Hiring a consultant: your essential checklist

Hiring a consultant can help you grow your business – but only if you make sure you hire the right person.

Here’s how:

Consulting is one of most accessible entrepreneurial professions in the world – almost anyone can set up a business at minimal cost and use the job title “consultant” to sell their services.

Herein lies a problem for businesses buying consultancy services, and is arguably the reason some consultants have received a bad press in the past.

So how can you spot the difference between a professional consultant and an opportunist?

1. Check you need a consultant first

Before recruiting, a client should be clear whether they truly require consultancy support or whether their need is simply for “resource”. They should also double check that no one within the company is capable of undertaking the project before initiating the recruitment process.

2. Plan, plan and then replan

Every aspect of the project needs to be scoped out, with expected outcomes before the interview stage. This will ensure expectations are set and the brief is defined fully and can be communicated clearly from the start. A successful consultancy project is one that is meticulously planned and managed well.

3. Shop around

Invite quotes, tenders or formal proposals from a number of consultants to get a clear understanding of who is out there, how they would respond to the brief and what they would charge. Testing the market is key to getting the consultant at the right price.

4. Interview checklist

Make sure the consultant demonstrates a full understanding of the business issues based on the brief and can deliver to meet the deadlines. Check if they have specific experience and a track record in the industry of solving similar business problems, supported by good client references.

…read 6 other tips

Author: Huw Hilditch-Roberts – director of the Institute of Consultants.

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