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The concept of being a consultant evokes an image of three piece suites, first class travel,
cocktails at glitzy restaurants and commanding $200.00 per hour fees. Work the hours
you desire, vacation at the finest beaches and drive the most luxurious automobiles.
Sounds good? Perhaps everyone should become one?

Unfortunately the reality sets in. Consulting is hard work; rarely limited to 8 - 5 days

Monday thru Friday. However if it is an area of interest there are a number of
opportunities if you prepare appropriately.

Become an expert:
Identify your area of expertise and become deeply knowledgeable in that arena. This can
take years of work experience, remember however that 15 years of doing the same
repetitive task does not equal 15 years of broad-based diversified background. No one
will hire a consultant with limited expertise, build it. View experience as the stepping
stone to your desired end state, becoming a consultant. If you have gaps in knowledge
concerning particular segments of your chosen field work to close them via coursework
or job experience. It is OK to be an expert in a specific niche but you are more
marketable with well rounded expertise to back it up.

Build credentials:
Obtain the needed degrees and/or certifications that allow other to recognize your
expertise in a given field. Whether MBA, CPA, Project Management Institute (PMI) or
specific industry designations, these certifications build your resume. Along with your
experience these credentials are the first things that a potential purchaser of services
looks at during the engagement process. When you are being compared to other potential
providers of services your lack of these certifications will many times eliminate you from
the selection process.

Review personal skills:
Can you speak effectively, write clearly and concisely, organize and utilize time well,
dress appropriately? If the answer to any of these questions (and a slew of others) is no
the fix it! The expectations of a consultant in any industry are high. Bring yourself up to a
professional level in appearance and personal attributes.

Network:
Especially in the early stages of beginning a consulting career, advertising has limited impact. In order to build an initial base of clientele you normally utilize word of mouth. Join appropriate organizations in your specialty area as well as attend related social functions. Offer to speak at industry sessions where the audiences will likely contain firms that may need your potential assistance.

Do the math:
Making $200.00 per hour means little, if you only obtain work 100 hours a year. How
much business can you realistically expect to obtain initially? Consider part-time
consulting as well as feeling out potential relationships before making the move to full
time consulting. Your current employer pays federal/state taxes, health insurance, office
expenses, supplies, 401k match and a whole host of other items on your behalf. Make
sure that you perform a business analysis identifying a realistic consulting rate combined
with a realistic workload factor. It is possible to triple your hourly earnings and still be
behind at the end of the day.

Happy consulting!

Learn more about this author, Michael in Florida.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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