This article is to provide insight into the trials and tribulations of finding the “perfect” job.
What am I looking for?
I have an incorporated business in IT | Supply Chain | S&OP | SAP | Consulting, therefore a Project Management contract of 6 months or more is my preference. I am open to other senior positions as well. I own my business to be my own boss, create business partnerships, a more flexible lifestyle and seek financial rewards from experience, innovation and hard work.
Here are a few statistics on my job search the last couple of months.
Applied for 41 jobs on LinkedIn.
Applied for approximately 15 -20 jobs through Indeed.
Contacted about 30 people directly through LinkedIn providing my latest CV and also asking to meet up.
What are some near successes?
I went through interviews with 5 people at one particular large manufacturer. This was a lucrative contract of at least 1-2 years. Considering the rate I asked for I would make about $260,000 a year factoring in vacations. The main hiring person wanted to hire me, but one person out of 5 did not see a good fit. There is absolutely no point in debating this – best to learn from the experience and move on.
What were some flops?
Some jobs were falsely advertised as Project Management and long term, yet neither of these were true. This is just an annoying waste of time. I turned down some opportunities that were too short or not a great fit. Some companies insist you have a particular Project Management Certification. In other words, it doesn’t count that you managed some of the most successful projects in the past decade. It matters that you have a piece of paper. Then you wonder why projects fail.
How do you decide your $$$ rate?
As an independent consultant, rates depends on what you perceive as your worth and what the company is willing to pay. Rates go from $80 – $300 dollars an hour. For a seasoned SAP consultant it can be $90 -$120 an hour. A friend of mine was paid $190 an hour but that included arranging his hotel and airfare as well. You get good at finding cheap flights and beds. Consultants with additional skillsets such as Sales and Operations and Supply Chain optimization skills can ask for up to $300 an hour. With these skillsets you should be able to help transform an entire business.
How is it going in general?
Job and contract searching is a long process. I have to be very realistic about this. I’m also not some rookie fresh out of school, I bring multiple skillsets and many years of experience. I keep a color coded excel matrix of all the contacts I have made. This includes jobs applied for and people I look to chat with. A few times I have been a “perfect fit” according to recruiters, but ultimately it’s the client that decides. As my last article stated, I try starting conversations over coffee, but this has its challenges as well. With everyone so busy these days, why would an executive or even a friend give me his attention? I keep plugging away.
Reality check – It’s not What you know, it’s Who you know
It’s much easier to find a job when the hiring person has already worked with you or you were referred by a friend. Therefore I focus on the network I have worked with as a start. I have been hired by “strangers” and it has actually surprised me at times. Usually this happened with lengthy multiple interviews, ultimately involving senior VP’s.
Summary
Becoming an independent consultant takes tremendous courage and multiple skillsets. I bring years of experience and worked in the trenches with numerous companies, industries and people. I have provided enormous value and growth and had a few failures as well. I’ve learnt as much from failure as from success. I am a firm believer that there is always a technical solution but it’s the people that make a project fail. Having excellent soft skills is a huge plus as an independent Consultant, especially as a Project Manager. Why do people make a project fail?
- Failure to establish governance, risk mitigation or communication structures fitting the needs of the Project or Program.
- The Project or Program Sponsor from the business lacks experience, dedication or communication skills.
- Project or Program objectives are misaligned with the overall business goals and strategy.
At a recent client I was not allowed to speak to the VP’s without permission from the IT Program Director. How can you help create a vision and align project strategies with executives – without free speech?
Dealing with culture, people and internal political situations is the biggest challenge once you land a new postilion. In my humble opinion. What do you think?
The search goes on.
Terry Vermeylen is a Senior Project Manager, Business Optimization expert, and SAP and Supply Chain specialist that has advised the US Navy, spoken at conferences, lost his soul a few times, and inspired teams to the point that they want to hug him.