I consider myself a lucky guy.  I am a consultant for a reputable company that focuses on Linux and networking.  I get to see the world, a city at a time, doing things that I have always enjoyed and continue to enjoy.  My job may not be for everybody.  Typically, I spend four days a week on-site at a customer site designing and implementing solutions to improve the customer’s business efficiency through identity management and networking solutions.  Most of our customers are Fortune 500 companies, which we strive to improve their business efficiency with our technical solutions.

I have discovered that almost any business can benefit from consolidating databases, servers and other information storage devices into an Identity Store System. With an Identity Store System, all departments in a company can have access to the data that they need.  Also, each department can be presented with the information they need automatically.  This type of consolidation implementation can save money while reducing the amount of hardware used support the solution. The key is to eliminate redundancy.

The consulting division of my company is very successful, always making a profit and regularly keeping all of the consultants busy.  This is unique with my company as other divisions are losing money and having layoffs. Usually most consulting projects will last three to four months, while the projects goes through several stages that include a kick off meeting, the design phase, implementation in a lab environment, testing, and finally going live on the corporate network. Almost every client does not want me doing work on the corporate network until I have a working proof-of-concept in a lab environment.  Sometimes the client will not have a lab environment for me to use, so I will do the proof-of-concept at my company’s lab and ask the client to fly to me to see the result at my company’s lab.

A typical day for me would start with me leaving my hotel room and traveling to the customer. We will have a meeting to check the status of the project; then I will either go to my assigned office to design the project or to a server room to implement the project.  Typical days can run from 10 to 12 hours, since I work a four-day work week. A lot of times, the actual “go live” implementation will need to be done on a weekend, when the customer’s network traffic is light. 

You will need to be able to have a flexible schedule to be a good consultant.  On the “go live” weekends, I will still work my 40-60 hours a week, but most of these hours will be on a Friday night, Saturday and, depending on the scale of the project, sometimes Sunday.  The work week on each job will vary.  Remember, the key to success in consulting is working with the client’s schedule, but at the same time not letting the client walk all over you.

The technologies that are essential for me in being a successful consultant include Java programming expertise, experience with Open-Source solutions (since this makes delivering a custom solution quicker, if you can build on someone else’s successes), and expertise with networking technologies (Microsoft, Novell, etc.).  I also have relied on some of Novell, Inc.’s Identity Management solutions in crafting my corporate business solutions. Every consulting project will be different and require a unique blend of applications, coding, and design work to make it fly. A good consultant will always be reading up on current technology, looking for ways to implement more efficient solutions.

Newcomers who would like to break into consulting need to know that it requires a lot of traveling and flexible schedules. I typically fly out to the customer’s site Sunday evening and work four 10-12 hour days, sometimes longer (Monday through Thursday), returning home late Thursday night.  I do get to be home Friday through Sunday, but sometimes I have to spend that time doing design work. Besides being technical experts in their field, consultants also need to be good communicators, salesmen and easy to get along with.  You will need to be your company’s representative whenever you are onsite. You will meet all kinds of people at your client’s company. Most will treat you with respect, but a few will treat you badly and you will need to figure out a way to make it work.

Lastly, being a consultant can be very rewarding.  It pays well, with good bonuses for completed projects. It can also offer incentives for up-selling your company’s products.  As a personal bonus, you will accumulate a lot of air-miles and hotel points. This is nice when you decide to go on a well-deserved personal vacation.