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If you're a consultant considering a career shift to an industry role - whether in tech, strategy, or operations - now is a great time to make a move.

More and more high-performing professionals are transitioning from consulting to industry positions, driven by a desire for more impact, a clearer work-life balance, or simply a new challenge.

But while you may excel at advising clients, there's a significant gap between your current skillset and what industry employers are looking for.

And trust me, that gap shows in interviews.

Over the past few years, I've coached many consultants making this leap.

A common theme in their struggles? They're making the same mistakes over and over in industry interviews. Mistakes that prevent them from landing the job they want, despite their obvious experience and expertise.

In this edition of Design a Career You Love, I'm going to dive into the 4 most common mistakes that consultants make during industry interviews and, more importantly, give you actionable advice on how to avoid them.

1. Failing to Translate Consulting Language to Industry Terms

The Mistake:​
Consultants are used to using specific jargon and frameworks that are second nature to them but can be alienating to hiring managers in industry. Terms like "value proposition," "scalability," "change management," or "leveraging synergies" are overused and can sound too abstract in a company setting. In interviews, consultants often present their work in terms that demonstrate how great their advice and strategies are - without showing how they’d actually execute the solutions in a real-world, operational environment.

Example:​
In a recent coaching session, a client who was interviewing for a Director of Operations role at a mid-size tech company kept using consulting jargon like "optimizing core competencies" and "delivering high-impact solutions." While these terms sound impressive in a consulting context, they didn’t land with the hiring manager, who was more focused on practical experience and problem-solving abilities in the day-to-day operations.

What to Do Instead:​
To avoid this mistake, you need to focus on concrete, actionable examples and translate your consulting experience into industry terms that demonstrate execution and results.

• Use concrete numbers and examples: Instead of saying "we improved efficiency by 20%," say "I led a cross-functional team to streamline the product development process, reducing cycle time by 15% and increasing our delivery speed by 20%."
• Simplify your language: Use plain language that emphasizes the "how" of your work rather than just the outcome. For example, rather than saying "facilitated a transformation strategy," try "led a team to implement a new software system that improved communication across departments, reducing delays by 30%."

The takeaway: Always keep in mind that the person on the other side of the table is looking for someone who can translate high-level strategy into real-world execution. Demonstrate that you're a practical problem-solver, not just a thinker.

2. Focusing Too Much on Consulting Successes, Not Industry Relevance

The Mistake:​
Another mistake consultants make is leaning too heavily on their consulting success stories. Yes, the big client presentations and multi-million-dollar projects are impressive, but they don’t always speak to the skills industry employers need. Consultants often fail to pivot from talking about their consulting process to talking about industry-specific results and the ability to make things happen in-house.

Example:​
A client I worked with, a consultant at a top-tier firm, was interviewing for a Chief of Staff role. In her interview, she focused heavily on the size and scope of her past consulting engagements, highlighting how she advised C-suite executives on corporate restructuring. While the experience was impressive, she missed the opportunity to connect how her strategic insights could actually drive change in the company.

What to Do Instead:​
Start by mapping your consulting skills to the needs of the industry role you're applying for. Instead of talking about the size of your project or who you advised, focus on how you solved problems and delivered value - specifically in ways that can translate to the new role.

• For example, instead of emphasizing how you advised a client on optimizing their entire supply chain, say: "I analyzed and implemented a new inventory management system, which decreased stockouts by 15% and reduced holding costs by 20%. That experience is relevant because this role requires improving supply chain efficiency."
• Focus on industry-specific impact, not just strategic advice. Highlight how your decisions led to tangible results like increased revenue, customer retention, or cost savings.

The takeaway: Your consulting background is a goldmine of problem-solving, but industry hiring managers care more about how those skills will help them achieve their business objectives. So, make sure your experience aligns with their priorities.

3. Overemphasizing Problem-Solving Over Execution

The Mistake:​
In consulting, problem-solving is at the core of what you do. However, when transitioning to an industry role, the focus shifts from simply identifying problems to implementing solutions. Many consultants make the mistake of framing their answers around the problems they’ve solved, but fail to address how they made those solutions happen.

Example:​
A contact was interviewing for an Operations Manager role and kept talking about the challenges he identified in the clients’ supply chain operations, but the hiring manager wanted to hear how he managed the execution of improvements. They wanted to know how he mobilized a team, executed a strategy, and delivered results. Instead, my contact was focused entirely on the problem-solving process, which made his answers sound too theoretical and removed from real-world results.

What to Do Instead:​
In an industry interview, make sure to address how you execute solutions, not just analyze problems. Focus on your ability to lead teams, drive change, and implement initiatives from start to finish.

• For example, instead of saying, “I identified inefficiencies in the client’s supply chain,” say, “I led a team that implemented a new vendor management system, reducing lead times by 25%. I oversaw the training program, managed stakeholder communications, and ensured the system was fully integrated within three months.”

The takeaway: Industry employers want someone who can deliver results, not just identify problems. Make sure you showcase your ability to execute plans and manage the complexities of implementation.

4. Not Tailoring Your Approach to the Specific Role

The Mistake:​
This final mistake is subtle but important: failing to tailor your responses to the specific needs of the role you're applying for. In consulting, it's common to take a one-size-fits-all approach when advising clients. In industry, however, hiring managers expect you to understand their unique challenges and customize your approach to meet their specific needs.

Example:​
Recently, a friend applied for a Chief Strategy Officer role at a rapidly growing startup. During the interview, they spent a lot of time talking about their broad strategy experience, which was impressive but didn’t speak to the specific needs of a fast-growing, resource-constrained company. The hiring manager was looking for someone who could navigate ambiguity, scale quickly, and prioritize initiatives effectively in a high-growth environment.

What to Do Instead:​
​Do your homework before the interview. Research the company’s goals, challenges, and culture. Tailor your answers to address those specific needs.

• If you're applying to a startup, emphasize your ability to adapt quickly and scale strategies with limited resources.
• If the company is going through a transformation, focus on your experience managing change initiatives and how you've helped other organizations make transformational shifts successfully.

The takeaway: Always customize your approach to fit the role and the company. Demonstrating that you've done your homework and understand their specific challenges will set you apart.

In Conclusion

The transition from consulting to industry can be incredibly rewarding, but it's important to recognize that the rules of the game are different. Industry employers are looking for practical, results-driven professionals who can execute, lead, and deliver. By avoiding these common mistakes - overusing jargon, focusing too much on consulting achievements, neglecting execution, and not tailoring your approach - you’ll position yourself as the candidate who can make a real impact.

So next time you're in an industry interview, remember: It’s not just about what you’ve done; it’s about how you can help them solve their biggest challenges and drive their business forward.

If you want more personalized guidance to nail your industry transition, reply to this email!

Until next week,

Beckie

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