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Top Tips on How to Secure a Contract in Consulting
Saying goodbye to the security that comes with a full-time job for a new and semi-unknown opportunity can be quite nerve-wracking. However, it can give you the ideal situation to get a paying client for the first time, too. As long as you leave your old job on a positive note, negotiating a consulting deal is usually lucrative for everybody.
Employers love this idea, as well, since it will extend their personal access to you. Sure, this fix might only be a short-term thing and will probably only last until a replacement is found for you, but this could result in at least three more months of work and will make the transition much easier for you either way. You can also benefit in another way: getting a short-term contract with your previous employer will get you a referral right away, and give you the chance to start building your personal portfolio at the same time.
Are you ready? Here are the top tips that will convince your employer to hire you as his consultant again.
Avoid Talking about Your Plans with Your Peers
As tempting as it might be to share your brilliant plans with your colleagues, do refrain from doing so. Your close friends might be more than supportive of your plans, but others might get jealous and ruin the whole deal for you. Although this won't really stop you from quitting your job, your boss might think twice before signing an agreement of consulting with you.
Be Honest When It Comes to Your Goals
Before you quit, be straightforward when it comes to what you have planned. Explain your goals and make sure you let your employer know that you want to work alone to meet them. Then, let him know about your willingness to still contribute temporarily until the company finds for a replacement for you. Naturally, you shouldn't hide the fact this arrangement will help you start your personal consulting career, too.
Educate Your Employer on Various Consulting Benefits
Practice your skills of pitching by selling your employer on the benefits of re-hiring you. Ideally, you should educate him on the advantages that comes with this new arrangement. Make sure you stress on how the job will be easier for everybody this way and mention other benefits, as well, like how there won't be any downtime during their search for a new employee; there will be fewer expenses since they won't be paying you a salary with benefits; and there will be more productivity (working on one project will ensure that it gets done much faster).
Give Your Employer a Discount
Offering up a competitive price is sure to sway any employer, but do not undercut your overall value too much. Just offer a small discount on your services to entice him and you are sure to win him over.
Pick the Perfect Project for You
There probably won't be any shortage when it comes to the amount of consulting projects that you can do for your former employer. However, picking the right one would be vital. Make sure you pick projects that you can finish remotely in less than nine weeks, will highlight your strengths, and represent the kind of projects you would like to work on in the future.
Give Your Employer a Written Proposal
If everything else fails, give your employer a written proposal. This would be the perfect way to show him how serious you are. Plus, by writing out your project details in a proposal, some potential concerns may be put at ease. After finalizing the deal, make sure you transfer the proposal terms into a proper contract, too.
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| | maryann
May 13, 2011 - 1:23 am
I agree I give so much credit to those who are willing to face the unknown that potentially can come with starting freelance. As long as you were a hard worker at your old place of work an leave with a good feeling then leaving a discount will show your former employer you mean well and want to continue working with them, not just for them. | | |
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