In your experience have you found it beneficial to work with multiple firms? Or have you spent time nurturing a strong relationship with a firm that understands your needs? Maybe you haven’t yet entered to consulting profession.

1. 5 Firms
Working at 10%
Or
Building
Relationships
1 Firm
Working at 80%
with
Firms

2. If a consulting firm hires salaried
employees, they are going to
make an effort to have projects
available for them when they are
nearing their current
assignments’ completion.

3. They do this because,
…in the absence of
projects, their employees
will become pure expense.

4. This is why many people who are getting into consulting think
it is less risky to be a salaried employee of a consulting
firm — they will have someone actively looking for their next
project.

5. On the other hand, there are firms that
place consultants on a contract basis.
Some consultants feel that working on a
contract basis poses more of a risk,
because they will not be paid if they are
without a project.

6. They also feel that, as a contract
employee, the firm they are working for is
not necessarily going to make an effort to
find them a new engagement, because
they are not paying them a salary.

7. All of the
above is
correct.
It is also
incomplete
.
.
These are rules of thumb,
which are used by a majority
of people looking to get into
consulting when making
decisions regarding what
they think is best.

8. As a result, many people make misguided decisions.

9. Let me give you a couple of examples: As
stated above, many people think it is best to be an
employee of a consulting firm, because the firm will
proactively go about finding their next engagement.

10. As a result, they will not have to worry about going without work
in the future.

11. Well, many firms have access to a large number of projects, but
this does not mean that they are actively looking for something
for you.
There may be work you “ideally want” to do and work you “can”
do.
Many consultant employees find themselves on three-week
activation support assignments, because that is what
their firm has for them.

12. Projects like these may keep you working, but if you had
known that this is the type of work you would be doing, you
might have thought twice about joining the firm.

13. On the flip side, when it comes to firms that
place consultants on a contract basis,
some will proactively help you find your
next project, even if you are a contracted
hourly employee.

14. If you are a true professional with a marketable skill set and
have performed well on past projects, why wouldn’t a
contracting firm want to find you your next assignment?

15. If you take time to truly question the quality contracting
firms, you will find that some may provide more personal
attention than many of the larger consulting firms.

16. If you take time to truly question the quality contracting
firms, you will find that some may provide more personal
attention than many of the larger consulting firms.
As a contractor, you should understand that reputable
contracting firms want to work with the best independent
consultants.

17. If you take time to truly question the quality contracting
firms, you will find that some may provide more personal
attention than many of the larger consulting firms.
As a contractor, you should understand that reputable
contracting firms want to work with the best independent
consultants.
These firms will take the time to help you identify your ideal
next project.

18. If you take time to truly question the quality contracting
firms, you will find that some may provide more personal
attention than many of the larger consulting firms.
As a contractor, you should understand that reputable
contracting firms want to work with the best independent
consultants.
These firms will take the time to help you identify your ideal
next project.
But this requires a major time commitment on the part of the
firm. If you would like a firm to make a time investment in you,
you have to be willing to give them something in return.

19. That something is a
commitment — at least for a
period of time.

20. When typical independent consultants near their projects’
completion, they reach out to multiple firms, informing
them of their impending availability.

21. They may reach out to five firms, with each firm
dedicating 10% of their time looking for leads on their
behalf.
5 Firms
Working at 10%

22. 1 Firm
Working at 80%
On the other hand, what if the same consultants were to reach
out to one firm with which they have established a relationship,
and because of this commitment, that one firm would invest
80% of their time on their behalf.

23. In this scenario, you can see how reaching out to only one firm
would result in more time put towards finding their next projects.

24. Learn More At HealthcareIS.com
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