How AI can help you figure out what kind of consultant you really are (and what to charge)
You’ve left your 9-to-5 (voluntarily or not), you’re not ready to retire, and everyone keeps telling you, “You should consult!”
It sounds great. You like the freedom, the flexibility, the possibility of getting paid for what you already know. But then comes the dreaded moment at a networking event, a coffee meeting, or (worse) your own LinkedIn profile update:
“So… what exactly do you do?”
Cue the deer-in-headlights look. You mutter something vague about “strategic alignment,” “process improvements,” or “helping companies navigate challenges.” And suddenly you sound like a generic PowerPoint slide from 2003.
The truth is, consulting can be a fantastic encore career — but only if you can explain your value in a way that makes sense to others (and to yourself). That’s where AI can quietly become your secret weapon.
The Consultant’s Identity Crisis
Here’s the problem most new consultants run into:
- Too broad: “I help businesses grow.” (So does caffeine.)
- Too vague: “I provide strategic insights.” (Translation: I don’t know yet.)
- Too jargon-y: “I leverage synergies across verticals.” (Please don’t.)
Underneath all this fuzziness is usually one of two fears:
- If I get too specific, I’ll miss opportunities.
- If I admit what I don’t want to do, no one will hire me.
So instead, people write vague résumés, elevator pitches, and LinkedIn bios that leave listeners (and recruiters) politely nodding while quietly wondering, What does this person actually do?
Let AI Help You Clarify Your Niche
The good news? You don’t need to figure this all out alone. Tools like ChatGPT (yes, the one who helped me co-write The AI Gossip Grid) can act like a mirror for your ideas.
Start with a Career Brain Dump
Instead of trying to distill your 30+ years into a catchy tagline, just unload it all:
- “I led a team that turned around underperforming restaurants.”
- “I’ve been the go-to person for onboarding and training.”
- “I negotiated vendor contracts that saved millions.”
Then ask your AI assistant:
“Can you group these into themes and suggest consulting services someone like me could offer?”
You’ll get a clearer picture of what you actually bring to the table — and how others might value it.
Compare Yourself to Existing Consultants
AI is surprisingly good at pattern recognition. Try a prompt like:
“Compare my experience to three types of consultants. Which one am I most like?”
Suddenly, instead of floundering, you see yourself mapped against real categories: operations consultant, HR trainer, contract negotiator. That clarity makes introductions — and pricing — much easier.
Practice Your Pitch (Without an Audience)
Explaining your new consulting identity to AI first means you can fumble, refine, and rephrase until it feels natural. Try:
“Help me explain my consulting services in plain English to a small business owner, in two sentences.”
You’ll get a version you can test with real people — minus the sweaty palms.
Explore Pricing Options Without Underselling Yourself
No one wants to admit they’re guessing when they set rates. Let AI walk you through the basics:
“What are common pricing models for this kind of consulting? Hourly, project, retainer? What’s typical in the U.S. market?”
You won’t get a magic number, but you will get context — and some confidence that you’re not wildly off base.
A Fictional Example That Might Sound Familiar
Meet “Joanne.” She spent 25 years as a director of training and operations in retail. When she left corporate, everyone said, “You’d be a great consultant.”
Her first attempt at a LinkedIn summary?
“I help organizations optimize training and development while aligning with business goals.”
Generic. Forgettable. Crickets.
So Joanne tried the AI route. She listed out her actual accomplishments:
- Built a training program that cut turnover in half
- Scaled onboarding across 50 stores
- Helped struggling managers become leaders
AI grouped it into a niche: “You specialize in employee retention and leadership development for high-turnover industries.”
Now Joanne’s LinkedIn says:
“I help retail and hospitality businesses keep their best people longer. My focus is leadership development and training systems that reduce turnover and boost performance.”
See the difference? It’s specific. Relatable. Hireable.
What AI Won’t Do (Let’s Be Honest)
AI won’t magically hand you a six-figure consulting business. It can’t replace your reputation, credibility, or network. And it definitely can’t turn you into someone you’re not.
But what it can do is help you:
- Define your strengths
- Clarify your niche
- Polish your pitch
- Explore fair pricing
Think of it as a nonjudgmental, always-available brainstorming buddy who can take your years of experience and reflect back some clarity.
Key Takeaway
Consulting isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing which problems you’re best at solving — and being able to explain that clearly.
Whether you’re trying to re-enter the workforce, shift into project-based work, or finally get paid for your expertise, AI can help you sound like the confident, capable expert you already are.
So the next time someone asks, “What do you do?” you won’t panic. You’ll smile, answer clearly — and maybe even land your first client.
About the Book
This article is adapted from The AI Gossip Grid: How to Talk to AI Like a Human (Without Relying on Template Prompts) by Jim Newcomb, written with his digital co-author, Max Bandwidth.
It’s not for tech pros — it’s for curious, late-career professionals and new users who want AI to actually help in real life. Spouses, partners, and friends — this is the book you hand them when they ask, “So what’s this ChatGPT thing?”
About the Author
Jim Newcomb is a retired recruiter, now helping others rebrand and relaunch with optimized résumés, personal websites, and AI-powered tools. He’s also the author of The AI Gossip Grid — a lighthearted and practical guide for anyone reinventing themselves in their next chapter.