The Path From Traditional FTE to Consulting
In this historic moment in time known as “The Great Resignation,” business professionals of all genres are re-evaluating their careers and re-prioritizing the things that matter most to them.
If you find yourself at this crossroad in your life, you may be considering making the switch from being a traditional full-time corporate employee to consulting. This is a path many have chosen, but the path has been bumpier for some than for others.
Here are our recommendations for smoothing the path and ensuring your success as you make this pivotal decision.
Do Informationals with Consultants
The best way to learn more about a career as a consultant is to talk to other consultants. When you don’t know what you don’t know, seasoned consultants can guide you on a journey of self-discovery. Use LinkedIn to find consultants and reach out to them or get referrals to consultants from friends or other business connections. Talk to people who have walked the path you’re considering and can help you learn the right questions to ask.
You can also get an idea of what the consulting life is like. Learn more about how consultants get started in their new careers, the type of schedule they keep, and how they choose a consulting firm with which to work. This is the best way to see if the grass really is greener on the other side.
The policies, culture, and perks offered by consulting firms vary widely. The sad truth is that some consulting firms are basically looking for chair warmers who will work on one project and then disappear into the mist. Other consulting firms, such as Prime 8, are interested in building a bench — having consultants who move smoothly from project to project and have an ongoing relationship with clients and the consulting firm itself.
Let Go of the FTE Mindset
The vast majority of consultants who work with Prime 8 have been full-time employees (FTEs) at large tech firms in the past. That is great experience to have, but consulting requires a different approach compared to your days as an FTE. You’re no longer an order-taker or seat-filler that checks off tasks and goes through the motions of work. You’re the trusted advisor, the problem solver, the person who helps the company move forward in a particular area. Your performance is based on deliverables and outcomes, not time spent at work, the number of meetings attended, or the amount of work accomplished.
You may find yourself surprised initially when you venture into the consulting world. You may not have access to the same information you are accustomed to having on a given project, and you may be working with limited resources or interaction with other team members.
For many, the biggest difference when transitioning to consulting is a change in mindset — you’re now using your skills, knowledge, and creativity in different ways for one or more clients and projects. It’s essential to let go of the FTE mindset and focus on value, not just work.
Know Your Why
Consulting might sound like a dream job for many, but why is it appealing to you? For Prime 8 consultant Ali Wilks, it was the work flexibility that consulting offered, a lack of office politics, and a chance to influence a team’s success in a tangible way.
If you are looking for accolades and are still in corporate ladder-climbing mode, consulting will be a shift. As a consultant, your job is not to make yourself look good, but to make your client look good. Approaching your consulting work with a heart of service makes the transition to this new career path smoother.
As you work with different clients as a consultant, you will likely discover that your true joy in working comes, not from the praise of others, but the sheer satisfaction of a job well done and the work flexibility that comes with it.
When you understand fully why you want to make the switch to consulting, you’re better able to find a firm that aligns with your priorities, values, and professional and personal goals.
Explore Your Consulting Options
When consulting starts to look more and more like the ideal career move, you’ll need to decide how to start. Many ex full-time employees will start looking for projects on their own. Using your own network can help you get a foot in the door, such as working with past managers with whom you have strong relationships.
And easier path is often working with a consulting firm like Prime 8 that will source work through their clients and then pair you with available projects. This allows you to focus on the job skills you enjoy the most and leave the marketing, sales pitch, and closing to someone else.
For many consultants, the best fit is a balance of both of these options, Because Prime 8 is an approved supplier for many major tech firms, consultants may find it easier to work through Prime 8 even when they land a project by cultivating their own professional network.
Prime 8 is a people-centric consulting firm that is proud of the flexibility and work-life balance we are able to offer our consultants. That’s why many of our consultants continue to stay with us year after year.
Are you ready to start consulting? See our open consulting positions.
