Looking for a role where you can use your Professional Skills & Qualifications? Looking to add to your CV or build an alternative to your current employer? Designed by an Organisational Psychologist with 15 years experience in Consulting and 5 years experience running her own Consultancy, How to be a Consultant is a step-by-step guide to using the skills you have to define your own Career. Whether you are starting from scratch, or still building your Consultancy, Belle Preneur has created a series of articles and accompanying activities to help you examine the type of Consultant you want to be, define your brand and build your Client base. If you are ready to take action - this is the book for you. If you need a helping hand, sign-up for Belle Preneur's course on www.innovativepeoplesolutions.com

Publisher Description

Written for the business manager of middle or senior rank who is contemplating a career move from corporate to self-employment this book describes how to set up a consultancy practice with little financial outlay and take advantage of a growth market. Emphasis is given to low cost promotion and the creation of a client base. The preparation of proposals, the conduct of assignments and the importance of presenting subsequent recommendations that will satisfy client needs and lead to recommendations and referrals is discussed.

Written in an easy-to-read style, this work is suitable for anyone who operates as a consultant. How to be a Successful Consultant contains strategies and techniques for increased success by focusing on key topics such as: self-promotion, communication, building credibility and building and maintaining relationships. If you have decided to become an independent consultant, you face two challenges: being good at what you do, and being good at bringing in the business. You might be a management consultant, an architect, a writer, a trainer, an engineer, a product-placement expert, a designer, a stylist, a musician, a financial advisor, a computer- systems analyst or something else, all occupations that require specific and different sets of skills. However in every case you need another set of skills, common to all, knowing how to seek, obtain and serve clients. Thats where this book comes in. Youll find strategies and techniques to help you be more successful in here. Its about planning, building, and maintaining relationships with your clients and prospects.

Obtain the Best Consulting Services for Your Business In this chaotic age of new technologies, downsizing, andreengineering, managers and executives are relying more and more onthe consultant. Hiring the right consultants for your company andmaking effective use of them is a vital skill, and yet there hasbeen a lack of guidance on this topic-until now. How to Use a Consultant in Your Company delivers expert advice andpractical guidelines on how to successfully create and manage theclient/consultant relationship-to your advantage. John McGonagleand Carolyn Vella provide up-to-the-minute information on: * Defining your consulting needs * Finding and selecting the right consultants * Managing the paper trail-corporate policies, contractingissues * Working with an individual consultant or an entire firm * Handling disputes, lawsuits, and complaints * Evaluating consultants Including forms and other materials for help in developing formalpolicies, billing procedures, and more that you can adapt to fityour own situation, How to Use a Consultant in Your Company is theone-book-fits-all solution for anyone responsible for getting themost out of their company's consultant.

Book & CD-ROM. The Association of Bridal Consultants estimates that billions are spent on weddings every year. A good wedding consultant is of invaluable assistance to potential brides with no experience of the best and easiest way of going about things. Advice can be given on all aspects of a wedding including the gown, accessories, even down to childcare. This manual will get you started on the right footing.

'How to Become a Successful IT Consultant' is a practical book for anyone considering setting themselves up as an IT consultant. It is essential reading for those contemplating such a career change. Today IT consulting has become a major opportunity for many IT professionals who want to work for themselves. It is no longer only the domain of the high-flying international organization. In fact tens of thousands of IT professionals are leaving their regular jobs to set up as IT consultants on their own. Although there are many consulting opportunities available it is quite a challenge to make a success of your own IT consulting business. There are a lot of things to think about and many decisions to be made. For those who get it right there is a very exciting and highly lucrative business career ahead. This book takes the IT professional through all the key issues which have to be understood and explains how to optimize your chances of developing a long-term IT consulting business of your own. This practical book explains what is involved in setting up your own business as an IT Consultant. It explains the opportunities involved and gives practical advice as to how to take advantage of them. The book looks at the full range of issues concerned with getting started and maintaining your business and gives practical guidelines about how to face the many challenges which you will encounter if you leave your job and set up on your own. Amongst the many issues involved this book specifically addresses:how to find clients; how to get more business and the opportunities areas available; how to price your services; the funding you will require; how to plan your consulting assignments And much more... This book is an essential reading for anyone who is seriously thinking about taking this big career step.

The consultant is a creative thinker, far sighted, imaginative and inventive and not afraid to take risks. This book examines some of the characteristics of the consultant in a social change environment.

A crucial reference for the practicing or aspiring design consultant, Security Design Consulting brings you step by step through the process of becoming a security consultant, describing how to start the business, market services, write proposals, determine fees, and write a report. Specific elements of assessment, design and project management services as well as acquiring product and industry knowledge are all covered in detail. Concentrating on client-focused marketing and sales strategies as well as the crucial elements of preparing, running, and succeeding at the security consulting business, Security Design Consulting gives the reader a working knowledge of all the steps necessary to be a successful security design consultant and a smarter business owner. Security directors, architects and security management consultants will also find this reference invaluable in understanding the security design consultant's important and growing role in an overall security program.* Focuses on consulting in security design, not security management* Provides sample service agreements, specifications, and reports to use as models* Emphasizes the highest technical and ethical standards for this increasingly crucial profession

Becoming a Management Consultant focuses on a different aspect of being a successful management consultant – from effective listening to leadership styles, self-employment, attracting prospective clients, and everything else in between. There are also exercises to be completed to help the reader hone their skills.