Sometimes, you find the perfect opportunity.  Sometimes you find ALMOST the perfect opportunity.  And almost is great.  Almost is worth it.  Almost is better than not even close.

And in today’s economic environment, you jump all over ALMOST.

When you’re looking for work, and you have an idea of what you want, but you aren’t certain it even exists, you listen carefully when someone calls and tells you that it does.  BUT.

Then you listen more carefully.

About 5 months ago, even before I was laid off, I had a conversation with someone I respect and admire.  He talked about a role his company needed to fill.  He thought I was the person to fill that role.  I had to agree.  I had the real-life experience to do what needed to be done.  We both knew that I could do this.  I wanted to do this.

The problem?  It’s not an employee position.  It’s a consulting position.  Which means travel.  LOTS of travel.

Consulting can be a good way to get your foot in the door of a company you’d like to work for full-time.  It can give you the opportunity to ‘try out’ a company or a new set of tasks – generally consulting has a definite beginning and end date – without commiting to a ‘permanent’ position.  If you decide to become an independent consultant (rather than working through an agency), you can handpick the assignments you take and negotiate a rate that will make you comfortable.

There are downsides to consulting, of course.  Generally, there are no health benefits or retirement benefits offered, so you’ll be responsible for providing your own.  There is no paid vacation or sick time.  When everyone else that you’re working with gets that holiday with pay, you’ll be off without it.

Then, there’s that travel thing.  Sometimes the position demands that you be onsite.  Sometimes not.  Sometimes, the company you’re consulting for is right around the corner.  Sometimes, it’s across the country.  My family is used to my travel schedule – I’ve been doing it for 10 years – but it can be exhausting – for everyone.

So when that ALMOST perfect offer was presented, I started doing my homework.  And thankfully, the web provided a wealth of resources, as usual:

• Becoming a Consultant – everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask?
• Starting a Consulting Business – should you go it on your own?
• Consult Yourself First – consulting isn’t for everyone.
• Top Fifty Consulting Firms – if you want to sign on with a firm rather than go it on your own.
• Getting a job in a Consulting Firm – where to start?
• How to set your rate – if you’re going to go the independent route.
• What is an S corp? – Incorporating a sole proprietorship or partnership.
• 10 Reasons to Incorporate – again, if independence is in your future.

To be continued…

Photo byxparxy

Ree can be found blogging at My Life as a Hotfessional, where you can hear about the rest of the craziness in her life, including what it’s like living with a retired husband, two sons, a dog and two cats. Stop by for a visit!