Lessons Learned for New Learning Consultants

Conference Archive

DevLearn 2011 Conference - November 4, 2011

Trina Rimmer

Sr. Manager of Marketing and Customer Engagement
Articulate

With a job market still in flux, many instructional designers have found themselves taking contract work to make ends meet. In some cases, contracting or consulting is seen as a welcome change from traditional employment. In others, it's a confusing, potentially overwhelming transition full of painful and costly lessons. This session will address your individual readiness for making such a transition and discuss tools, resources, and strategies to make it easier.

Participants in this session will get 12 lessons learned over the course of a year (in a month by month fashion) with helpful tips and resources. You’ll get answers to many fundamental questions frequently asked by new consultants such as, “How do I know when the time is right for me to go independent?” “How do I scope projects?” “How do I get new clients?” You’ll do a self-assessment to help you determine your professional readiness for going independent, and get access to a link library full of resources and strategies for new consultants.

In this session, you will learn:

How to assess your readiness for taking the leap from traditional employment to independent consulting
How to equip yourself for a successful transition to independence
How to determine appropriate rate and payment structures for your services
Strategies for coping with difficult clients
Ways to maintain a positive work/life balance

Audience: Intermediate level, currently employed, experienced instructional designers or developers exploring the possibility of taking the leap from traditional employment to independent consulting.

Handouts

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