7 Common Myths About Consulting—Debunked
A closer look at the realities of consulting—beyond the suits, slides, and stereotypes
“Consultant” – a word that brings to mind sharp suits, airports, big titles, and expensive PowerPoint decks. But what’s the real deal behind the buzzword? And what do people often get totally wrong?
Here are 7 common myths about consulting—and what actually happens behind the scenes. Whether you’re a consultant, considering the career path, or just curious, this one’s for you.
What People Often Get Wrong About Consulting
1. “Consultants just talk—they don’t do anything.”
You know the joke: a consultant borrows your watch, tells you the time, and sends a bill.
🟢 Reality: Most consultants are deep in the doing. They write documentation, design and build applications, map architectures, lead workshops, and coordinate teams—often acting as the invisible glue that holds everything together. And no, they’re not just repeating what the client already knows. Good consultants bring structure, clarity, and momentum. They help clients solve problems, make decisions, and move forward. Communication is just one tool. Execution is the game.
2. “Consulting is all long hours, constant stress, and brutal competition.”
The stereotype: 12-hour days, weekend work, demanding CxO clients, cutthroat culture, constant traveling, and never-ending slide decks.
🟢 Reality: Yes, the work can be demanding. But healthy consulting firms value work-life balance and focus on sustainable client relationships. Time management and prioritization are essential skills. And the best teams don’t compete, they collaborate. Not every consultant works directly with senior leadership, but when you do, it’s often one of the perks—offering exposure, insight, and opportunities you wouldn’t get elsewhere.
3. “Anyone can be a consultant—as long as they can fake it.”
Is consulting just clever talk and buzzwords?
🟢 Reality: Clients are smart—and they’ve seen it all. You might get through one meeting by sounding convincing, but real consulting requires more: deep expertise, critical thinking, and the ability to connect solutions to business outcomes. You need to understand the client’s context, ask the right questions, and follow through with actual results. Substance beats show every time. The consultants who last aren’t the ones with the slickest pitch—they’re the ones who consistently deliver real value.
4. “Consulting is glamorous.”
Airport lounges. Five-star hotels. Helicopter rides. High-powered meetings. It all looks great on LinkedIn.
🟢 Reality: While consulting can include exciting moments, most days are far from glamorous. You’re more likely to spend your time in Teams meetings, building slide decks, troubleshooting project issues, or deep in documentation or coding. Travel, when it happens, often means early flights, late nights, and little time to enjoy the destination. And honestly? That’s fine. Because the real reward isn’t the perks—it’s the impact. Helping clients solve meaningful problems, guiding them through change, and seeing your work make a difference—that’s what makes consulting worth it.
5. “Consultants aren’t accountable—they just give advice and walk away.”
They drop the deck and disappear, right?
🟢 Reality: Good consultants stay in the game. They support implementation, help troubleshoot, and are often involved long after the consulting project ends. Some even work as embedded resources within client organizations for months or years. Real value lies in staying engaged and being there when things get hard—not just delivering a slide deck and disappearing.
6. “Nobody really needs consultants—and they’re overpriced anyway.”
Why not just hire someone full-time?
🟢 Reality: Consultants bring more than just extra hands or slideware—they offer specialized expertise, an external perspective, and the ability to ramp up or down fast. The fee isn’t just for time—it’s for experience, clarity, and helping clients avoid expensive mistakes. A good consultant pays for themselves many times over. And unlike permanent hires, consultants offer flexibility: in many countries, it’s far easier to scale consulting resources up or down than to part ways with an employee when priorities shift.
7. “Consulting isn’t a real career—it’s just a stepping stone.”
"When will you get a real job?"
🟢 Reality: Consulting is absolutely a real and rewarding career path. Many consultants grow into senior leadership positions, become partners, or lead entire business units. Others deepen their subject-matter expertise or move client-side by choice—not because they have to, but because they want to. This myth persists partly because some people do use consulting as a launchpad, and partly because those outside the industry often don’t fully understand what consultants actually do. But the impact is real: consultants help shape strategy, enable transformation, and solve tough problems every day. It can be a stepping stone, or a destination. Your call.
Final Thoughts: Ever Heard One of These?
Consulting is often misunderstood, from both the outside and within. It’s more practical, more rewarding, and yes—more human—than most people expect.
👉 Which of these myths have you encountered? What would you add to the list? Hit reply or leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Best,
Eetu Niemi
IT Consulting Career Hub