Re: [Consult400] First consulting job

[Michael Ryan <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It could be your current employer. Oftentimes an employer may want to change
the economics of an employee - consultants/contractors get paid out of a
different pocket than employees.

You may want to think about whether you're consulting (helping clients with
technology) or contracting (writing code). The difference is more than
semantics - it also creates expectations about type of work and billing
rates.

As far as landing clients, you need to first find them. Identify shops that
use the technology that you know. Send letters to IT managers. Follow up
with phone calls. Join user groups. Join trade groups. Find consulting firms
in your area (geographic and expertise) that may need subcontractors.

Make sure you understand your market. Consulting/contracting is a cool
thing, but you sure don't have the 'guaranteed' revenue stream as you do
when you're an employee. Also think about health benefits, insurance,
retirement, employers share of FICA...

I don't know much about proposing, negotiating and closing deals - the more
sales-oriented folks on the list can help more there.

On 12/31/04 09:15 AM, "Frank W Kany IV" <fkany@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> Can anyone explain how they got their first consulting job?  How do you
> find the client?  How did you propose, negotiate, & close the deal?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Frank
> http://www.geocities.com/frankfrank1977/
> 
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