Why an organisation wants to hire you
- A consultant may be hired because of his or her expertise. This is where it pays to not only be of the best in the field you have chosen to consult in, but to have some type of track record that speaks for itself. Usually your track record is built over a number of years, and this can be done in your field of expertise while you are in full-time employment, or alternatively while freelancing your services.
- A consultant may be hired to identify problems. Sometimes employees are too close to a problem inside an organisation to identify it. That’s when a consultant rides in on his or her white horse to save the day. In many small businesses, an owner is too busy working ‘in’ the business rather than ‘on’ the business. A knowledgeable and trusted outside expert can offer a fresh perspective.
- A consultant may be hired to supplement the staff. Sometimes a business discovers that it can save thousands of Rands a month by outsourcing, rather than hiring full-time employees. Businesses realise they save additional money by not having to pay benefits for consultants they hire. Even though a consultant’s fees are generally higher than an employee’s salary, over the long haul, it simply makes good economic sense to hire a consultant. Outsourcing to consultants is viewed favourably in terms of labour law because terminating a supplier agreement in many instances is far easier than terminating employment. A consultant may be hired to act as a catalyst. Let’s face it. No one likes change. But sometimes change is needed, and a consultant may be brought in to “get the ball rolling.” In other words, the consultant can do things without worrying about the corporate culture, employee morale or other issues that get in the way when an organisation is trying to institute change.
- A consultant may be hired to provide much-needed objectivity. Who else is more qualified to identify a problem than a consultant? A good consultant provides an objective, fresh viewpoint without worrying about what people in the organisation might think about the results and how they were achieved.
- A consultant may be hired to teach. A consultant may be asked to teach employees any number of different skills. However, a consultant must be willing to keep up with new discoveries in their field of expertise – and be ready to teach new clients what they need to do to stay competitive.
- A consultant may be hired to do the “dirty work.” Let’s face it: No one wants to be the person who has to make cuts to the staff force or to eliminate an entire division.
- A consultant may be hired to bring new life to an organisation. If you are good at coming up with new ideas that work, then you won’t have any trouble finding clients. At one time or another, most businesses need someone to administer “first aid” to get things rolling again.
- A consultant may be hired to create a new business. There are consultants who have become experts in this field. Not everyone, though, has the ability to conceive an idea and develop a game plan.
- A consultant may be hired to influence other people. Do you like to hang out with the rich and powerful in your town? If so, you may be hired to do a consulting job simply based on who you know. This channel demands the consultant has real credibility to ensure that they can deliver on their promises.