IT Professional - Consultant or Contractor

Introduction

I'm often asked, aren't consultants and contractors one and the same? While there are IT professionals that wear both hats interchangeably, in general, IT consultants and contractors are two different types of professionals with different sets of goals. The following descriptions clarify the differences, and outline some of the strengths between consultants and contractors.

Consultants

Consultants are independent business advisers and project leaders that are there to help you identify, plan and implement IT solutions that help your company. Consultants are often seen as a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none, sort of the lone wolf. This really isn't really the case. An IT consultant needs to have a handle on the technologies used yesterday, what solutions work today, and a grasp of the opportunities coming tomorrow and they need to know how all of it can benefit your company.

Consultants can be either independent or with a consulting firm and often have one or more clients and/or projects running at the same time as yours.

They usually do not perform most of their work on your site, and do not maintain a regular daily schedule in your organization. In other words, consultants should not be confused for a 9 to 5 employee.

- So, what are some of the traits that make up a good IT consultant?

- A good IT consultant...

- Listens to your needs

- Asks lots of questions

- Will not to be judgmental

- Quickly gets up to speed on your current IT and business environments

- Thinks in terms of how IT can best benefit your business

To get the most out your relationship with your consultant, be sure you can provide them with solid information about your current situation, be able to clearly state your goals and issues, or any concerns you have about your project and possible obstacles you can foresee. Most importantly though, be sure that your deliverables are realistic and achievable within your organization.

Contractors

Use contractors to complete specific tasks on a project and to fill a temporary skills gap in your organization.

Contractors usually perform their work on your site, on your schedule, and follow your stated agenda. Many contractors are specialists having an advanced knowledge in a certain area. What traits make a good contractor?

- A good IT contractor...

- Knows their specialty and keeps current with the latest developments

- Requires little supervision or direction once on task

- Delivers all tasks on time

- Works well with others within your organization

- Stays focused on the tasks assigned in the contract requirements

- Documents all their work

Also, contractors are generally unaware of the business issues addressed as their focus is on getting their specific tasks completed on time per their contract.

To get the most out of the relationship with your contractor be sure to have the deliverables, and when they are due, spelled out in the terms of the contract. This is important and may mean having several meetings in advance to be sure that the scope and deadlines are realistic and that they have the tools necessary to complete their tasks. And be sure to keep your contractors on task; don't let them get sidetracked with other work like fixing someone's printer.

Again, the clearer you can be with your stated terms, the more you will get from the relationship.

Summary

Whether you are trying to create and implement a new strategy, solve a problem, or fill a temporary skills gap in your organization, be sure to use the right type of IT professional for your needs.