Career 'change' advice
Discussion
Hi all,
Just after some opinions from people who may have been in a similar position.
I'm currently a senior member of staff in a small consultancy business, 8 employees overall. I've worked there since 2008 when I started as a trainee, worked up through including completing a degree and professional membership and have enjoyed most of what I do.
For the past probably 18 months or so though I've had a hankering for a change. No particular reason why and certainly not as a result of my boss, he's been supportive throughout my career, pays well etc.
There are aspects of the job I really enjoy and those that I don't (as in any role) but I see a gap in the market locally (and possibly further afield) which would allow me to focus on the aspects I do enjoy. My idea is therefore to freelance in my particular field. I would also not be in competition with my current employer, an advantage in both maximising my potential income and not stepping one toes.
My concerns are risk associated with being self employed (lack of work, lack of salary benefits etc), particularly as I have a young family and I feel somewhat guilty about leaving, especially as I'm the only other senior full time member of staff.
To summarise, I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy to say where I am, but I also see an opportunity to make a change which I would enjoy, along with the flexibility of being self employed and possibly building something of my own for the future.
I've created a new account for this just incase anyone could put 2 and 2 together, and obviously been vague with specific job details, but the base question is the same.
Cheers
Just after some opinions from people who may have been in a similar position.
I'm currently a senior member of staff in a small consultancy business, 8 employees overall. I've worked there since 2008 when I started as a trainee, worked up through including completing a degree and professional membership and have enjoyed most of what I do.
For the past probably 18 months or so though I've had a hankering for a change. No particular reason why and certainly not as a result of my boss, he's been supportive throughout my career, pays well etc.
There are aspects of the job I really enjoy and those that I don't (as in any role) but I see a gap in the market locally (and possibly further afield) which would allow me to focus on the aspects I do enjoy. My idea is therefore to freelance in my particular field. I would also not be in competition with my current employer, an advantage in both maximising my potential income and not stepping one toes.
My concerns are risk associated with being self employed (lack of work, lack of salary benefits etc), particularly as I have a young family and I feel somewhat guilty about leaving, especially as I'm the only other senior full time member of staff.
To summarise, I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy to say where I am, but I also see an opportunity to make a change which I would enjoy, along with the flexibility of being self employed and possibly building something of my own for the future.
I've created a new account for this just incase anyone could put 2 and 2 together, and obviously been vague with specific job details, but the base question is the same.
Cheers
An inherent part on most big consultancy job descriptions is "business development". Why not create a new business line with the backing of your existing business and have some financial rewards attached? Once you can prove a success you have proved to yourself you can do it and either go it alone of build from within.
Rcib2018 said:
Hi all,
Just after some opinions from people who may have been in a similar position.
I'm currently a senior member of staff in a small consultancy business, 8 employees overall. I've worked there since 2008 when I started as a trainee, worked up through including completing a degree and professional membership and have enjoyed most of what I do.
For the past probably 18 months or so though I've had a hankering for a change. No particular reason why and certainly not as a result of my boss, he's been supportive throughout my career, pays well etc.
There are aspects of the job I really enjoy and those that I don't (as in any role) but I see a gap in the market locally (and possibly further afield) which would allow me to focus on the aspects I do enjoy. My idea is therefore to freelance in my particular field. I would also not be in competition with my current employer, an advantage in both maximising my potential income and not stepping one toes.
My concerns are risk associated with being self employed (lack of work, lack of salary benefits etc), particularly as I have a young family and I feel somewhat guilty about leaving, especially as I'm the only other senior full time member of staff.
To summarise, I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy to say where I am, but I also see an opportunity to make a change which I would enjoy, along with the flexibility of being self employed and possibly building something of my own for the future.
I've created a new account for this just incase anyone could put 2 and 2 together, and obviously been vague with specific job details, but the base question is the same.
Cheers
Been a recruiter and career counsellor for over 2 decades - if you want a brutally frank, direct and helpful chat - happy to oblige - pm or mail@khushy.com - no charge Just after some opinions from people who may have been in a similar position.
I'm currently a senior member of staff in a small consultancy business, 8 employees overall. I've worked there since 2008 when I started as a trainee, worked up through including completing a degree and professional membership and have enjoyed most of what I do.
For the past probably 18 months or so though I've had a hankering for a change. No particular reason why and certainly not as a result of my boss, he's been supportive throughout my career, pays well etc.
There are aspects of the job I really enjoy and those that I don't (as in any role) but I see a gap in the market locally (and possibly further afield) which would allow me to focus on the aspects I do enjoy. My idea is therefore to freelance in my particular field. I would also not be in competition with my current employer, an advantage in both maximising my potential income and not stepping one toes.
My concerns are risk associated with being self employed (lack of work, lack of salary benefits etc), particularly as I have a young family and I feel somewhat guilty about leaving, especially as I'm the only other senior full time member of staff.
To summarise, I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy to say where I am, but I also see an opportunity to make a change which I would enjoy, along with the flexibility of being self employed and possibly building something of my own for the future.
I've created a new account for this just incase anyone could put 2 and 2 together, and obviously been vague with specific job details, but the base question is the same.
Cheers
I've recently gone through this, transitioning from a Director in a small firm to solo freelance. Have to say that so far, all is good and I'm nearly at the point of saying "I wish I'd done it years ago"...... but if I had done it years ago, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now.
If you have an obligation where you work to generate sales then you will no doubt be constantly worried about where the next sale is coming from. If this is the case, then you may as well fly solo; you'll still worry but get to keep more of the money you bill when you bring the work in. If that doesn't apply then you need to think a bit more carefully as the work isn't going to come and find you.
The key to your decision making is how quickly you could accumulate assignments to generate income similar to what you get currently and what's the likelihood of maintaining this.
Look carefully at cashflow - consultancy can be feast and famine at the best of times but doubly so when you're freelance.
Sounds like you've got an itch, though, which will require constant scratching. But would advise you re-read the second sentence of my first paragraph.
If you have an obligation where you work to generate sales then you will no doubt be constantly worried about where the next sale is coming from. If this is the case, then you may as well fly solo; you'll still worry but get to keep more of the money you bill when you bring the work in. If that doesn't apply then you need to think a bit more carefully as the work isn't going to come and find you.
The key to your decision making is how quickly you could accumulate assignments to generate income similar to what you get currently and what's the likelihood of maintaining this.
Look carefully at cashflow - consultancy can be feast and famine at the best of times but doubly so when you're freelance.
Sounds like you've got an itch, though, which will require constant scratching. But would advise you re-read the second sentence of my first paragraph.
edc said:
An inherent part on most big consultancy job descriptions is "business development". Why not create a new business line with the backing of your existing business and have some financial rewards attached? Once you can prove a success you have proved to yourself you can do it and either go it alone of build from within.
This isn't really an option in my line of work and our particular practice. If we were to procure more of the work i enjoy and propose as a freelance role then this could hamper our workload on our mainstream services which wouldn't really site right. Also, my director can earn more for me as a Consultant than doing the more technical side of the role.khushy said:
Been a recruiter and career counsellor for over 2 decades - if you want a brutally frank, direct and helpful chat - happy to oblige - pm or mail@khushy.com - no charge
Appreciate the offer Khushy, will message you later today. It's just handy to get some relevant opinion to be honest.StevieBee said:
I've recently gone through this, transitioning from a Director in a small firm to solo freelance. Have to say that so far, all is good and I'm nearly at the point of saying "I wish I'd done it years ago"...... but if I had done it years ago, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now.
If you have an obligation where you work to generate sales then you will no doubt be constantly worried about where the next sale is coming from. If this is the case, then you may as well fly solo; you'll still worry but get to keep more of the money you bill when you bring the work in. If that doesn't apply then you need to think a bit more carefully as the work isn't going to come and find you.
The key to your decision making is how quickly you could accumulate assignments to generate income similar to what you get currently and what's the likelihood of maintaining this.
Look carefully at cashflow - consultancy can be feast and famine at the best of times but doubly so when you're freelance.
Sounds like you've got an itch, though, which will require constant scratching. But would advise you re-read the second sentence of my first paragraph.
No necessity to generate sales as such (although i do deal with obtaining work and providing fee quotes etc) as I'm in professional consultancy (construction related). I also have a couple of people who i do odds and sods for a few times a year who would use me a lot more frequently if they could, along with quite a few enquiries from others outside of this so i don't think workload would be a problem, although keeping a steady flow could/would be the difficult part.If you have an obligation where you work to generate sales then you will no doubt be constantly worried about where the next sale is coming from. If this is the case, then you may as well fly solo; you'll still worry but get to keep more of the money you bill when you bring the work in. If that doesn't apply then you need to think a bit more carefully as the work isn't going to come and find you.
The key to your decision making is how quickly you could accumulate assignments to generate income similar to what you get currently and what's the likelihood of maintaining this.
Look carefully at cashflow - consultancy can be feast and famine at the best of times but doubly so when you're freelance.
Sounds like you've got an itch, though, which will require constant scratching. But would advise you re-read the second sentence of my first paragraph.
The other thing is construction as an industry is inherently volatile. It would be just my luck i'd make a change and we'd enter a recession, but i suppose that's just another risk factor to consider. Definitely have an itch but not sure on the best way of scratching it yet!! Appreciate the advice!!
Jasandjules said:
Have you any restrictive covenants which may apply?
This was my first thought. Are they really legally binding though? For example, a covenant that tries to rescrict working in the same sector surely is a breach of Human Rights legalisation. I accept those convenants that prohibit using the company's clients in a certain timeframe makes sense though.
MYOB said:
This was my first thought. Are they really legally binding though?
For example, a covenant that tries to rescrict working in the same sector surely is a breach of Human Rights legalisation. I accept those convenants that prohibit using the company's clients in a certain timeframe makes sense though.
Yes they are, subject to reasonableness.For example, a covenant that tries to rescrict working in the same sector surely is a breach of Human Rights legalisation. I accept those convenants that prohibit using the company's clients in a certain timeframe makes sense though.
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