knowledge related to automobiles and mobility are important. However, as client issues are becoming more complex these days, it is also important to go beyond the automotive industry and absorb new knowledge with an eagerness to learn.

Is it possible to change jobs with no experience?

In fact, it is said that more than half of mid-career hires are inexperienced.
However, there are some cases in which people with no experience are hired in recognition of their high ability and potential, Many consulting firms in the manufacturing industry, including those in the automotive industry, tend to look for people with a background in manufacturing who know what it is like to work in the field.
This is because manufacturers, who are the clients of these firms, tend to place their trust in manufacturing firms that are composed of people from the manufacturing industry who understand the flow of the workplace and have a firsthand understanding of the issues involved.
In this sense, for those with a background in manufacturing, becoming a manufacturing consultant is a career change, but one that allows them to fully utilize their previous experience.

Who is a good consultant?

What qualities make a person suitable for consultancy?
Let’s look at the following five points

Qualities required of a consultant.

• professional mind
• ability to think logically
• communication skills
• positive thinking
• strength of an organization (e.g. profitability, productivity, economic clout, stability, growth potential)

professional mind

As a matter of course, clients who request consulting services want to solve their problems and issues. Therefore, as consultants, our mission is to help clients achieve their goals.
Many times, unexpected barriers come up during the process, such as a change in the client’s opinion or policy. Even at such times, It is important to have the professionalism to break out of the status quo by considering other avenues and improving your own knowledge for the client’s success. Doing our best to help our clients succeed with professionalism leads to positive results.

ability to think logically

The ability to think logically (logical thinking) is a prerequisite for consultants as a basic skill.
The consultant’s work is supported at its core by collecting data and information and formulating strategies based on these facts. It is also necessary to prepare persuasive logic when explaining them to the client.

The ability to think logically is also important in the recruitment examination for consultants, as is its potential.

communication skills

Communication skills are another important quality for consultants.
A consultant must be able to accurately grasp the client’s intentions and requests, and convey his or her thoughts in an easy-to-understand manner. If you can gain the client’s trust through smooth communication, the implementation of measures will proceed smoothly.

In addition, consultants basically work in teams to execute projects. Therefore, communication skills are important to build trust and smooth cooperation with team members.

positive thinking

Consulting is a profession that is highly pressured by clients. Often there are disagreements with clients, or they are placed in the middle of complex relationships, both internally and externally, which are psychologically burdensome and unavoidable.
These stressful situations, you must be able to overcome them by viewing them positively from the perspective of “growth.

strength of an organization (e.g. profitability, productivity, economic clout, stability, growth potential)

The consultant’s workload is heavy and demanding, involving a variety of tasks such as research and analysis for problem solving, hypothesis testing with a team, and negotiations with clients. In addition, because clients want to resolve issues as quickly as possible, consultants sometimes work late into the night.
Of course, this does not continue every day, Physical fitness is an important skill for consultants.

How to get a job at an automotive industry consulting firm

In recent years, the Japanese consulting market has continued to expand, and market expansion directly translates into an increase in the number of consultants. In other words, over the past few years, The number of consultants in Japan has been steadily increasing, and the demand for inexperienced consultants is expected to remain high.

Although the market for consulting jobs is such a seller’s market, of course, not everyone can successfully change jobs.
Before you begin your job search, it is important to determine your objectives for changing jobs. Then, after understanding your own background and qualities, it is important to objectively grasp what your strengths are and what you lack.
Finding the right company and preparing well for the selection process will lead you to a successful career change.

We also recommend registering with a recruitment agent to make your job search go more smoothly.A recruitment agent who has helpful knowledge when changing jobs for consultants can be a strong ally.Especially if you are aiming to change careers from an inexperienced consultant, support for consulting career change, such as consulting aptitude tests and case interviews, will be of great help.

Turnpoint Consulting, the leading consulting firm in Japan

Turnpoint Consulting Turnpoint Consulting is a specialized recruitment agency for the mobility industry. We are well versed in the latest industry trends, company information and networks, and can introduce you to jobs that are not available to the general public, as well as provide you with individualized career and personalized proposals tailored to your job situation and motivations.

Advantages of applying to consulting firms through Turnpoint Consulting

Many agents have separate teams specializing in consulting and may recommend only consulting firms.
However, Turnpoint Consulting does not limit itself to consulting firms. However, Turnpoint Consulting does not limit itself to consulting firms.

2. only introduce consulting firms specializing in automotive
We will help you to become strong in automotive and manufacturing related fields.
We have strong connections and a wealth of information through regular meetings with personnel from consulting firms with strong automotive backgrounds. We negotiate firmly from the perspective of the job seeker and can also consult with HR prior to joining the company according to your orientation and vision.

3. Support at your pace
If you apply to too many companies in your job search, you may become physically exhausted and not be able to give 100%. We support job seekers at their own pace, including prioritizing which companies to apply to first.

4. document correction and interview preparation
Document screening is a major selection point when applying to consulting firms. We will correct your documents in advance according to what the hiring manager is looking for, and provide support for interviews.

Finally.

The demand for consulting services is increasing in the automotive industry, which is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation. In response, more and more consulting firms for the automotive industry are actively recruiting and hiring consultants. If you are interested in automotive consulting, now is the time to change jobs.
Determine your own objectives for changing jobs and work with a recruitment agent to make your job search a success.