Organizational Development Consultants: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of organizational development consultants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for organizational development consultants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of organizational development consultants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for organizational development consultants.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Organizational Development Consultants?

Do organizational development consultants need a degree? What kind of experience do organizational development consultants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for organizational development consultants to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Organizational Development Consultants

No education was listed by most employers of organizational development consultants. According to job data, no education was required for 33% of positions. In 20% of job listings a ph.d. or professional degree was required and in 19% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Organizational Development Consultants

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for organizational development consultants. In 35% of job postings for Organizational Development Consultants, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 22% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for organizational development consultants.

What Kind of Degree Do Organizational Development Consultants Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for organizational development consultants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective organizational development consultants, and in 2023 a total of 151,107 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective organizational development consultants.

Top Degree Programs for Organizational Development Consultants

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Organizational Development Consultants

What Skills Do Organizational Development Consultants Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by organizational development consultants to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for organizational development consultants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Organizational Development Consultants
Based on 306 job postings

Based on 306 job postings related to organizational development consultants, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 42% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychiatry, nursing, industrial and organizational psychology, project management and data analysis were also highly sought.

As for common skills, leadership was the most desired skill found in job postings for organizational development consultants, followed by research, communication, management, planning and writing.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about organizational development consultants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for organizational development consultants.

What do organizational development consultants do?
How much do organizational development consultants make?

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