The global pandemic has caused great chaos and uncertainty and has caused many HR professionals to look into how to become a freelance HR consultant.
Here are 7 steps to follow if you are wondering how to become a freelance HR consultant.
- Identify your core strengths and preferences.
- Understand your ultimate motivators and drivers.
- Clearly identify your target market (don’t be too general).
- Have savings and/or find a way to access cash fast.
- Build an online presence and network right now.
- Plan your marketing strategy (don’t just rely on referrals).
- Start executing the plan.
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You’ll also find links to several resources that will help get you started on your journey to becoming a freelance Human Resources consultant.
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7 Steps To Help You Become A Freelance HR Consultant
Here are the steps to consider when starting up as a new independent freelance consultant in the Human Resources industry.
Here are the seven steps to follow when starting your own HR business or when considering how to become a Human Resources consultant:
- Identify your core strengths and preferences. You may have covered various industries and all aspects of HR but what are you best at and what kind of work energises you?
- Understand your ultimate motivators and drivers. Why do you want to become a freelance consultant in the HR industry? Money, a big office, flexibility, no commute, something else? You need to examine your preferred style of business.
- Clearly identify your target market (don’t be too general). The single biggest mistake that new freelance HR consultants make is trying to be all things to all people. You cannot be perceived as an expert if you try to be a jack of all trades.
- Have savings and/or find a way to access cash fast. As an employee, you get paid every month at the same time like clockwork. That doesn’t happen as a new independent HR consultant. You need to find a way to generate fast short-term revenue as you get the ball rolling. This may include a part-time job, HR gigs on freelancing websites such as Upwork, or small jobs for small businesses that will pay upfront or at least faster than large enterprises.
- Build an online presence right now. Regardless of whether you are a new full-time HR freelancer or still in part-time employment, you need to raise your profile now. Don’t wait. Remember the old adage: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago – the next best time is now.
- Plan your marketing strategy (don’t just rely on referrals). Most new freelance HR consultants get work from referrals but (a) you need to put in the effort to get them and (b) referrals don’t last forever. Work out how you will find new clients and set up a system for your HR consulting business.
- Start executing the plan. Take immediate action. Save Netflix for some other time. You are about to launch on an epic journey of your own and you need to throw everything you’d got at it if you want to make a success of it.
Resources To Help You Become A new Freelance HR Consultant
Here are some resources that will help you in your exciting journey ahead!
- I recently wrote an article and downloadable guide for all these channels – check it out here: Best HR Marketing Plan For Human Resources Companies.
- Check out the stories from other HR professionals about how they started out as independent freelance Human Resources consultants. You’ll learn so much! You’ll find these interviews on the A Better HR Business podcast.
- Consider joining the HR Business Accelerator. You’ll love the support and ideas you’ll get.
Freelance Jobs In HR
You can register yourself on consulting project platforms for freelance jobs in HR via sites such as:
- Clarity FM
- Expert360 (Australia)
- Catalant
- PWC’s Talent Exchange
- Graphite
- One Circle HR
- TalMix
- People Per Hour
- TopTal
- And other such websites.
While you’re here, be sure to join my private HR marketing newsletter for consultants in the Human Resources industry.
If you work as a Human Resources consultant in recruitment, training & development, employee engagement, HR consulting, employment law, employee outplacement – my HR marketing update will help.
Good luck with your new business!
Feel free to get in touch and tell me about your plans.
All the best,