Employment is changing. The Gig Economy is here, and we’re seeing people leaving permanent full-time roles for consulting or hourly contracting positions. There are several factors that are causing this, the big ones being a good job market and a strong economy. But when we ask professionals why they are making the leap to consulting we are continually hearing the same thing—that the benefits of consulting are too enticing to pass up.
Related Post: How Trust and Partnership are Key in the Gig Economy ➢
There are a lot of benefits to working as a consultant. First, there’s the work life balance. Most consultants find that clients only want them billing 40 hours a week. Having a set schedule and certainty that you won’t be working overtime allows you to plan and enjoy your time away from work with confidence. Second, there’s the benefit of testing out a company to see how their culture matches up with your preferences. There’s no better way to discover how you fit a company’s culture than by spending a few weeks integrated into their work environment and collaborating with their staff as a consultant. Lastly, and certainly not least, is the pay bump. We typically see that consultants can earn about 10% higher income compared to a full-time employee role.
Less work, more money, and a free test drive on how you like a company. What’s not to love about consulting?
The most common stressor that we hear from our consultants is the feeling of uncertainty towards their next project. Some consultants can experience gaps in projects, which can make life stressful, especially from a financial point-of-view. To help relieve the stress of not having the security of knowing when or where your next project will be, many consultants partner with firms like Versique to help them identify opportunities. While our consulting team works on our consultant’s behalf to locate a new assignment as their current assignment wraps up, it can also benefit the consultant to be an advocate for themselves at the same time.
Here are 4 tips to help active consultants find their next project.
1. Expand Your Current Project
You’re a proven talent in the eyes of your manager. Think big and offer some ideas that can take the current project to the next level. By impressing in your current role, you improve the likelihood that your manager extends the contract. Even if they don’t extend, you are cultivating a strong reference by delivering for your manager.
2. Network with Your Current Client Manager
If your current manager is excited about your work, ask them if there are other managers within the company that could use your assistance since you are already immersed within the client company. Any introductions that your current manager can provide now could end up helping you secure another project in the future.
3. Get to Know Fellow Consultants on Site & Their Managers
Consultants should identify if there are other consultants on site. If so, introduce yourself and network with them. Connect for lunch, coffee, or set up a happy hour. By discussing shop with them you might discover that a peer consultant’s manager would want to know how you could help them, too.
4. Talk to Your Consulting Agency
Confirm with your agency that your end-date is firm and let them know you’d like to continue to work through them. Check in on a weekly basis until the assignment ends. Hopefully, they can guide you seamlessly onto another project.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a consultant for Versique.
