Any Freeper IT independent consultants?

None ^ | 25 Oct 2014 | Self

[taxcontrol]

So my company had a downsize / RIF / layoff and my group got hit. Sad news but hey, it happens. Now I am looking at being an independent IT consultant. Since I have always been an employee, I was wondering if there were any words of wisdom from the Freeper community.

[taxcontrol]

The three areas that I am the strongest in are Networking (CCIE), Security (CISSP) and Business Continuity / DR.

Any advice?

[Junk Silver]

I’m sure there are endless opportunities in Security. Make sure everyone on LinkedIn knows what you can do.

You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but keep meticulous records and carefully save all your documentation. A few years ago I did a small project for $975.00. The IRS entered the 1099 amount as $97,500.00 and now claims I owe $35K more for that tax year. I’m glad I had the original form in my files. (After four months the IRS has not yet admitted that this is their error.)

[usconservative]

My advice: Put your resume' together and find a new job. People with your skills are in high demand across the country, especially in financial services.

You don't need to whore yourself out as a contractor to a former employer when you can make much, much more elsewhere.

[PGR88]

(After four months the IRS has not yet admitted that this is their error.)

IRS misapplied a regular, quarterly tax payment for my business. So of course, the idiots then started to view that quarter as unpaid, began levying fines accordingly and seized my business' savings account . Call 5 times, get 5 different answers on how to fix it. Took about 5 months and about 20 hours of my and accountant's time to fix it. Maybe I'm lucky, by their typical standards.

[Junk Silver]

“Call 5 times, get 5 different answers on how to fix it.”

My accountant’s advice was to let him respond once, confirm that his response had been received and then not make any additional attempts to contact the IRS.

He explained that each time you call or write the IRS someone else gets involved and has the opportunity to screw things up, making it that much less likely that anything will ever finally get sorted out.

Guilty until proven innocent.

[tbw2]

Consulting is challenging.
If you need to generate a cash flow quickly, work for a staffing firm in IT.
http://www.kellyservices.com/global/it/

[jocon307]

Good luck to you.

[AppyPappy]

Learn to code. Any language.

[FReepaholic]

Http://www.cjhunter.com

[Ray76]

Set up an LLC

[EQAndyBuzz]

Send me a resume. Companies are desperately looking for Information Assurance professionals, especially as part of government contracts.

If you can get clearance, can have a job for you within the month.

[combat_boots]

BoozAllen
TekSystems

Look at DICE

If you have clearance, there are also job sites for people.

Also, try Haliburton.

[Reeses]

Consider getting Amazon Web Services mastery on your resume. Many infrastructure type jobs are going to the cloud.

[dfwgator]

Most companies will not hire you as an Independent unless you are on their vendor list.

[Billthedrill]

With those outstanding qualifications? I'd be surprised if it took you a month to land a job that pays better than consultancy. If you're willing to relocate.

The problem with consultancy, and I've had three close friends try it, is that you have to network, you have to advertise, you have to sell, you have to do billing, you have to do correspondence, and somewhere in there you actually get to do your job. It may be for you, if you can manage all that, but people form companies for a reason, and that's one of the big ones.

Either way, best of luck to you!

[Darth Reardon]

If you want to go independent, make sure you know about “S-corp” (basically, you are an employee of your one employee corporation, paying yourself a fair wage and paying payroll taxes on said wage, but not necessarily all of your company’s income. IANAL).

http://www.sba.gov/content/s-corporation

[tophat9000]

What your CCIE in, R/S, security, or something else?

Really with your certs your should be able to pickup contract gigs with ease if your willing to travel.

The the thing with being and independent consultant is you have to have that marketing sales aspect...

Any work starts with you being the product your selling.. so the shorter the job the more to you spent marketing and selling your self for the next job..

So to be a good independent anything, doctor, lawyer engineer, whatever .. you better be ready to be more sales and marketing of your service and less doing what your service is.. it just the way being a small business seem to work.. I particularly don't like sales. .

So when i came out of perm employment.. I found I prefer to go contract, 6 mo to 2 year gig.. mixed with small consulting gigs between the longer contracts. Did that from 2001 to 2012.. I just took a perm position again last year's

But fyi PCI compliance is hot right now ( that what im in right now) with your background, should be easy for you to get in to as a independent consultant in all aspects...good money to be made

[ConservativeMind]

Get your CISA and/or CRISC and go into IS Risk/Compliance/Security. Lots of people needed there.

Otherwise, you should do well with TEKSystems or APEX as a contract employee.

[tophat9000]

Code?.. if he a CCIE.. that a far step above just coding...

At that level you should be able to do the overall network design, its data flows and configure all the devices in it. (Code)

[tbw2]

I meant seek employment as a contractor with a company like Kelly and then work on consulting on the weekends.