14 Jul 6 myths on looking for consulting opportunities
When starting a career as an independent consultant in international development or humanitarian aid, it is normal to feel unsure about how to find work. Some might advise you to pay to access consulting opportunities, others will say that having a website is a must, and still others will vent about consulting firms. How can you find your own way among contradictory information? Here are six common myths about looking for work as a consultant in the sector and how to navigate them.
Myth 1️ I need to pay to access opportunities.
There are many opportunities accessible on the web FOR FREE if you know where to look AND other ways to access opportunities than paying for lists of consulting opps.
Myth 2️ I need a website to be visible.
A website costs money and time, and it is not on the top list of how people will find you as an independent consultant. LinkedIn enables you to showcase your CV in addition to your profile, so are some technical websites focusing on specific expertise.
Myth 3 Rosters and databases are useful/useless for getting work.
Registering your CV on a database does not guarantee work AT ALL, yet it can lead to opportunities. Based on your geographic, thematic, donor and language expertise, consulting firms might contact you when bidding for donor contracts.
Similarly, applying for UN Rosters might give you access to opportunities that are not otherwise publicly available. In some cases, UN agencies are not able to contract consultants outside of their rosters. So better be in the roster than out, even if work is not guaranteed.
Myth 4 All consulting firms are ‘bad’.
Some consulting firms will use your CV to get framework and LTA contracts and never contact you for any work after winning them. Others will.
Some firms are outsourcing most of their technical expertise and little contribute to the consulting process our consulting outputs of a consultant team. Others will bring in their staff and provide not only admin and back stopping but also client relation support and real technical expertise.
Why not find the consulting firms specialising in your field which you might relate to and arrange a meeting to find out whether their values and working processes/styles resonate with yours and to discuss upcoming opportunities?
Myth 5 All consulting opportunities are published online.
Online search is only one way to access consulting opportunities.
How many of you have started your independent consultant life with an assignment from one of your previous employers? How many of you have found opportunities by joining communities of practice, whether FB groups or technical communities of practice?
The availability of opportunities online does not make networking old-fashioned, far from it!
Myth 6️ I don’t find consulting work, something must be wrong with me.
Surely not.
Winning contracts might take time, particularly at the beginning of your consulting career or when you only take consultancies in between 2 ‘regular’ jobs.
There is (a lot of) work out there. What could you do differently in the way you’re looking and punting for work that could lead to a different outcome? Who could you talk to for advice?
Walk Gently!
Still struggling to secure your first contracts as a consultant?
Book a coaching intro call to discuss how we could work together to address the issue here.
To receive the Self-Coaching Minute every week in your inbox, subscribe to the Newsletter here.
The Self-Coaching Minute offers questions and prompts to explore your thoughts, behaviour patterns, and (re)actions, helping you gain clarity over a range of situations, become aware of your options, and take steps toward the changes you want to make.