Consulting Assistant
(Female, Age 32) from Portland, PA
This is a REAL-LIFE job profile written by a Female aged 32 who works as a Consulting Assistant in Portland, PA. We have removed all names and personal information in order to protect privacy. This professional kindly spent a bit of their time to complete one of our job profile surveys so that prospective job seekers like you could read their insights. Please excuse any punctuation or grammatical errors in this profile.
At a Glance
Current Job
Basic data on your current job
| Job Title | Consulting Assistant |
|---|---|
| Salary | $26,000 |
| Other Compensation | None Set |
| Hours/Week | 30 |
| Company Size | (not answered) |
| Location | Portland, PA |
| Years Experience | 2 years |
Career Ratings
Opinions on your CAREER overall (i.e. not just your current job)
| Years in Career | 0 |
|---|---|
| Education | (not answered) |
| Income Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Interest Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Work-Life Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Fulfilment Rating | 0 / 10 |
Current job Q&A
Describe the type of organization you work for.
We are a small P/R firm that specializes in entertainment consulting for new and up and coming singers, models, spoken word artists and various other types of entertainers. Our size is currently around 10 employees and we are constantly seeking expansion opportunities.
Describe your job role and responsibilities.
# communicating this information to the client, usually by email;
# advising on potential responses that may be required;
# responding to requests for information, often received at short notice by phone or email;
# researching, forecasting and evaluating the effects of public policy on an organization, using public sources, political intelligence and personal contacts;
# writing newsletters, briefings, campaign material and press releases;
# attending select committee hearings, party conferences and other events;
# establishing and maintaining two-way communication with relevant official bodies;
# maintaining regular contact, in person and in writing, with politicians, civil servants, and/or staff in local authorities and regulatory bodies to brief them on clients’ work and concerns;
# providing strategic advice to clients;
# maintaining relationships with existing clients;
# developing new business.
Please list an additional benefits (beyond compensation) that you receive.
none at this time
Do you feel you are under/over or well/fairly compensated at your current position?
somewhat undercompensated
Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Please explain.
I work with people of various backgrounds and personalities on a daily basis. Sometimes I enjoy the diversity in thoughts and opinions, but then at other times the disharmony that can eventually result from clashing ideas is somewhat grating on my nerves.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it.
I work primarily from home but our team meets several times a week out in the field and this allows for maximum flexibility and impact as we have no set 9-5 type of hours and can get things done pretty much from any location. Sometimes I believe it would be helpful to have a more central base where we can get our ideas across more directly face to face, but for the most part, I enjoy the flexibility.
Please rate each of the following aspects of your current job on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest/best):
Income: 2
Benefits: 5
Hours: 6
Co-Workers: 3
Supervisors: 4
Job Title: 8
Level of Responsibility: 7
The Actual Work: 1
Table of Contents
How you got your job
How did you get your current job?
I found this line of work by being referred to it from a colleauge.
What was the application process?
I submitted a resume by email and then had a phone interview and a subsequent in person interview.
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes. I had a informal phone interview and then a few days later an in person interview. I was interviewed by 2 different supervisors each time.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
I was asked several different questions, but the ones I remember offhand are “Why do you want to work in this field” and “How would you handle an unexpected last minute issue that might arise with a client.”
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I was able to see and participate in direct dealings with clients and was assisted by more experienced consultants until I was able to stand on my own 2 feet.
Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Most of the training was from shadowing other consultants for the first 4 weeks or so and basically acting as a paid “intern” for them while learning in the field.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I have a background in business and a business degree.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
It definately helped to prepare me for the day to day realities of the job.
If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I would recommend doing a lot of research and maybe doing a shadow of a person already working in the consulting field to get a real feel for what day to day operations are like. No 2 days are the same and at times the work and responsibilities are somewhat unpredictable. So for anyone who must have a firm set schedule or has a problem with self direction this might not be the wisest career choice.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Tenacity, Persistence, Patience, outgoing personality, ability to get along well with all personality types, articulate in all forms of communication. I would say all of these are important and neccesary because much of the work will be done over the phone and it’s of vital importance to have the ability to express yourself clearly and concisely.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Not really, I think personality matters most in this line of work, along with dedication and persistence.
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Don’t get easily discouraged from criticism or allow yourself to be intimidated.
Long-term career plans
Is your current employment part of your overall career plan? Why or why not?
Yes, it is a part of my career plan with the ultimate long term goal being to open up my own consulting firm.
What are your current career goals?
My current goals are to assist in the expansion of my company to other states within the next 2-3 years.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
It’s very hard work, but also rewarding and fulfilling!
Prior work history
Please list your most recent jobs prior to this current job:
| Title | Length | Salary | Description | |
| Prior Job 1 | receptionist | 5 years | 17000 | clerical duties, filing, answer phones, greet clients, complete paperwork |
| Prior Job 2 | concierge | 6 years | 18000 | assist guests with planning trips, coordinate transportation, make reservations, etc. |
Educational background
Please list your educational background:
High School GPA:3.75
| GPA | School | Degree | |
| College (Undergraduate) or Technical/Vocational |
4 | Western Business College | Travel/Hospitality |
| Graduate or Professional (Masters or Doctorate) |
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