Business and management consulting is a popular category for newcomers to Canada. According to an article published by the University of British Columbia, the number of consulting firms in Canada has grown each year between 2013 and 2018. This trend is expected to continue through 2023. The report highlighted two key industry growth drivers:
- During 2018 to 2023, government expenditure is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of 1.7 per cent. This will likely create more opportunities for management consultants specializing in advising public agencies.
- Financial services will be a key driver of industry demand during 2018-2023. Management consultants will benefit as a result of Canadian banks and firms seeking their services.
In this article, we will help you understand how to analyze the scope for business and management consulting roles in Canada and make a successful transition to the Canadian job market.
What jobs are in the business and management consulting industry?
| Note: The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s national system for describing occupations. The NOC code is a five-digit number that plays an important part in your immigration application. (Till November 16, 2022, NOC codes included four digits.) The NOC groups jobs based on the type of job duties and the skills, education, and experience required for the work a person does. You can find your NOC code on the Government of Canada website. |
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Here are some of the NOCs that broadly cover all the roles in the fields of business and management consulting:
| NOC Code | NOC Code Name | Example Titles |
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| 00012 (previously 0013) | Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services |
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| 10029 (previously 0125) | Other business services managers |
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| 11201 (previously 1122) | Professional occupations in business management consulting |
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| 41402 (previously 4163) | Business development officers and market researchers and analysts |
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Figuring out your NOC code makes the process of analyzing the job market easier.
Tip: For the purpose of analysis, you don’t have to be restricted to one single code; you can look at multiple codes that require your skills and decide which one might be better suited to your situation.
| Navigating the Canadian job market can be overwhelming. Arrive guides on Finding Your Career in Canada and the Canadian Job Market are a quick and concise overview that explains all the need-to-know information and action items you can take to prepare yourself for finding and landing a job opportunity in Canada. |
What is the demand for business and management consulting roles in Canada?
Before you dive deeper, it’s important to understand the big picture. Statistics Canada (StatCan) publishes monthly and annual employment trends for various industries. This is a good starting point to get an idea of the employment trends in business and management consulting; any increase or growth is a good sign.
The monthly and annual employment trends data on Statistics Canada is grouped by industries. As per the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), most business and management consulting roles are categorized under code 54 – Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. Therefore, when you look at employment trends in Statistics Canada, you will have to look up this specific category.
Statistics Canada also allows you to filter the numbers by province. This is a good way to identify provinces that have the maximum demand for your skills and know the probability of finding a job in your field. For instance, in 2021, among all provinces, Ontario had maximum employment for NAICS code 54, followed by Quebec and British Columbia.
If you would like to gain a better understanding of the overall job market trends, you can look at the following two sites:
- Statistics Canada publishes monthly reports which can be found by searching for the Labour Force Survey. A general Google search with the keywords (Labour Force Survey + latest month and year) will take you directly to the relevant webpage. You can have a look at the reports of September 2022 and August 2022 to get an idea. Note that these are overall trends and not specific to the business and management consulting sector. However, they will have subsections for noteworthy NAICS categories for that month.
- Explore the business and management consulting job market in various provinces by reading a comprehensive report published by Canada’s Job Bank. Once you’re on the webpage, choose a province and then scroll down to sectoral profiles. Select Professional, Technical, and Scientific Services for deeper insight into the business and management consulting sector.
Tip: For a quick overview, type in your NOC code or job title on the Occupation Trends page and search. Here’s a summary of the role of a Business Management Consultant (NOC 11201) in Canada. The main summary page will provide various details such as educational and skill requirements for the role, average wages, and the number of jobs available. Clicking on the Prospects tab will show you a provincial breakdown of job prospects.
This exercise will help you set realistic expectations for being able to find a job in your field in a specific province or region.
How to narrow your research and identify a city where business and management consulting skills are in-demand
Once you decide on a province where you would like to work, as a next step, you can start looking at specific cities that might offer more opportunities to find a job in your desired role. For this, Canada’s Job Bank website is an excellent resource.
On the Prospects page, when you click on a specific province, it will provide a further split by region. For instance, you can view the opportunities for a Business Management Consultant in Ontario on the same site.
After narrowing down the region you are researching, you can go back to the main Occupation Trends page, type in your NOC and region or city to get a similar detailed report.
How to identify relevant business and management consulting certifications or licenses that may be required for your role
Different provinces and territories may have different requirements for professional licenses and certifications. Identifying if you would need to obtain a license or certification can help you get a headstart in preparing for your employment in Canada.
| Note: All occupations in Canada are classified into regulated and non-regulated occupations. You can find out if your profession is regulated by typing in your NOC code and province/territory on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) website. Regulated occupations typically require you to have a license and/or a certification to be able to work in the field. |
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Considering the instance of a Business Management Consultant (as mentioned above), the same page on the Job Bank website will provide a list of skills and requirements (such as licenses and certifications) to be able to work in the field.
In the case of a Business Management Consultant, there are no certification or license requirements to be able to work in Toronto. However, a university degree or college diploma in business administration or a related field is usually required. Some establishments may require management consultants to be certified by a provincial management consulting association.
Navigating salary expectations for business and management consulting roles in Canada
Setting salary expectations is another key area of importance for newcomers. There are many sites to conduct salary research: The Job Bank website, Glassdoor, and reports published by recruitment firms such as Hays and Randstad are some of them. Your salary would vary greatly depending on the city you’re based in and your work experience.
Each of these sources will let you filter your profession by experience level and region and city so that you can get a very real sense of salary expectations. It is a good idea to compare numbers from different sites to get a good ballpark figure.
For instance, a Business Management Consultant working in Toronto can expect to earn approximately $60,000 to $135,000 on average, depending on the level of experience.
How to find a business and/or management consulting job in Canada
Here’s how you can find relevant opportunities in business and management consulting:
1. Online and offline methods
In addition to Canada’s Job Bank website and other online job search portals such as LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Monster, Workopolis, CareerBuilder, SimplyHired, and many others, you can sign up for industry events and register with specialized recruitment or staffing agencies who can help market your resume to potential employers. Industry events in your city or neighbourhood can be found on sites like Eventbrite.
2. Get relevant certifications
Depending on your role, a certification might be mandatory for you to be able to work in your field. Getting certified in Canada will improve your employment prospects and strengthen your resume.
3. Build a strong resume
The most important tool in your quest to find your dream job is your resume. Ensure that your resume is always up-to-date and aligned with the Canadian style of formatting. Be sure to customize your resume to the role you are applying for.
4. Networking
Networking is crucial to finding employment in Canada. LinkedIn is a good starting point for you to build your network. See the top 10 tips to optimize your LinkedIn profile. Coffee chats can also help you learn about the local market and get accustomed to Canadian culture.
You can use the following Arrive resources to help be better prepared for your job search:
Arrive is with you every step of the way. |
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What does the hiring process look like for business and management consulting roles in Canada?
The hiring process for sales and marketing roles is usually split into multiple rounds:
- Screening: This is usually a telephonic round where the interviewer will discuss basics such as role expectations, compensation, and chat about your experience.
- Skill and knowledge testing: If the interviewer determines that you are a good fit for the role, the initial round is followed up with two or three more rounds of conversations primarily geared towards evaluating your domain knowledge and skills. These rounds may include behavioural questions, a case study, or scenario-based questions.
- Final round: The hiring manager will usually meet with you before an offer letter is issued. The focus of this conversation is generally on soft skills and cultural fit.
On average, the entire interview process can take between two to six weeks, depending on the urgency of the position to be filled and the availability and scheduling of everyone involved in the process.
Business services and management consulting is a sector with plenty of opportunities, and one that offers varied career paths for newcomers. Research and networking are two action items that will help you advance your job search journey in Canada and ensure you start off your career confidently.
