3 Benefits of Being a Consultant

Colee Bean

October 9, 2023

Employment is changing. The Gig Economy is here, and we’re seeing people leaving permanent full-time roles for consulting or hourly contracting positions. There are several factors that are causing this, but when we ask professionals why they are making the leap to consulting we are continually hearing the same thing—that the benefits of consulting are too enticing to pass up.

Work Life Balance
Discovering How You Fit a Company’s Culture
Pay Bump. Consultants Earn About 10% Higher Income

There are many benefits to working as a consultant! First, there’s the work life balance. Many of our consultants come from demanding roles where they were working 50-60-70 hour weeks. Most consultants find that clients only want them billing 40 hours per week. Having a set schedule and the certainty that you won’t be working overtime allows you to plan and enjoy your off-work hours with confidence. And if you do put in overtime hours, you’re paid time-and-a-half and will see the difference on your paycheck!

Second, there’s the benefit of testing out a company to see how their culture matches up with your values and preferences. There’s no better way to discover how you fit a company’s culture than by spending a few months integrated into their work environment and collaborating with their staff as a consultant. The saying “try before you buy” works well in both directions – the consultant has a chance to feel out the role and environment before committing long-term, and the company has time to assess their project and long-term needs.

Lastly, and certainly not least, is the pay bump. We typically see consultants earn about 10% higher income compared to a direct hire employee role. Consultants are also eligible for benefits (medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

More balance, more money, and a free test drive on how you like a company. What’s not to love about consulting!?

To find your next HR consulting opportunity, connect with me or my team today, and explore more tips and trends in HR by connecting with our HR interim network.

Colee Bean / About Author

Colee is a service-oriented professional who enjoys connecting with candidates and building relationships to help people achieve their goals. As the Talent Acquisition Recruiter on the Versique HR Consulting team, Colee uses her wealth of experience in HR, higher education, and non-profit work to provide a collaborative and consultative experience to clients and candidates alike.

Colee’s Background
Colee holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from the University of St. Thomas. Prior to joining the team at Versique, Colee was the Operations Director at CohenTaylor, a boutique executive search firm in Minneapolis. In that role, she supported all aspects of the search process, from account management to client communications and candidate sourcing.

Colee also spent ten years in the non-profit space. As the Community Outreach Director for Groves Academy, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations, external relations, and communications of a successful collection of programs.