Human Resources Consulting

Q1: What industry are you in?
A1: Human Resources Consulting

Q2: Can you tell us about your personal work background and career path?
A2: I started my career in banking, where I spent nearly 10 years in multiple roles, including Investment Banking Operations, Middle Office Analyst, and frontline Banker in Private and Commercial Banking. Afterwards, I joined the recruitment industry as a 360-degree Recruitment Consultant focusing on the Financial Services sector (from Business Development to Candidate Placement), supporting multinational corporations in hiring the right talent. In 2021, I joined my current company as a Principal Consultant, providing tailored People Solutions. 

Q3: What are the responsibilities of your current role, and what do you enjoy about it?
A3: As a Director in People Solutions, I serve as a Business Problem Solver and Career Growth Specialist for my clients by acting as a Human Resources Consultant. I focus on understanding my clients’ HR challenges and empower them by offering end-to-end transformational People Solutions such as corporate training, coaching, consulting, outsourcing, and offsite events.

Internally, I also take on strategic and leadership responsibilities in managing a wider team of consultants and business partners while supporting the company's growth initiatives.

As an external consultant compared to working in-house, I have extensive exposure to interacting with diverse clients across various sectors, including financial services, professional services, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), retail, and quasi-government organizations. This diversity makes my work interesting, as different companies face unique challenges that require customized solutions to address their people-related issues.

Additionally, since I wear multiple hats as an HR Consultant, I not only understand clients’ needs and propose consultative solutions but also facilitate corporate training. This involves designing, developing, and delivering workshops as well as providing career coaching. This hands-on experience allows me to see our consulting solutions in action and make a real impact on people's lives daily.

Overall, my current role with multi-dimensional involvement aligns closely with my top values: "Meaningful Work," "Develop Others," and "Self-Actualization," which makes it highly satisfying.

Q4: Could you share a memorable professional experience?
A4: In our consulting business, teamwork is pivotal because no one can solely close a deal or manage a project; the key to success lies in effective collaboration.

One memorable project was a Regional Learning and Development Programme, which required several sleepless nights spent brainstorming and preparing a detailed proposal within a tight timeframe. We pitched our ideas in multiple rounds and ultimately won this significant project, which involved a year-long programme that included a series of workshops, coaching sessions, and follow-ups impacting over 50 staff members alongside my team.

The programme was well received by the participants, and the client’s management provided me with a very positive testimonial, praising my professionalism and high standards in managing the programme. The credit for this positive outcome also goes to my colleagues. All the hard work paid off, resulting in a rewarding learning experience in problem-solving, persistence, and resilience.

Q5: What personality traits are well-suited for this profession?
A5: Generally speaking, as a consultant, you need to be self-driven, curious, open-minded, people-oriented, and flexible. These traits are essential because you constantly interact with various types of stakeholders and must stay informed about the latest knowledge and trends in your domain. Additionally, you need to propose out-of-the-box solutions to clients. In my case, this involves human resources, but consulting encompasses other domains such as information technology, marketing, strategy, and more. Being adaptable and willing to learn is crucial for success in this dynamic field.

Q6: Are there any considerations or limitations in this profession?
A6: Since the working environment and expectations of being an external consultant differ from those of an internal consultant within a company, it is essential to consider your preferences, interests, and abilities. As an external consultant in a smaller firm, you are typically expected to be more hands-on, adaptable, self-driven, and involved in multiple aspects of the business. This includes, but is not limited to, business development, handling various projects at different stages, and managing strategic initiatives for company growth, especially since resources are comparatively limited.

Furthermore, in our business model, which operates on a Business-to-Business (B2B) basis, securing deals typically takes longer—often several months. As a result, it may take time to see your efforts pay off, so patience is crucial.

Continuous learning and reflection are also necessary to adapt and improve in this dynamic consulting landscape.

If you prefer a more stable environment with structured days of work and defined sets of tasks, then pursuing a role as an internal consultant might be a better option for you.

Q7: How can someone enter this profession, and what are the promotion opportunities?
A7: You can explore opportunities through job boards such as LinkedIn, networking, and referrals. Depending on whether you are working in-house (e.g., Analyst > Senior Analyst > Associate > Manager) or in external consultancy (e.g., Associate Consultant > Consultant > Senior Consultant > Managing Consultant > Principal Consultant), the career path will differ.

Generally speaking, as your career progresses, you can choose to continue as an individual contributor or transition into a people management role.

Working towards becoming a specialist and a generalist (T-shaped professional) will increase your chances of adding value to your companies and clients, thereby enhancing your promotion prospects.

If you want to learn more about my experience, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensonpanghk/

By Benson Pang, Director-People Solutions, LSF Global