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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Do you fly solo?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More and more companies today are choosing to keep their permanent employee resource as only the very core of the company and to contract or outsource the non-core functions to outside companies, specialists, or consultants.
Don’t confuse outsourcing with ‘off-shoring’ as that is not always the case. We are talking about contracting with a person of some specific skill or expertise to work or manage a particular project or function whether within this country or outside.
Consider Russ Greeden who was an employee for a number of years with a large Atlanta based company working in the IT department on different technology initiatives.
His role was primarily business analysis or requirements definition and translating that into technology implementation.
In 2001 like so many other companies, the technology push came to a halt, budgets were cut and Russ was downsized out of a job. Jobs in his field were scarce and he was forced to take a position much more junior to his former job.
While he was employed in his less than wonderful job, he decided to upgrade his technology skill level.
Technology is morphing at the speed of light, and new gizmos and tools are being introduced constantly. Remember paging systems, car phones, and paying all your bills by check?
To refurbish his skill level, Russ enrolled into some technology classes, and subscribed to technology magazines. Most all industries and professions have monthly, weekly, or on-line subscriptions that alert you to changing trends as they are happening.
Ultimately, Russ had decided to be his own ‘company’, with himself as the CEO, and his expertise marketed to the company that needed his skill set for a short term or long term project.
He connected with several contract staffing firms that specialized in IT contract placement, and as the market began to turn, his options began to appear.
Now Russ is a Project Manager overseeing a multi-year SAP implementation initiative for a $300,000 million software development company.
He plans on finishing up his project within two years during which he will plan on his next assignment. He could stay with his present company or go to a different company. This time, the choice is his.
Have you made the choice of being an independent contractor or consultant? If so, what prompted you to do so? What is better, independent contracting or being a permanent member of staff?
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