what is a consultant

A consultant is a professional who provides expert advice in a particular field of science or business to either an organization or individual. They are typically experienced professionals with a broad and in-depth knowledge of a particular subject matter who advise clients. Consultants provide expertise that a client lacks or support that a client is unable to fulfill, and in return for their professional services, the consultant charges a fee. They operate independently from the client, implying that there is no conflict of interests between the clients issue and the services provided by the consultant. Companies hire consultants to get an objective, outsider opinion on processes or systems, solve for internal blind spots, and receive expert guidance on solving a problem. Consultants analyze existing systems or processes, identify gaps or inefficiencies, and provide actionable recommendations. They facilitate learning by including members of the organization in the assignments processes. A consultant can be an expert in a particular field, such as management, finance, or marketing, and can work on a temporary or contract basis until a particular need has been met.