Consulting A Distraction? Or Complementary To The Job Search

Consulting Considerations Help Transition to New Career Support Job Search and Networking Continued Professional Development Provide Income and Emotional Support Caution!

Transition to New Field Career change – ‘try on’ new career, industry, function. Critical hands-on experience, develop skills – with relatively low risk. Provides references and contacts in new field – assuming you perform May be potentially worthwhile to work for free – allows you contribute and to get up to speed at your own pace. Trial position to permanent role – lower risk way for company to bring you onboard. Means to differentiate yourself from the competition – who may not be willing to do this approach. Easier to get company to hire as consultant, then you become indispensable. BUT - this will be a fulltime job even if part-time pay - as you are looking to impress. Trial position to permanent role – lower risk way for you to decide if company, industry, people are a fit. Job/role/work content is what you expected. Are you set up for success – objectives& resources Easier to depart.

Support Job Search and Networking Strategic support to job search Project work in chosen field – continue to communicate and work with people in your field. Stay connected and engaged. Viewed as a leader in the field if you have several assignments in process. BUT - Quality of the projects/people will be judged and reflect on you. Networking Provides a business purpose for you to interact with the person – not ‘looking for a job.’ Discussion showcases your abilities in work environment, not in job-search mode. Quality of the projects/people will reflect on you and the quality of the networking relationship.

Professional Development Resume development/enhancement Board seats, strategy, operational improvements, etc. Successful, reference- able consulting projects enhance your position with potential employers. BUT – commitment levels required (skills/time) vs your ability to deliver is key issue. Will impact potential quality of references. Professional development Keep connected in your field, keep up-to date, and get deeper knowledge in specific areas – that you may not have had the ability /opportunity to do as a senior executive. Multiple projects provides broad opportunity to get deep engagement in many areas. BUT – hands on means ‘doing the work, not delegating to others to do the work’. Make sure you still have those skills. Personal branding Raise/maintain your profile – the go-to person BUT - Ensure the roles you accept are in keeping with your ‘brand’/stature in industry, otherwise the roles will define you.

Income, Emotional Benefits Some income Cover some living expenses - ideally income replacement. BUT – you may earn at same ‘rate’ as previous job, but inconsistency of projects will lead to substantially lower total annual earnings in the short term, unless this is a career choice. Keeps busy, engaged Projects, interim management, operating role Learning, skills stay sharp. Wait-out the market issues. Emotional value – external validation Real proof that you’re of value in the market. Smart, capable people are willing to pay for your services. Potentially a career…flexibility of time, topics, travel – Fun. Evolve a part-time activity into a systematic, fulltime business…

Caution! All consulting requires ‘work/output’ – powerpoint presentations, customer proposals, primary research, cold calling, internal meetings, calls, etc. Many of these activities are not related to job search activities: identifying companies and networking into them % of time spent in consulting may not be relevant to your job search. Consulting does not pay as much as a real executive position and is much more work. BD – finding new assignments And then delivering on those assignments in a quality manner. Allure of consulting can be a source of procrastination for the real job search.