Everyone’s becoming a Consultant!

The changing nature of workSpeaker’s Name

The Work Spectrum

• Full-time employee• Contractor• Interim manager• Consultant• Expert witness• Volunteer• Entrepreneur

TheIndependent

Knowledge Worker (IKW)

The Independent Knowledge Worker

Knowledge workers take responsibility for their work lives. They continually strive to understand the world about them and modify their work practices and behaviors to better meet their personal and organizational objectives. No one tells them what to do. They do not take No for an answer. They are self motivated.David Gurteen <http://www.gurteen.com/>

Drivers

For the Individual• Force majeure (negotiate)• Freedom• Own Boss• Ambition• Frustrations• Dream• Portfolio working

For the Customer• Cycles• Flexibility• Fixed -> variable costs• Access to knowledge

Assessment

What does the market need?• Specialisms• Experience• Cost savings• Customers• Efficiency• Lean

What have you got?

USPsEARsWITs

Is it for you?

• Family impacts• Work – life balance• Lifestyle choice• Time management• Self discipline• Alternatives?• Goals & reasons• Global?

• Risks• Feast & famine• Isolation• Long hours• Two sets of skills

Only you can tell …

IKW Requirements

• Marketing• Sales• CPD

• Finance• IT• Business• Office

… and you need to earn your living too …… so, use an IKW…

… network!

Marketing

Getting yourself known• Advertising• Brand• Web site• Proposal writing• Writing articles• Presenting papers• Lecturing• Listening

Routes to work• Agencies• Collaboration• Networking• Organisations• Directories• Tendering

MoneyWhat do you need?• Salary• Pension• Accommodation• Transport• Insurance (eg PI)• Training (eg CPD)• Investment (eg equipment)• Billable days• Customers!

What can you get?• What’s the solution worth?• What can the customer afford?• What’s the market rate?• What’s the customers next

best option?• Barter?• Expenses• Negotiate!

Useful sources

• Your own professional Institution• The IET Consultants’ Network• The Consultants’ Exchange• The Professional Contractors’ Group• SkillFair