Flying solo

Do you have what it takes to be an independent network consultant? Take our quiz to find out.

By David Raths
Network World, 10/02/00

Cartoon pic Do you have what it takes to be an independent network consultant? Take our quiz to find out.

It's 7:30 on a Friday night. Instead of being home with the family or out with friends, you're still in your cubicle troubleshooting a network problem. Suddenly the chorus from that old song "Take This Job and Shove It!" runs through your head. I don't need this, you think. I could go out on my own. Become a consultant. Set my own hours. But could you?

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For network professionals who are considering leaving the corporate world behind, there are several important issues to consider, says John Kador, the author of Internet Jobs: The Complete Guide for Finding the Hottest Jobs on the Internet. Ask yourself how much responsibility you're willing to take for your life. "When we work for an organization, we are trained to give up autonomy for certain significant benefits - a regular paycheck, someone else to think about the next paycheck, health insurance . . . ," says Kador. You can regain that autonomy, but you have to take responsibility for time management, marketing, retirement and insurance issues.

If you're thinking about going solo because you want to wear sneakers and shave only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, remember that at client sites, you'll still be required to be ultraprofessional, says David King, director of architecture and strategy for Enterprise Systems Consulting in Irvine, Calif. "You must demonstrate a solid work ethic, including making yourself available by cell phone, pager and home e-mail," he says.

You'll also be expected to look and behave professionally at all times. "You will be looked at as the expert, so you should appear to be just that, in every way," King says. Apparent success is part of that perception, so King suggests dressing as well or better than your client.

Likewise, if you find it difficult to get along with co-workers, you may also have trouble as a consultant. Having a positive attitude and being seen as a team player are crucial attributes, King maintains. You must always speak well of previous and current clients, whatever the real situation may be.

"Successful consultants are always selling themselves by their actions and their attitudes as much as their deliverables," King says. Don't walk around with a silly grin on your face but try to always look pleasant and approachable. "Be the person who is wanted on every team," he says, "not only because of your knowledge and skills, but also because you are good to have around."

So how can you tell if you're the consultant type? Honestly assess how much personal responsibility you can handle. Although many people decide to work for themselves, others get dragged into life-changing events, says Kador, who became a freelance writer when he was fired from an editorial job. "If you're looking for certainty, there isn't any," he adds. "It's a leap of faith, but we don't have to leap blindly."

To help you decide if you're cut out to be a free agent, we've come up with a quick quiz with help from a handful of IT consultants.

Take the quiz