For consultants, the billable works are key to survival. Many times, there are big gap between end of old project and start of new project. There is limit to how much time one can apply to volunteer work, get acquainted with industry trend, expand knowledge base, etc.
Any suggestion to folks who are interested in career as independent consultant? Saving Changes...
RAJESH K LProject Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, IndiaBengaluru, Karnataka, India
Independent consultant - Bindass life.
Enjoy the gaps between projects by spending time with ur family, friends. May go out on vacation to rejuvenate oneself
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2 replies by Ashok Kumar and Kiron Bondale
Dec 17, 2018 7:24 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Rajesh -
Having been in this situation a few times I can say that it can be challenging as while you have time to do a lot of things, you are hesitant to spend lots of money as there are no inflows so things like longer vacations might have to be postponed.
Kiron
Dec 17, 2018 7:47 AM
Ashok Kumar
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Thanks! Rajesh. These are great ideas for any time. I think finding some billable work of temporary nature would help fund-flow situation.
Independent consultant - Bindass life.
Enjoy the gaps between projects by spending time with ur family, friends. May go out on vacation to rejuvenate oneself
Rajesh -
Having been in this situation a few times I can say that it can be challenging as while you have time to do a lot of things, you are hesitant to spend lots of money as there are no inflows so things like longer vacations might have to be postponed.
Independent consultant - Bindass life.
Enjoy the gaps between projects by spending time with ur family, friends. May go out on vacation to rejuvenate oneself
Thanks! Rajesh. These are great ideas for any time. I think finding some billable work of temporary nature would help fund-flow situation. Saving Changes...
Larry MinerFounder and Sr. Project Management of Decision Memory Systems| Decision Memory SystemsBath, Oh, United States
Like Kiron, I can speak from experience on this. I decided early this year to approach it from another perspective being frustrated with my income being at the whim of budgets, forecasting, the economy etc. I decided I was going to fill in those gaps myself so I built a website for contractors (now FTEs too) during my downtime, which I can work from anywhere in the world, in the evening when on the job, and written one book and finishing another... all in the hope that gaps aren't so painful if at all. We have to look out for ourselves. One thing on my website is a tab called Call Me! which allow PMs to place their want for their next new job before the current one ends. Then I market to Recruiter to review Call Me!, narrowing the On the Bench time. Everyone is welcome to use it. The site is www.contractor-pm.com Membership is free. Ok, later. Good question.
Like Kiron, I can speak from experience on this. I decided early this year to approach it from another perspective being frustrated with my income being at the whim of budgets, forecasting, the economy etc. I decided I was going to fill in those gaps myself so I built a website for contractors (now FTEs too) during my downtime, which I can work from anywhere in the world, in the evening when on the job, and written one book and finishing another... all in the hope that gaps aren't so painful if at all. We have to look out for ourselves. One thing on my website is a tab called Call Me! which allow PMs to place their want for their next new job before the current one ends. Then I market to Recruiter to review Call Me!, narrowing the On the Bench time. Everyone is welcome to use it. The site is www.contractor-pm.com Membership is free. Ok, later. Good question.
Thanks! Larry. This is a really good idea. Saving Changes...
The downtime is helpful for reflection and organizing before the next job. It also is a good time for networking, taking on speaking/teaching engagements, and continuing education. As others have suggested, this may be a good time to work on side projects that may further your personal development or the PM profession in general. Good luck! Saving Changes...
Thanks! Romiya. Speaking / Teaching engagements are great idea. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Organizations hired me before working in my actual work place because each initiative that I led ended in time/cost/scope/quality. So, from the beginning, I known the time I will be without job then I worked on that in advance. For example, detecting new initiatives in the place where I worked on. I meant, be proactive. But is not easy, I know it.
