Hello! I just got my PMP certification a couple of weeks ago, and I was thinking of slowing starting to branch out and do some consulting work as a side hustle. Does anyone do consulting work? If so, would you be willing to share your experience? Saving Changes...
I have done a fair bit of independent PM consulting in terms of project delivery as well as capability consulting so do you have specific questions you'd like answered?
Thank you for responding. Did you do this in addition to a full time job? If so, how did you balance both jobs? How did you communicate this to your customers? How did you get started in independent consulting? Saving Changes...
No - at any given time I was either working full time or as an independent consultant but not both. I'd left a large system integrator as a full-timer and came back immediately on contract thanks to the demand of one of their key clients who insisted that I continue to lead their project. It made for a very seamless transition and the integrator's leadership was pragmatic enough to not let HR policies about cooling down periods get in the way of customer satisfaction!
After completing that engagement, I continued to get work either through word-of-mouth referrals or through recruiters.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jessica
First, congrats on earning your PMP. Regarding consulting, I do consulting as a side gig as part of my own business at RMK Coaching and I also work as a full time Project Management Consultant.
I do my consulting work for my own business after hours or during the weekend. It gets crazy sometimes so if you have a family, you might struggle doing both. There is a lot to say about how I started, why and when but it's too much to put in a message.
RK
...
1 reply by Jessica Schultz
Nov 10, 2022 8:04 AM
Jessica Schultz
...
Hi Rami,
Thank you for your note. How do your clients react to the fact that you may not respond during normal business hours? How did you find your client base?
Congratulations on your PMP! Have you identified your niche? You will need to know that in order to properly market yourself. Find out what conjunction of industry experience makes you unique and determine how much of a market there is for it.
I was a full-time PM contractor for three years. Now, my side hustle is communication and leadership skills training.
...
1 reply by Jessica Schultz
Nov 10, 2022 8:06 AM
Jessica Schultz
...
Hi Stephane,
Thank you for the reply! I would like to work with 501c3's (charities) as a way to give back to the community while earning some extra money on the side. I have looked at LinkedIn, Google jobs, etc, but I'm not finding side gigs (just full time jobs). Do you have any suggestions?
First, congrats on earning your PMP. Regarding consulting, I do consulting as a side gig as part of my own business at RMK Coaching and I also work as a full time Project Management Consultant.
I do my consulting work for my own business after hours or during the weekend. It gets crazy sometimes so if you have a family, you might struggle doing both. There is a lot to say about how I started, why and when but it's too much to put in a message.
RK
Hi Rami,
Thank you for your note. How do your clients react to the fact that you may not respond during normal business hours? How did you find your client base?
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Nov 10, 2022 9:15 AM
Rami Kaibni
...
Hi Jessica, I do set expectations with my clients from the start. However, that said, for my individual clients who are looking for one to one coaching, they all prefer after hours and weekends because they have work as well. When it comes to organizations, the story is different so I use my vacation days sometimes to take sometime off from my full time job and serve my clients if need be.
In terms of how I find my clients, mostly through word of mouth, LinkedIn, My Website so they find me.
That said, my own business have lots of potential but I am not putting enough effort to grow it for now as I have no time given that I have another full time job but I am building one block at a time but if I want to take my own business to the next level, I highly doubt I will be able to do both together. Hope this helps.
Congratulations on your PMP! Have you identified your niche? You will need to know that in order to properly market yourself. Find out what conjunction of industry experience makes you unique and determine how much of a market there is for it.
I was a full-time PM contractor for three years. Now, my side hustle is communication and leadership skills training.
Hi Stephane,
Thank you for the reply! I would like to work with 501c3's (charities) as a way to give back to the community while earning some extra money on the side. I have looked at LinkedIn, Google jobs, etc, but I'm not finding side gigs (just full time jobs). Do you have any suggestions?
Your best bet, Jessica, is to go for freelance work: it allows you to work asynchronously and at the rate you need. There are many freelance work sites for writers and other professions. Fiverr comes to mind.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Nov 10, 2022 8:04 AM
Replying to Jessica Schultz
...
Hi Rami,
Thank you for your note. How do your clients react to the fact that you may not respond during normal business hours? How did you find your client base?
Hi Jessica, I do set expectations with my clients from the start. However, that said, for my individual clients who are looking for one to one coaching, they all prefer after hours and weekends because they have work as well. When it comes to organizations, the story is different so I use my vacation days sometimes to take sometime off from my full time job and serve my clients if need be.
In terms of how I find my clients, mostly through word of mouth, LinkedIn, My Website so they find me.
That said, my own business have lots of potential but I am not putting enough effort to grow it for now as I have no time given that I have another full time job but I am building one block at a time but if I want to take my own business to the next level, I highly doubt I will be able to do both together. Hope this helps.
...
1 reply by Jessica Schultz
Nov 10, 2022 10:46 AM
Jessica Schultz
...
That definitely helps! Thank you so much for the detailed information. You gave me a lot to think about.
Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
There was a time when your employer 'owned' you but that is no longer the case. That being said, you have certain obligations to your employer in return for your position and resulting compensation. Identify any possible conflicts including your time, effort, connections, technical considerations, communications, etc., and come to terms with your 'loyalty' to your employer and potential clients. Then look at the risks and consequences - are your 'side hustles' likely to impact your steady employment? If you have extra time and effort would it be best to apply it to your employment?
Myself, as others, have done both but not at the same time. I felt the conflict was too great and the worry too stressful. Job, side hustle, family, community and social life could become too much to deal with knowing my limitations.
Maybe you can discuss contract work with your current employer giving you more flexibility.
...
1 reply by Jessica Schultz
Nov 10, 2022 10:47 AM
Jessica Schultz
...
Hi Peter,
All good points. I'm in the very early stages of discovery right now to see if this is something that I want to do and can do. You gave me a lot to think about, so that's exactly what I will go do - think and plan (if I decide to move forward).
Community Champion
