What To Look For When Hiring Consultants

Consultants are a valuable resource that both online businesses and traditional businesses can benefit from. As with any profession 95% are excellent but there are 5% you want to avoid. So what should you look for when hiring consultants?

Well you’ve probably heard the old saying “How many consultants does it take to change a light bulb?” “10 – 1 to do all the work and 9 to solve the problem.”

The job of the consultant is to find a solution to your problem or complete a project. That’s why you hire them. And if they aren’t able to do that in a timely fashion for a reasonable fee then they are no longer an asset to you.

You need to watch for consultants that like to hang on. So what does that mean? It means the closer the project comes to being over the slower they seem to move. All of a sudden problems start cropping up, delays start occurring. Why? Well because if they are getting paid by the hour they can make a lot more money. All of a sudden your bill is twice what you anticipated.

A good way to avoid this dilemma is to either have a flat fee predetermined, which is my favorite, or to have a contract that clearly states the maximum number of hours that will be paid for.

You also need to make sure the consultant you are hiring can practice what they preach. Some are excellent presenters and are able to write in-depth proposals, but when it comes to actually performing the work they are a nightmare. Check references for similar work that the consultant has done for other companies to see what their performance levels actually are.

You also need to watch for consultants that write vague and intangible reports that don’t give you a clear picture of what they will perform within a specific timeline. These types of proposals leave the consultant unaccountable and you holding the bag. This type of proposal leaves room for costs to rise out of your control. The proposal should outline in-depth all deliverables with an associated cost attached.

If you decided to hire a consultant for a specific project your success rate will be dramatically higher if your key staff are involved in the decision making process. This includes who you will hire, what your team’s expectations of the consultant will be, and how staff will interact with the consultant. Your staff are your best allies for ensuring a successful project completion.

You also need to stay in control at all times. Never ever turn the reins to your company over to any consultant no matter what the project. Don’t ever believe they know more about your business than you do, even though some would like you to believe so. You or a valued member of your staff should always maintain control and the consultant should always have to confirm major decisions through you or your staff.

The consultant you hire also needs to be accountable. Although your consultant can implement the plan and bring a project to conclusion they are not often held accountable for the end results. Their research skills can result in their ability to convince you they are the person for the job but unless you hold them accountable for the outcome you could risk the health of your business.

The right consultant, and there are thousands of them, can be a valuable asset to your business. Sometimes the best plan of attack comes from someone who isn’t directly involved in your day to day operations. Those fresh eyes can provide remarkable insight for you. So never hesitate to use consultants! Just know what to look for when you are hiring a consultant.

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.