Quote:
Originally Posted by Scanner
Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron? You can always find work but there isn't much security?
You know the old joke about a consultant?
What do you call an unemployed man with a business suit and briefcase?
A consultant.
Seriously, I think you hit upon an issue maybe beyond the scope of this thread - there are certain professions/lines of work that don't really involve unemployment as much as "underemployment."
IN some ways, underemployment is worse than unemployment - I do think consulting probably fits into that category.
JimOhio,
Good points - don't avoid saving because of a fear of making mistakes. Just ignore what I wrote, OP. |
If OP knows how to design web pages, I would suggest they get into consulting at age of 15, and see if they like it.
My wife works for a company which consults her out. She makes 50% of what she could make on her own as a consultant, but she loves the hours and benefits.
My wife works in HR (Human resources). She had worked in 4 office jobs in prior 6 years within HR. The last 2+ years she has worked as a consultant doing same/ similar things.
Each HR department saw downsizing as an issue. Whether doing the RIFs herself or just working on the compensation packages, there is something about home life which gets disrupted when she knows on Friday what she has to do on Monday. In addition other organizations would ask for legal counsel (like on hiring, writing up people for being late etc) yet members of same company would ignore HR advice and do their own thing, creating more work in the future for my wife. Now as a consultant they are paying for her advice and expertise- so she only has to recomend what to do, she gets paid regardless if the company takes her advice.
Consulting reduces this stress level considerably!!! My life has improved as a result and from that perspective, I would not write off consulting.
I would not go into college thinking that the goal at graduation is to be a consultant though.
Several companies hire people to consult. Anderson Consulting, Deloitte and Touche, IBM, ATT all come to mind as companies which hire college grads to consult as IT professionals, Business process people or similar.
I think a better way is to choose a career (like engineering) then find a job- using consulting as an option. Know there are pros and cons. My wife has had to take several tests to get a professional license (which helps her be a consultant). If you are an engineer, these tests are less than trivial. Lawyers and Doctors both have similar tests (called the Bar or a residency) to make them consultants. Those tests are even harder. Same with a CPA- that test makes an accountant a consultant of sorts.
Most professions will have tests and certifications to validate a consultant's skill.