If you are interested in product research and development (R&D), you might wonder whether to pursue a career as an in-house or a consultant product R&D specialist. Both options have their pros and cons, depending on your goals, preferences, and skills. In this article, we will explore some of the main factors that can help you decide which path is right for you.
As an in-house product R&D specialist, you are part of a team that develops products or services from ideation to launch. You need to have a deep understanding of the company's vision, values, and customers and be able to contribute to the strategic direction and innovation of the products. Working in-house offers several benefits, such as building long-term relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, more stability and security in income and career progression, and more influence and ownership over the products you work on. It also provides access to the company's resources, such as equipment, data, and feedback. However, there are some drawbacks to working in-house, such as less flexibility and autonomy in your work schedule and projects, increased bureaucracy and politics within the organization, more pressure and expectations from managers and clients, and more monotony in your work.
In-house R&D provides access to training, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration, not commonly available to consultants. As an in-house core team member in product design, you gain invaluable knowledge by overseeing the product's entire development cycle, including post-market technical support. This depth of experience establishes a strong foundation for long-term success, especially in early career stages.
One thing I'm curious to compare is how either stance is affected by a turbulent economy. To me, it seems that when businesses begin to trim their balance sheets, it's easier to justify contractors who can be scaled up or down as needed, vs. the in-house expert who is a fixed cost. Clearly, in-house feels more stable and dependable for the worker, which can be desirable. From the balance sheet end, when R&D budgets get reduced, how does that affect the in-house person vs. the regular/semi-regular contractor? When the in-house person is cut, they find a new job. When the contractor sees their hours reduced, they still have a B2B relationship and will pick up work when/if funding resumes.
An early career researcher would benefit from the mentoring available in an organisation and an opportunity to learn and add depth to a career.
As a consultant product R&D specialist, you are hired by different companies or organizations to provide advice, guidance, and solutions to their product development issues. You possess a broad and diverse knowledge of various industries, markets, and technologies, as well as the ability to adapt to different situations and challenges. Working as a consultant gives you more freedom and control over your work, such as choosing clients, projects, and rates. But it also comes with drawbacks such as potentially less stability and security in your income and career progression, less influence over the products you work on, and less access to the clients' resources.
The benefits of working as a consultant include more variety and excitement in your work, more flexibility in your work schedule and projects, more opportunities to learn new skills and expand your network, and more potential to earn higher income and rewards. On the other hand, you might have to deal with more uncertainty and risk in your work.
As a consultant you get to work with many interesting projects which I see as a Major advantage. After 3 years as a consultant you still get excited on every single new project start while working on always the same type of projects will not just damage your enthusiasm but also your capability to innovate. Financial stability is not an issue when working with 2-3 regulars.
The need to get adequate insurance to cover your services may prove too expensive, unless a baseline income can be guaranteed.
As product development and Regulatory consultant past 5 years , enjoyed working for pharma and Nutra companies to minimize the backlogs and helping companies to launch products with short turnaround time. I enjoyed working on challenging projects and learning new skills and keep track of current regulations .
Firstly, when you say "consultant" it makes a big difference whether you are thinking of freelance or independent consultant (in which case your personal network is absolutely crucial) or working as part of a Consultancy company. Working within a Consultancy allows you to personally specialise a bit more, and allows you to allow other people to do the "sales" and "lead-chasing", and invoicing / debt-chasing etc. Similarly as the Consultancy is itself a company you may get some training, and certainly peer-support and guidance.
When evaluating whether to work in-house or as a consultant for product R&D, there is no definitive answer. It depends on personal and professional goals, preferences, and skills. To get a clearer idea of what suits you best and what you need to improve or develop, ask yourself questions such as: What are your career aspirations and values? What are your work preferences and style? What are your skills and strengths? What are your trade-offs and risks? Seeking feedback and advice from other product R&D specialists who have worked in both settings can also provide valuable insight into their experiences.
Before deciding to work as an R&D consultant, you should ask yourself three key questions, namely: - Do you look good in a suit? Sorry, I meant "do you project a professional image" - Whom do you typically wine and dine with? Sorry, I meant "do you have a robust professional network" - How fast can you name-drop? Sorry, I meant "how effectively can you communicate your professional experience" If you perform well on these key metrics, and can call them "key metrics" without chuckling, you are ready for the consulting world; however, you should first consider management consulting: giving people excuses for horrible decisions is far easier than suggesting good ones, and the food is much better.
The choice between in-house R&D and consultant R&D is not one-size-fits-all. It depends on various factors, including the organization's size, industry, innovation goals, and available resources. In my opinion, companies adopt a hybrid approach, combining both in-house teams and external consultants to leverage the advantages of each.
I believe it is about the experience you gain, the processes you learn, and discovering what you really want. I′ve experience both situations. My career started working in-house, learning from colleagues, processes and organizational structures, and multidisciplinary teamwork. After my master′s, I decided to collaborate as a consultant R&D specialist. I learned a lot about the process of influencing decision making with top managers, gained broader experience, and leveraged the R&D process under different environments. Now I’m back to the in-house R&D, and love having the opportunity of experiencing both worlds. I believe is not only about choosing from one or the other, but more about understanding how our contribution makes a difference.
Having worked both in-house and within a Consultancy company (with around 100 scientists/engineers/software/electronics types) doing R&D these are the key observations: - in consultancy, the project scope is very carefully defined at the outset, and remarkably accurate cost-estimates produced. Everything is timesheeted and monitored. There is discipline at every level. You can draw upon the different experts you need at different stages of the project - in-house the scope is likely to be vague, and more prone to shifts and internal-politics as you proceed. You might get asked for time/cost estimates, but these are difficult because there's no real culture of monitoring things. It may be difficult to use people outside "your team".
Do you want a job or a career? Consultancy can be a series of sideways moves, while an in-house position can lead to promotions if delivering good results.
If you decide to switch from working in-house to as a consultant, or vice versa, you need to prepare yourself for the transition. Building your portfolio and reputation, updating your resume and profile, networking and marketing yourself, and learning and adapting are all important steps to make the change smoothly and successfully. Showcase your previous and current product R&D projects, highlight your skills and achievements, collect testimonials and referrals, tailor your resume to the role you are targeting, use keywords that match the job description, attend events, join communities, follow influencers in your field, keep yourself updated on trends in product R&D, learn new skills and tools that can enhance your performance and efficiency. Be open to feedback and criticism, and be willing to adjust your approach and style to different situations and clients. Ultimately, you have to choose what aligns with your goals, preferences, and skills. Remember that you can always change your mind and try something new if you are prepared and motivated.
Both experiences are equally rewarding. Being in-house grants access to resources, while being a consultant grants freedom. If you have the expertise and experience, perhaps a hybrid combination is a good approach, where you're employed on a retainer contract as a consultant for one company, while consulting for others ad hoc. In-between, you get personal time for other pursuits, such as performing independent R&D, publishing research papers, and writing books, which is what I do.