Of course, it should also be noted that a whopping 24 percent declared that consulting would not at all be considered an attractive career option. (We will try not to hold that against them!) You can't blame them as they probably recognize the amount of work and time it often takes to become a good consultant. Interestingly enough, it was the perceived notion of working fewer hours that was listed by nearly half of the respondents as the biggest advantage of consulting. Another 38 percent saw the opportunity for supplemental income as a top draw for a post-retirement consulting career. "Consulting enables experienced professionals to maintain many of the benefits of work, including challenging assignments, competitive compensation and intellectual stimulation, while still allowing time to pursue personal interests,” said Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources in a press release.
And I think it's fair to say that is accurate. Certainly, income opportunities and flexibility (not necessarily fewer working hours) are both real benefits for consultants. Especially post retirement, or during a transitional career phase, you have a greater ability to pick and choose the projects you want and the number of projects you want to accept. However, I stand firm that the number of hours worked is always greater than anticipated. Even so, it's nice to see that executives continue to recognize both the appeal of consulting as a career and the value that consultants bring to an organization.