Job Responsibilities
Depending on who you work for and/or the product/knowledge area
you are in, be prepared for many, MANY long hours away from home.
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Job Requirements
For IT consulting, it is a very niche market to be in.
The background/experience/preparation can only be as good as what
the employers want.
You could be the best Java programmer out there, but if the
current demand is for .Net gurus - then you may as well be a
baker. Same for any IT cert-du jour.
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Uppers
Travel from engagement to engagement - or gig.
Never a dull moment. You get bored easily? - no worries, you'll be on to
something else somewhere else very soon.
FFlyer miles and hotel points.
Knowing that your expertise helped someone get over a roadblock and back on
track to success.
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Downers
Fixing the same roadblock over and over and over again.
Constant travel.
No "normal life".
No gigs, no pay.
No ability to budget time/life/finances.
Discovering just how many stupid people there are out there that
are holding down the real jobs.
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Lifestyle
I do not realistically see this as an entry-level position -
unless you are just another body being thrown at a large project.
In which case, one has to start somewhere and this is one way to
get something solid on the resume.
As for the future of consulting; this is great. Employers would
much rather write off a consultant's bill as an expense, than to
keep an employee on the books. Just as long as you can bring some
marketable skill to the table so as to "get the gigs".
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Compensation
Compensation will vary by engagement, role, how the gig is
billed, who's billing, and if you are 1099 or are "an employee"
of some sponsoring contract firm.
Regardless, comp is typically by the hour or by the day, and can
range from a low I've seen of $9.00USD/hr to the highest I've had
of $75.00/hr. The average I see is $25.-$40.00/hour for an IT
contracter. (Note that some firms can offer you a salary over a
wage - always less than your potential, but at least you have
income in between assignments.)
No stock options that I've ever participated in.
A very few sponsers have had partially-paid medical bennies to
fully-paid medical, with "group discount rates" on life, AD&D,
dental, etc., sometimes being available.
Bonuses vary from none, to a "company picnic", to a small
percentage kicker for paid work hours every 6 months.
Travel and expenses are covered either by your 1099 accounting
agreement with the client or by the T&E policy of your sponsering
firm.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I do not realistically see this as an entry-level position -
unless you are just another body being thrown at a large project.
In which case, one has to start somewhere and this is one way to
get something solid on the resume.
As for the future of consulting; this is great. Employers would
much rather write off a consultant's bill as an expense, than to
keep an employee on the books. Just as long as you can bring some
marketable skill to the table so as to "get the gigs".
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