Brendan Tompkins [MVP]

Blog First. Ask Questions Later.

Good Consulting Information is Hard to Find.

I'm always interested in hearing DonXML's thoughts on consulting, as they usually jibe with my own. In fact, I first ran into him on line in some comments he left on a post I made about consulting rates.

Recently he's come up with a list of consulting guidelines. They're pretty insightful - check 'em out here. The cool thing about this is that this is the stuff that no one tells you - or even talks about really. As a consultant, it's difficult to get good information about how to navigate the complexities of staying employed. Your placement firm won't tell you what's good for you - I've found that they're usually the ones you have to protect yourself against. You can't really count on learning from other consultants either - most I've met are pretty tight-lipped about this sort of stuff. So thankfully, there are guys like Don who take the time to post this kind of thing.

-Brendan

Published Aug 30 2004, 10:29 AM by Brendan Tompkins

Comments

Darrell said:

Yep, although I have found some older books on the subject. I'm thinking of writing my own, or maybe just blogging about the subject. :)

# August 30, 2004 7:58 AM

Rakesh said:

"You work for the client, not the consulting firm. No matter who cuts the payroll check, the client is the one paying for your services. Do the right thing for the client, not the consulting firm (or anyone else)."

Disagree a bit on this one. The consulting firm assumes all the risk. When the consultant screws up its the firm that gets sued. If the client doesnt pay on time(or not at all) the consultant still gets paid by the firm. Firms also hand out things like bonuses, training etc. that dont necessarily come from the client you are servicing. The firm expects you to do the client right. Because its a service industry and such is a professional consultant. But when working, you are representing the firm first and foremost. Just like any business, there are good and bad apples out there. There is also a huge difference between a job placement agency and a true blue IT consulting firm. You always want to work for the latter.

# August 30, 2004 2:45 PM

Brendan Tompkins said:

"Firms also hand out things like bonuses, training etc."

Wow. The firms I've encountered don't do this. This was one of my main problems with my last firm.

I think what Don is saying here is valid. I don't know how many times my consuting firm would ask me and others I worked with to do things for other clients that took away from the paying client. Most of the consultants I know would do whatever the firm asked, and if they had to make up time with the current client, it would come out of their own pockets.

# August 31, 2004 2:08 AM

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About Brendan Tompkins

Brendan has been programming with .NET since the first public beta and is owner and operator of Port Technology Services, a consultancy company providing .NET application development services to the Maritime industry. In July, 2007, he was awarded the Microsoft MVP award for ASP.NET. He's also a proud co-founder of failed .COM startup Intrinsigo, and has had a hand in the failure of numerous other businesses. He currently runs CodeBetter.Com and Devlicio.us, and lives in Norfolk, Virgina with his wife Tiara and son Ian.