Welcome to the Consultant's Corner. We hope that we can provide you with some help and insight into the dynamics of consultancy work. Being a computer consultant is a very profitable but difficult business to succeed in. Being a specialist is the most effective way to succeed in this business. Don't try to be a jack of all trades. If you are a great programmer, don't try also to be the best hardware man. Find your niche and become the best you can in that area. Check out some of our books we offer and try some of the ideas they outline. The computer consulting sector is one of the fastest growing and best paid employment opportunities in our economy today.
Importance of Certification to being a Consultant.
Certification that works
Getting certified attest to you your skill level - it does not really teach you anything. The knowledge you should already have. Your first certifications your seek should be broad in scope like the Certified Computing Professional designation. If you limit yourself to the vendor specific certification, you are only stating your knowledge of their product and not that you have a broad professional overview of what ever discipline you are following. As you progress in your quest for more certifications, it will not hurt you to add vendor specific certifications (like CNE, MSCE) to your resume but first do those that attest to the professional you are.
Where to get your Certifications
Being a Consultant is about being good in one narrow area of expertise. The field of computer consulting is too broad for you to be good at everything. Once you have decided on the field you are most excited about, then master and maintain your expertise that is needed in that area to make you a professional. The public and other professionals count on you to be who you claim you are. You do a huge diservice to your image and the reputation of consultants in general when you are not proficient in your profession. Study constantly all that effects your profession and proof your worth with Certification.
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Where to get the training you MUST have to succeed.
Training for your field
It is very important that you do continue studying and mastering the subjects related to the type of consulting you perform. There are many on-line programs that offer great selections of classes that can provide you with the education you need. Some of the course can also provide you with CEU so that you can use the credit with other colleges to help receive a degree. Entire sets of classes related to your subject are offered and you can pick the ones to take advantage of and when you want to study them.
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Get training from colleges on line.
Take courses in your office or at home from various colleges providing top notch courses in technology related areas. Taking courses on-line lets you fit your busy schedule around your education. This is a very easy and inexpensive way to get the training you need from very reputable schools. Many of the classes count towards university degrees. You will find 23,000 online and distance learning courses and 2,300 degree and certificate programs from over 1,600 colleges and training providers.
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Books on the subject of consulting and self employment.
Getting Started in Consulting By: Alan Weiss
This is like the boy scout manual of consulting with just the right amount of information about every topic during the start up phase of a consulting practice. This is a great book for anyone considering the "free agent" career option. Useful information and no BS. In this book, Dr. Weiss presents his grand unified recommendations on the proper way to organize and start your consulting practice. This book is easy to read. And, there's lots of examples of real situations.
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The Computer Consultant's Workbook By: Janet Ruhl
The Computer Consultant's Workbook features the down-to-earth, reality-based advice you need to set up your consulting business, deal with taxes and insurance requirements, set realistic rates, find clients, and sell projects, as well as the inside information you need to know to protect yourself when negotiating contracts with brokers or clients.
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How to Be a Successful Computer Consultant By: Alan R. Simon, Walid Mougayar
The acclaimed "bible" of computer consulting now covers such lucrative specialties as the Internet, data warehousing, and consulting for the year 2000 and after. This edition also includes handy checklists for novices... Web self-marketing techniques... tax tips... insights into consulting vs. on-site contracting... all in addition to the solid guidance on finding clients, setting fees, and other essentials that have make this book a steady best-seller.
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Where to get the magazines and journals that keep you up to date.
Read the monthly business journals and magazines to stay informed
Another crucial way of staying informed of what is happening in your field, is reading the magazines that discuss your profession. This is often the only way you will have of seeing where your field is heading. What are the new innovations and who are the leaders and shakers of the industry. Get Yahoo, Business 2.0, Fast Company, Wired, or other great business related magazines. And save big bucks…
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The largest selection of business magazines at the best prices.
What ever you do, do not buy your magazines at the bookstore or you will be paying 6 or 7 times what the subscription would have been for that period. The professional thing to do is to subscribe to the ones that you need. We have the links here to what we consider, the best company to provide you with the largest selection of consulting, business and computer related magazines at the lowest prices. Our advice - take advantage of them and pick a magazine that will help your knowledge in your consulting field.
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Finding and joining appropriate professional organizations
Work as much from home as possible using remote control programs (FREE TRIAL)
Now days consultants try to solve as many of their clients problems right from their own office. It is now much easier to do that and very inexpensive to accomplish. Program such as "GotoMyPC" cuts out your travel time and makes it where you can perform your magic right from your office and eliminate those long trips, keeping you home with your family most the time. We offer you a trial copy of GotoMyPC to try out and see if it is all you want it to be.
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