Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
With companies being more hesitant to make a long term or fulltime commitment to an employee, consulting offers are becoming more and more prevalent. Some points to keep in mind as you get started:
- Do they want you to work full-time hours for the duration of the project? One has to consider not only the work done for the company but the opportunity cost of not doing work for someone else.
- Factor in the loss of vacation, retirement contributions, sick days, etc.
- Will you be paid via 1099? You will pay a higher tax rate but can deduct more expenses.
As with any negotiation, it is always a good idea to listen to the offer first. The offer might even come in higher than you had expected! If I was pinned down for an answer on negotiating a salary range, I would say to shoot for a 50% increase in your previous hourly rate (if you remain in the same industry with similar responsibilities) and accept a 33% increase.
By working as a consultant, it may open the doors to many unique opportunities in the future, both within consulting as well as an even better fulltime position.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com