Has anyone done Consulting Jobs?

[WRESTLINGFAN]

I've been laid off for a few months now. I have been thinking about doing consulting work. Id like to know some of the advantages and disadvantages of being a consultant.


Kinda makes you think when the #1 rapper is white and the #1 golfer is black

[HordeKing1]

Disadvantages: You're typically considered an independant contractor and as such aren't covered by the employer's health, dental, disability, or worker's comp policy.

Benefits: When you're fed up you can easily walk out and get another consulting job.

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[JustJon]

Disadvantages: You're typically considered an independant contractor and as such aren't covered by the employer's health, dental, disability, or worker's comp policy.

Benefits: When you're fed up you can easily walk out and get another consulting job.

The reality:

Yes, you are an independent contractor, and you are not covered by the company's health, etc.

If you go through an agency, then you are an employee of the agency, and most of them have health, etc., if you are on a contract (or multiple contract jobs) for over a certain period of time.

Independent contractors do tend to make more money, but your bills are usually higher and you get no benefits that an employee would get.

If you don't like the contract, you can't necessarily just walk out because you may not be able to get another contract so quickly. If you go through an agency, they will be reluctant to use you again because you just walk out on jobs. If you are working on your own and you walk out on jobs, you will (a)get a bad reputation if you do it multiple times and (b) lose the company as a reference and a source of future contracts.

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[HordeKing1]

Um, if you go through an agency, you're an employee of the agency and not an independant contractor.




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[Bob Impact]

Um, if you go through an agency, you're an employee of the agency and not an independant contractor.

Watch out now, HordeKing is fiesty.

You would be independent of the location you're working at, not your agency, although you may also be independent from your family, yet at the same time be dependent to your in-laws, so i figure it's a wash either way.

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[HordeKing1]

An electrician working at Joe's Electrical Supply shop, sent to do a job at Bob's Restuarant remains an employee of Joe's Electical Supply even though he is off location.

Same deal with Local 3 members. No matter their location they remain covered by the EESISP.

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[Katylina]

I work as a SEIT/consultant for METRO Therapy, Inc. for children with autism in the evenings after I am finished teaching. I work through an agency but am considered an independent contractor. I have to pay for my own workers comp etc. When I did this full time, before I got a teaching job at a private school for children with autism, it was really good money and very flexible scheduling. The only downfall was paying my taxes because none of the tax money was taken out of my paycheck. Otherwise, I love doing what I do for extra cash. Good luck!

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[JustJon]

Most agencies I've dealt with declare you an independent contractor working for them on thier contract, so you pull your paycheck and 1099 from the agency, but are otherwise on your own.

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[nickeye]

<p>Some bigger companies don't like to pay invoices from individuals, which is only a problem if you bypass the agencies.

Advantages: The extra layer of abstraction can protect you from certain legal actions and bankruptcy. And you get to give yourself a title. </p><p>Disadvantages: Company picnics suck.</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by nickeye on 4-26-06 @ 8:31 AM</span>

[HordeKing1]

From a legal perspective, independant contractors are excluded from worker's compensation.

In order to be considered an employee, the referring agency must exercise direct control over the method by which the individual performs his job. If they provide tools, he's an employee. If he brings his own, independant.

By the way, again from a legal perspective, if you're working as an independant contractor, you should speak to a lawyer specializing in corporate law. It's not that expensive (a few hundred bucks) to incorporate and both regular corporations, S-Corporations, Professional Incorporations and certain types of partnerships protect the individual from being sued directly. There are some requirements for insuance coverage against suits against the corporation mandated by the NYS Superintedent of Insurance, but I am not very familiar with them.

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[East Side Dave]

I worked as Consultant on "Harry Potter." I'm a wizard.

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[HordeKing1]

What's the difference b/w a wizard and a warlock?

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