Professional services roles are all around us. It’s a term used to describe the broad spectrum of careers that support businesses. Over 2.3 million people in the UK work in professional services, and many career types are available. Read on to find out what they are, why you should work in professional services, what skills you need to master and which degrees can help get you in.
- Why work in professional services?
- What careers are available in professional services?
- What skills are needed to work in professional services?
- What degrees help with a career in professional services?
Why work in professional services?
Become an expert in your area of interest
Because most businesses have a team of professional service staff working behind the scenes, this career choice allows you to pick a subject that you are attracted to, and build specialised knowledge of niche areas of interest, such as law, marketing or accounting.
There’s a high demand for professional services staff
Many sectors within professional services are essential services, meaning the work is needed and won’t go out of demand anytime soon. If you’re working as professional service staff for a well-established company, your job security is strong.
A flexible career path
A career in professional services is notably flexible with many employers adopting hybrid and flexible working approaches. With the right amount of experience, a career in professional services could even have the scope to open your own business or consultancy firm.
What careers are available in professional services?
The demand for professional service staff is always high and the future of these careers looks strong. The roles available in the professional service sector are extremely varied and you can choose an aspect that most interests you. Some of the most popular professional service roles are:
Advertising or marketing executive
Advertising or marketing executive roles usually are either ‘in-house’, working directly for a company, or within an agency, working with multiple businesses at once. Advertising and marketing executives contribute to and develop marketing campaigns.
Architect
Architects use their technical capability and creative skill to design structures and buildings that suit the needs of their clients.
Lawyer
Professional support lawyers work as a central resource for businesses. They provide support to the wider company by offering advice on legislation, writing regulations and supporting any cases that may occur. Find out more about careers in law.
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are responsible for ensuring a business’s accounts are accurate and up to date.
Compliance officer
Compliance officers are responsible for ensuring that all business procedures and processes comply with the law. They also ensure that staff members comply with company regulations and that all staff training is up to date.
Digital marketer
Digital marketers work to attract new customers to businesses. Usually working within a wider marketing team, digital marketers specialise in online marketing, sponsored adverts and search engine optimisation.
Finance officer
A financial officer is responsible for the financial aspects of a business. They can have a variety of duties including, managing the budget, preparing financial reports, conducting transactions and paying suppliers.
Graphic designer
Graphic designers are responsible for creating all kinds of visuals for companies. Whether that’s working on developing branding or creating designs for specific projects, from website mock-ups to print advertisements.
IT analyst
IT support analysts (also known as helpdesk analysts or technical support analysts) provide technical support and advice to IT users. Find out more about careers in IT.
Project manager
Project managers can work in a variety of settings. They track and assign work that needs to be completed, manage deadlines and lead the team. This could be in the setting of an office, or a building site, for example.
Recruitment consultant or manager
Recruitment consultants and managers usually work within a HR team and are responsible for sourcing, attracting, interviewing and hiring candidates for vacancies at the company.
What skills are needed to work in professional services?
The vast array of roles within the professional services industry means each job will have individual skills and specialisms needed to succeed. For example, a recruitment manager would have a different skill set to an IT analyst. If you are interested in applying for a job in a specific area, we would suggest finding adverts for those roles and looking at the job description and person specification. Here you can identify the skills and experience you already have and where you need to improve to meet the essential criteria for the role.
Nevertheless, here are some skills that would be beneficial to any role in professional services:
- A digital capability and technical knowledge
- Critical thinking
- Diplomacy and a cultural awareness
- Time management
- Communication and collaboration
- Problem solving
- Writing skills
- Leadership
- The ability to take initiative
- Self awareness and strong social skills
What degrees help with a career in professional services?
Although there is no set route to get into professional services, like skills, each role will meet different requirements, and you will need to demonstrate your interest and any relevant experience. Most job adverts will state which degree or equivalent is needed, so if you are interested in a role, we would recommend checking the essential criteria.
Is professional services the career path for you? Explore other industries and discover the opportunities available in different sectors. Or continue your job search by finding and applying for roles on the Unitemps website.
Last updated on 4 June 2024
Share this article