“Consultancy enables me to make positive and sustainable contributions”

The nature of the job means management consultants need to build trust with clients quickly, according to Lewis Hodges ChMC, senior consultant at AtkinsRéalis. 

“A key test in this job is nurturing relationships and proving your value so that people turn to you when they face their most complex challenges,” says Lewis. “This can take time, because it’s consistency that creates trust.” 

Lewis, who specialises in policy consulting and business analysis within the security sector, advocates for the Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) accreditation as it helps to accelerate the trust-building process. 

A unique opportunity to reflect

The full ChMC accreditation requires at least five years of practical consulting experience. Lewis believes that it’s a great way for younger consultants to obtain a professional benchmark. The application form outlines core competencies defined by the ChMC competency framework. The feedback you include in your application serves as evidence that the right skill sets have been developed and demonstrated. 

• Read more: what Chartered status means to the CMI community

“When you obtain your Chartered status, clients know they can invite you into their space to work quickly, effectively and sensitively, because the testimonies included in the application must prove that you have done it before.” 

Lewis adds that the process of becoming Chartered provided a unique opportunity to reflect on career development. Without it, he would never have taken the time to reflect on his career from a wider perspective and understand the various stages of his professional development.