I’m currently a marketing director with a well-known, national not-for-profit. In order to have more flexibility in my personal and professional life, I’d like to pursue a career in consulting. What are some suggestions on the best steps to take?
You are coming at this from a good perspective. As a consultant, people are “buying” your expertise. Since you are a marketing director for a brand name company, you’re at an excellent starting point.
A few things to think about
Remember, consulting is about clients, clients, clients – this is key. The first question I have is what kind of previous experience you’ve had with “selling” yourself? This is vital because you have to know what makes you unique among the noise of a highly competitive business. What is it that your experience and your education offer the market? Another key question: Who is your market? Who are you targeting and whom do you know in the market? How will you package yourself? This includes your education, the developments you have made in your career journey, and the niche that differentiates you from others in the business arena.
How good are you at getting work? This is the consultant’s dilemma. I know quite a few people, that while equally excellent in their field, are set apart by their ability to acquire work. How good are you at negotiation? This is another essential strength. How self-motivated are you to work independently? All of these points are vital questions to bear in mind when considering the consulting field.
Actions:
- Develop your own personal branding statement and a 30-second commercial summing up what you have to offer.
- Connect deeply within your network to let them know what you can do for them. Meet as often as possible over coffee/lunch. In the beginning, this is most likely where you will get the majority of your work.
- Look for partners. You may be able to complement the work that others are doing with some of your own experience. There are many “virtual” consulting shops that work together on projects.
If you love being an expert, enjoy projects, and don’t mind often working solo, this is a great way to do business. You have the authority to hire and fire clients, so you end up with an increased network of relationships you enjoy. In the long term, you may end up building products or running into company opportunities that could lead to an extended relationship, thereby building a larger consulting practice with its own benefits. Either way, if you go for it, the worst-case scenario is that you will have gained a new perspective. The best-case scenario is a whole new direction and wonderful opportunities.
Alan Kearns is the Head Coach and the Brand Champion! of CareerJoy. He is one of Canada’s foremost experts on all things career. With more than 14 years of experience coaching people through successful career changes, he brings an intimate knowledge of the entire transition process to all of his clients. To contact Alan about paid professional services, e-mail alan@careerjoy.com or visit his web site www.careerjoy.com.
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Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.
