Boosting Your IT Consulting Career

Written by Market Street Talent | July 6, 2016

What’s your next move? Choosing to go down the consulting road is more than just a decision. Every step of the way must be carefully planned to get the most out of it. Do you know which projects are the best fit for your career? What is your plan of landing such deals? Have you reached out to ask people for help or are you on your own? In order to hope for a successful consulting trajectory you need to come across opportunities that sharpen your technology skills, add value to your experience and boost your IT consulting career. Take a look at the following suggestions on how to position yourself for success.

Know Your Space
Have no doubt. A consultant is being chosen because of their expertise. Choices are made based on both the consultant’s background and their technology skills that allow them to find the right solutions to problems their clients face. In other words, they are brought in because they have the proficiency to deal with difficult situations. With that said, depending on whether you are in infrastructure or application development or project management, it is essential that you take all of the necessary steps to specialize in your field. Only then are you able to present yourself as the best choice for the job.

Take the Challenge
It is sad, but true. Most professionals tend to choose convenience over challenge; however, a great way to boost your IT consulting career is by working on projects that put your technology skills to the test and put you in front of new technologies. When you come across new potential projects do not hesitate to take the challenge. Always opt for opportunities that offer the ability to grow and expand your talents. Remember that strong problem solving skills and sufficient experience always get the attention of a hiring manager or a technology recruiter. Go for the positions that help you to increase those capabilities.

Go for Quality
Always keep in mind that the best fuel to boost your IT consulting career is the quality of the projects you work on. This means that you need projects that showcase your resolution capabilities and highlight your consulting caliber. Remember that is not the quantity, rather it is the quality of your work that matters. You must be able to show to your potential employer or technology recruiter the value that you bring to the table and separate yourself from other professionals. Select projects that add to your technology skills and increase your consulting advantage.

Consult with the Insiders
No one is able to help you boost your IT consulting career more than a technology recruiter. Due to their presence in the industry and their everyday interaction with IT professionals they have great leverage. By understanding your goals and evaluating your technology skills, they know how to locate the consulting opportunities that are a great match for your career. They work on finding your next project even before the one you are working on is completed. Be sure to connect with an IT staffing firm that focuses on your field and let your construction recruiter deal with the rest.

Maintain Contact
When you decide to follow the consulting path, you need to keep in mind that building strong relationships is the key to finding more projects. The chances that you are going to work with the same company or the same client are high, so it is important to maintain healthy relationships with management and teammates. If you do your job right and you do not burn bridges when you complete a project, then you have a good chance of being referred for more prospects of future work. The same is true when you reach out to a technology recruiter, as they have in place long relationships with customers and they are able to refer you to companies that boost your IT consulting career.

Valid Credentials
Another way to find the right technology staffing firm is by looking into their track record. Where do they stand in the industry? Are they able to provide you with references that speak to their value? How successful are the placements they make and how do they work towards their clients’ success. A successful IT staffing firm has answers to questions like these and they are willing to share them with you. A technology recruiter who is tested and performs well in the field knows what success means to you and strives to help you reach it.

Key Takeaways To Find the Right Technology Staffing Firm:
1. Specialize in your field to increase the consulting opportunities that come your way
2. Choose projects that challenge and improve your technology skills
3. Seek projects that add quality to your consulting background
4. Connect with a technology recruiter to boost your IT consulting career
5. Maintain a healthy and active network