Consultants in all fields operate private businesses, so the steps to become a technical consultant are similar to the steps to start any business. While it’s more or less a requirement to have at least a bachelor’s degree, it doesn’t guarantee an income. Technical consultants must have a true passion for their technical expertise, and they must have an expertise that not many other people have. Finding a technical niche requires finding a problem that many people have but that not many people know how to solve.
As a freelance consultant, at least 50 percent of your job will be acquiring contracts and collecting payments. As you become established, word of mouth and repeat business will reduce the burden of looking for clients, but unless you’re the only technical consultant in the area, neglecting to look for new contracts could be a fatal mistake. Starting out, you will have to deal with non-paying clients and people who put a much lower value on your service than you do. Until you trust a client to pay for your services, you may want to request a partial payment up front.
Educational Requirements to Become a Technical Consultant
Consultants usually have at least a bachelor’s degree, and most consultants competing with you also have industry experience. However, a bachelor’s degree doesn’t completely prepare you for private consultancy. As with any entrepreneurial venture, you must study the market and find a demand that isn’t fully being met. Examples of technical consultant specializations include information security, telecommunications, finance, education and management information systems. Technical consultants are usually hired on a contract basis to perform a specialized job rather than to share insight with their clients.
To gain the necessary industry experience to become a freelance consultant, you must obtain a degree in MIS, computer science or a specialized computer-related subject offered by your college. As in the world of salaried employment, a technical consultant’s income depends on the market demand for the services provided. For example, an information security consultant with industry experience might make around $135,000 per year, while an experienced IT consultant might make about $96,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Consultants. Of course, freelance consultants don’t earn salaries, and their incomes tend to vary from year to year.
How to Build Business as a Technical Consultant
You must advertise your business to let people know about your services. As a contract-based worker, you have to be proactive about landing contracts, and unlike the industry employees in your technical niche, you must develop your sales skills to track down leads and convince clients to hire you, according to Tech Republic. A portion of your time will be spent selling your services to people who decide not to hire you. To make this process as efficient as possible, you must research potential clients’ businesses and technical needs before presenting a sales pitch for your consultancy. Even with careful preparation, some clients either can’t afford to hire you or have a better option. Like any entrepreneur, you must have a thick skin and be able to brush off rejection.
Related Resource: Cyber Security Jobs
The challenges faced by entrepreneurs and freelance contractors are different than those of salaried employees, and technical consultancy especially requires passion and dedication. If you invest the time to find a niche and hone your expertise, you should be able to become a technical consultant.
Follow