I am now working for a top US-based engineering software and R&D solution provider in China.Youngest technical manager leading a dynamic team of PhD's and Master's.Providing R&D solutions to numerous top manufacturer and high-tech forms in China and Hongkong area.Deep insight in large account sales model in China.Excellent interpersonal skills and superb language ability: fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese as well.I do not have a MBA degree but a PhD in Engineering from US, and I really want to embark on a career in consultancy. Could any one give me any help? Any advice will be truly appreciated.

Any one would help?

Looking a bit lonely out there with noone to talk to. I think that you are using a BIG net here. A few things to consider 1) What kind of consultant? Do you want to focus on IT, Supply Chain, Projects, etc etc. 2)Where do you want to be based? This leads in to typical companies to approach. 3) Chinese language skills. Could be a big 'pleaser' if you are going to stay in China for a consulting company. 4) What do YOU actually want to do? Classic career stuff - where would you see yourself in 5 years time. When you've focussed you might more response.

Dear Lab,It is really nice of you to reply my message. Actually, the questions you were asking are the ones I am trying to figure out too. For question 1, with my background and work experience, I believe IT would be my top choice at this stage. For the other fields, such as strategy, supply chain, the employer may be more concerned about the academic background, but I have not got any formal training in a business school. Taking a MBA course would be too risky for me now. But no matter what type of consultant I eventually get in, I do not want to limit myself in a specific aspect of a business rather than an overview of how the whole business operates.I always think China is a huge market with lots of potential for a guy like me. That’s why I came straight from US back to China 2 years ago after I got my Ph.d. I was lucky enough that I did not take no academic or pure-technical job at that time but a position with a software sales company, which educates me a lot, in a very short time, on how to deal with various types of people in business in China. I love to live and work in China, and I think my language skill will be a big advantage as it is real hard out there to find somebody that can communicate in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese with no difficulty at all. I am now in South China, and I am totally flexible to relocate to any cities in China. Actually I always like to experience living in different locations.Your last question is a real big one, which has been in my head for a long while too. When I took my first job as an application engineer, I asked myself the same one, and the answer was, “you want to be on top”. 9 months later, I became the youngest technical manager in charge of the whole South China area including Hongkong. The sale has been increased by 25% since then, and seems to pick up continuously. I am getting paid reasonably well even compared to western level, which makes my life a very comfortable one in China. Many think that I am having a good job and should be satisfied. But all a sudden, I feel my career is stagnant. I am already at a position that a technical guy can possibly reach in a sale-centric company. The only way out is to shift to a sales position, but I am not a guy that would enjoy the sale-and-wrap working style, which are very typical in China now. I want to work with high-quality people and clients, and progress my career day by day in a fair environment.In 5 years time if things go smoothly, I should be a leading role in a consultant firm, providing high quality service and gain respects from the people I work with and the clients I serve. And I probably would ask myself again, “where are you going now?”.The thing is how to start? Sending out CV? Talk to head hunter? The big question is would a consultant firm like somebody with my background? How to target this type of firms?You advices will be gratefully appreciated.Regards.

How to start? I would suggest with your background you might try approaching one of the large System Integrator companies that are all struggling to enter Chinese market. Having done some work with one of them and Chinese market, the key thing is to have Chinese speaker resident on the ground - who can not only develop business but also develop local contacts and employees. If you were to approach one of these SIs (say CapGemini; LogicaCMG; .....etc. etc) and say that you want to join them as business developer/business consultant I think they would jump at you. Need to be strong with them though or you'll end up stuck in IT whereas you actually want to be a step above that. Hope this helps.

Dear LAB,Yes, I was thinking to approach one of the SIs and business developer/business consultant would be a good position for me. However, I have no network at all in the consulting circle now and I am not sure which way to approach this kind of firms. I looked through their sites and there are no explicit opening for such positions in China region. Should I send my CV directly or what would be a proper way to approach them?Thanks in advance.John

From my experience most SIs tend to work in industry silos (eg energy, public sector, fmcg, etc) and each of these will have a Director responsible for international activities. My approach would be to decide which industry sector I had background/ experience/ interest in (or could say I did) and write to him telling him about your language and expertise in China and IT software and that you would be interested to discuss joining them to assist with their entry/ expansion into Chinese market. Suggest you should throw in a few carrots about HOW you could help them to prick their interest. You'll have to do some research to find out guys names but shouldn't be that difficult -these are typically the folk who stand up at key conferences in China/ Far East and who travel with trade commissions. British Embassy/ US Embassy trade people in China probably has a list of them. Good luck.

Thanks a lot.I will try as you suggested