Consulting Assignments
As a consultant and self-employed professional, you're always facing the challenge of finding new work. For many, there's a nagging worry: how much time is left on my contract, will the client renew, is it time to start looking? For others, this is precisely what drives them — what challenges lie ahead, what can I learn now, what new network can I build?
Finding a new assignment — how do you do it?
There's no magic formula for success here, of course, but I do want to share some tips that have worked well for me over the years.
1. Increase your activity on social media
This is almost always the fastest way to reach a large number of contacts in a short amount of time. The power of a network should never be underestimated — on the contrary, you should use it as much as you can. Someone reading your posts might be in a position where there's an opening for a new assignment, and when that happens, you need to be top of mind. My recommendation is to post once a week on LinkedIn.
Make sure your profile is up to date and that anyone can understand who you are and what you're looking for within five seconds. Don't be afraid to ask for help, interspersed with posts that genuinely engage your readers. Write about what's happening in your field, share tips with others, comment and like other people's posts, and add a few relevant new connections every day!
Set aside 10 minutes each day dedicated to LinkedIn. It will pay off — both short-term and long-term!
2. Reconnect with all your former colleagues and workplaces
Reach out to them and explain your situation. You'll be surprised how helpful old friends and colleagues can be. You'll end up with a lot of contacts, and nearly all of them will say they don't know of anything right now — but that they'll keep their eyes open. That's exactly where you want to be! The ball is rolling. Combined with social media activity, this ensures you're always top of mind in your network the moment someone has an opening for a consulting assignment.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help
This ties closely to the point above, but it's worth emphasising. Many people genuinely enjoy helping others — maybe you do too? If someone can help, most people will. The challenge is simply reaching the right person at the right time. That takes persistence, strategy, and a fair bit of luck.
Luck is a topic all on its own — but if you follow the three steps above and stay persistent, you'll be in an excellent position to find your next consulting assignment. At that point, it won't be luck. It'll be skill.
Good luck!