The IT Audit and IT Risk field offers professionals two prominent career paths: working in industry or consulting. As a niche headhunter specializing in this space, I’m often asked which is better. The answer? It depends on your career goals, lifestyle preferences, and professional growth priorities. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits and trade-offs for each option, along with insights into the current hiring market.
Progression: Building Your Career
- Industry Jobs: Progression in industry roles tends to be more linear. Professionals in IT Audit/IT Risk typically start as specialists and progress to managerial or leadership roles within their organization. Growth is tied to your ability to adapt to the company's evolving needs and gain cross-functional experience.
- Consulting Jobs: Consulting offers accelerated growth, with professionals rapidly exposed to varied industries, clients, and projects. Promotions are often merit-based and tied to utilization rates, client impact, and leadership potential.
Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance
- Industry Jobs: Industry roles generally provide better work-life balance, especially once you are familiar with the company’s systems and cycles. While certain times of the year (e.g., audits or compliance reporting periods) can be demanding, the workload is often more predictable.
- Consulting Jobs: Consulting can be demanding, with long hours, tight deadlines, and frequent travel depending on your firm and client base. However, some firms have begun prioritizing work-life balance initiatives in response to market demand.
Compensation
- Industry Jobs: Salaries in industry can be slightly lower at the entry or mid-level compared to consulting but tend to catch up for leadership roles. Compensation often includes robust benefits such as stock options, retirement plans, and tuition reimbursement.
Learning Opportunities
- Industry Jobs: Working in a single organization allows for deep expertise in its systems, risks, and controls. However, exposure to new tools or practices might depend on the company's willingness to invest in training.
- Consulting Jobs: Consulting is a crash course in adaptability, offering exposure to cutting-edge practices across industries. Professionals gain the ability to assess and implement diverse IT systems and frameworks.
Market Outlook
- Industry Jobs: Hiring in industry remains robust as organizations prioritize internal controls and cybersecurity. Companies in sectors like healthcare, finance, and technology are particularly active in hiring IT Audit/IT Risk professionals. Roles are often hybrid or fully remote, reflecting post-pandemic flexibility trends.
Conclusion: Which Path is Right for You?
Choosing between industry and consulting ultimately boils down to your career and lifestyle goals:
- Pick industry if you value stability, predictable hours, and the opportunity to deeply influence a single organization.
- Choose consulting if you’re seeking rapid growth, varied challenges, and compensation that matches your ambition.
The good news? Both paths are thriving, with ample opportunities for growth and learning. The decision is less about which is “better” and more about which aligns best with your goals.
As a headhunter, I’m here to help professionals navigate this decision and find the perfect fit. Whether you’re eyeing industry or consulting, the IT Audit/IT Risk space offers a wealth of opportunities to grow your career.
Ready to explore your options? Let’s connect.
