UXR Pathways: Is independent consulting for me?
Like many UX researchers, I’ve been considering independent consulting as an alternative to corporate jobs in the wake of mass layoffs across the industry. But how feasible is it really? And do I have what it takes to be successful at it? To find out, I talked to UX researchers, research managers, and a data engineer who have done it at different points in their careers. Collectively, they busted 4 myths that I had believed about independent consulting.
Myth 1: Independent consulting gives you unlimited flexibility.
Reality: You get more flexibility in overall lifestyle, but less flexibility in project obligations.
Independent consultants have more flexibility than corporate employees do in choosing where to live, when to work, who to work with, and which projects to take on.
- Some people transition from corporate jobs to independent consulting when childcare becomes a priority so they can adjust their work intensity based on family life.
- Other people do independent consulting to explore many different types of companies and projects before committing to one type.
However, that flexibility becomes limited under two circumstances:
- Once a contract is signed, you have to deliver, no matter what unexpected events occur (e.g., illness, injury, family emergency, etc.). Some independent consultants solve this problem by adding buffer clauses into their contracts or hiring a team to delegate work to.
- When you’re desperate to pay the bills, you have to take whatever projects are available.
So what? Independent consultants believe the flexibility is worth it, but don’t get blindsided by assuming it’s all sunshine and rainbows.
Myth 2: You need to be senior-level to be an independent consultant.
Reality: You need to demonstrate that you can solve clients’ business problems.
People become independent consultants at all different career stages, but strategies for demonstrating that they can solve clients’ business problems differ at each stage:
- Early-career people (e.g., grad students) don’t have much experience or reputation yet, so they tend to rely on personal pitches. Several found success through networking with local organizations and pitching how their research skills can help solve their business problems.
- Mid-career people (e.g., independent contributors) have some experience but may not have a well-known reputation yet, so they tend to grow their presence via networks and platforms. Several found success through joining guilds or agencies with client databases, creating online content to attract clients in their niche, and personally pitching to specific clients they want to work with.
- Late-career people (e.g., managers, directors) have a well-known reputation already, so they tend to rely on their existing networks. Several found success through word-of-mouth referrals and old colleagues who knew their work from previous corporate jobs.
So what? Don’t rule out independent consulting as an option for you based on your career stage.
Myth 3: You need to do primary research as an independent consultant.
Reality: You need to offer services that fill in other people’s gaps.
- Some organizations lack a dedicated research team, so they hire an independent consultant to fill a gap in primary research.
- Some organizations have a dedicated research team, but they lack bandwidth to analyze all their data, so they hire an independent consultant to fill a gap in data analysis.
- Some organizations have a ton of research and data insights already, but lack a clear “so what?” so they hire an independent consultant to fill a gap in narrative development.
- Some organizations don’t know what kinds of research or operations they even need, so they hire an independent consultant to conduct a gap analysis.
- Some organizations don’t know how to establish or scale a new research function, so they hire an independent consultant to fill a gap in research leadership.
So what? Don’t rule out independent consulting as an option for you if primary research is not your jam.
Myth 4: The market is bad right now and consulting work has dried up.
Reality: People will hire independent consultants to answer business-critical questions.
- Big companies may be laying off full-time researchers now, but they’ll need contractors to fill ad hoc research gaps.
- Smaller companies that don’t have enough budget or need to build an internal research function yet are more likely to hire independent consultants to fill research gaps.
- Agency hiring is a better signal of market conditions than company hiring is.
— Product innovation agencies are still hiring now.
— Research agencies are still subcontracting now, for example in the e-commerce sector. - Multiple people announced they’re available for independent consulting on LinkedIn after getting laid off over the past year and are now working through a backlog of clients who’ve reached out.
So what? Don’t rule out independent consulting as an option for you without assessing the market yourself.
This article is Part 3 of 4 in the “UXR Pathways” series: