What can a "qualified
consultant" expect from The Consulting Exchange?
You can expect to be dealt
with professionally and candidly. Once you have joined, your professional
profile will go into our text searchable database. When a qualified
client requests an expert with your set of skills, you may hear from
us - if your record is up to date and you've formally registered.
A qualified consultant is
an indivdual consultant or small firm (less than 10 full time employees)
who is professionally engaged in independent consulting and has been
doing so for a minimum of 3 years.
Non-qualified consultants
and early stage consultants are not referred by The Consulting Exchange.
Consultants registerd may
have the opportunity to "go to bat" and may win one or perhaps
several projects through our efforts. Since 1982 we have placed many
millions of dollars worth of work with qualified consultants.
Although we can't guarantee
a client who'll be in need of your services (that's the nature of the
marketplace), we CAN guarantee that you'll hear from us when we have
a project that fits. We also guarantee that you will receive a great
deal of information about the potential client prior to speaking with
the potential client. This "intelligence" will significant
increase your chance of winning the project - and winning a project
that works well for both the consultant and the client.
Next, an experienced broker
can help you with your approach and proposal. If needed, we'll offer
coaching and feedback. After all, we're in it for the long term, which
is why we work best with those professionals who have a long-term view
and realize that a shot at a few good projects, along with our value-added
service, is well worth the commission and small registration fee.
What do you mean by "joining"?
By proceeding by filling
out the Consultant Form, you will
be asked to answer some questions and to send us your resume. Joining
is the first step in formally registering with the CX.
Upon receipt of your information,
we will send out an email registration packet containing our standard
contract and along with details about our commission schedule and procedures.
You will become formally registered once we have your signed contract,
your marketing material, professional references and a $ 150 registration
payment.
Formally registered consultants
receive priority when referrals are made.
What kinds of requests
do you see?
We receive numerous requests
for high-level technical and operations consultants, as well as those
who specialize in marketing, general management, human resources and
international trade. Generally these projects range from $10 - $50 thousand.
Our client roster comprises a diverse list of organizations, ranging
from very small to very large, with sales that typically run anywhere
from $5 - $100 million. The vast majority is East Coast (US) based.
Do you consider yourselves
to be headhunters?
No, if you are seeking a
full time job, we are not for you.
The CX is an innovative service
that is unlike anything else in the marketplace. We work exclusively
with professional independent consultants who operate on a project-by-project
basis. If offered full-time positions, 99 percent would turn them down.
They prefer their careers as successful, independent businessmen and
women.
The Consulting Exchange serves
an agent for the client. In essence we're a buyer's broker, whose clients
are the purchasers of consulting services.
Although some of our clients might refer to us as consultants, our professional
ethics exclude us from accepting any consulting projects through the
CX. Our job is to facilitate, direct, refer and to step out of the picture.
We do one thing well - match
clients with consultants.
Do I sign up with you
if I need work immediately?
Sorry. That's not how we
operate.
If you need work, we can
advise you on how to go about getting it on your own. As a rule our
registered consultants already have 10 or 20 ongoing clients. Ideally
we'll bring them a new one each year or so. Because the cost of business
development is minimal, the additional project is extremely worthwhile.
If you need immediate work,
we'll help as best as we can, yet it is policy that we work only from
the request of the client company who is seeking a consultant.
What if one of my clients
is on your client list?
We consider that to be your
private business. If one of our clients is a client of yours, you own
that relationship. If we introduce you to a project that you knew about
already, that means we are doing our job and have hit the nail on the
head. It also means that if you win the job, the arrangement is strictly
between you and the client. However, if CX were to introduce you to
a project that you had no knowledge about, then we would receive a commission.
What if I refer business
to you?
We have various ways to express
our gratitude for referrals. Tell us how you would like to be compensated
and we will do our best to accommodate you.
How does the business
relationship work?
Consultants pay a commission
to the CX for work they win through our referral service. Structures
and rates of fees, simple and minimal are detailed in the registration
package, which will be sent to you after you submit our Consultant
Form. Other than the small registration fee, no payments are required
until the client pays you. Commissions are paid only on billable time
for the duration of the relationship.