Consultants work for companies on a limited basis, often earning a premium pay rate for their in-demand abilities and experience.
Many people enjoy working on a consultant, or contract basis, because of the pay and the fact that it gives them more career and schedule flexibility. These positions are in-demand and snagging a desirable consultant position often requires more than just applying to them through internet job boards.
Consider the following approaches to landing a job as a contracted consultant.
Networking
Only a fraction of consultant roles is filled through internet job boards. Often, these jobs are filled through referrals.
Hiring personnel usually begin a talent acquisition process by looking at their closest connections. If they can’t find a consultant through their own personal connection or those of their network, they will move on to posting jobs and reaching out to recruiters.
Through good networking, you can get good jobs before they even go public on the internet. Always be looking to expand your network and when you’re specifically looking for consultant work, reach out to those in your professional network to let them know.
Networking with consultant work in mind also helps you to get a sense of what is out there, including what companies are the best to work for and which positions are the most desirable.
Host a Networking Event
Sometimes when you go to a networking event, it can feel like speed dating with a lot of people who are just as attractive as you. Hosting a networking event is a good way to flip the script.
When you host a networking event, you are the most high-profile attendee. But that doesn’t mean you should make the even all about you. Reach out to others in your industry and collaborate on an event that allows people to bounce ideas off each other and share “war stories”.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even schedule speakers or a panel discussion. Just be sure you know what you’re doing before making ambitious plans.
Volunteer
If you’re new to being a consultant, or you don’t have a big network, you can learn about consultant opportunities by volunteering your services.
It is crucial for your volunteer work to be related to your field. Don’t volunteer to work in a food pantry if you’re a Java developer. Rather, you could ask a local soup kitchen if they’d like their website updated or refreshed.
Make a Pitch
Pitching your consulting services to a company is a bold move, but people do it all the time and are often successful.
To make the best pitch possible, you must identify a pressing need the company has that you can directly address with your skills. Be sure to research the company, talk to current or former employees, and follow the company on social media to make the best pitch possible.
Let Us Connect You to Consultant Opportunities
At SMCI, we specialize in connecting tech professionals to the career opportunities that best suit their ambitions. Please contact us today to find out how we can help your career.
