Want to be a
consultant? If you’re looking to switch career gears but still stay within your
industry, a consulting job just might be for you. Here are tips showing you how
to break into the consulting business.
Study the
Industry: Sure, you’ve worked day in and day out as a marketing manager, but
that shouldn’t stop you from taking a look at the bigger picture. Step back and
assess the overall industry. See where changes could be made that would benefit
a company and use those as an advantage when pitching for future projects.
Research the
Competition:
Go online
and find people who are working successfully as consultants. Research their
styles to discover what gives them an edge over other consultants in the field.
Then contact them on LinkedIn and see if they can offer you fresh tips for
breaking into the consultancy biz. Focus your efforts for maximum efficiency.
Learn How to
Self-Promote:
There’s a very fine line between well-done self-promotion and
irritating a potential client. Learn how to speak confidently about your skills
and what you can offer clients without sounding offensive. Focus on past
accomplishments, your knowledge base and what you can do to make your pitch
less about you and more about what you can do for them.
Get
Schooled:
No matter how long you’ve been working in your area of expertise, you
can benefit from brushing up on your skills. Find some classes or webinars that
you can attend which will help you get additional education — and they will be
an exciting new topic of conversation when you meet with potential clients.
Network:
Even if you feel like you know everyone in your industry, chances are you don’t.
Think big picture when approaching new contacts
from connecting with 20-somethings who are on their way up the corporate
ladder to industry bigwigs who are in a field similar to yours, you can always
meet someone new who might help you find and land that next big project.
Build a
Portfolio:
Consulting work is all about results. Creating a website will serve
as an online portfolio of your impressive body of work and accomplishments.
A
career in consulting is a great way to spread your wings within your field and
find new ways of making money and finding success.
How to Get Started as a Consultant...
Reviewed by Unknown
on
08:49:00
Rating:
No comments:
Post a Comment