Consulting in Corporate America Part II: From Internal Consultant to Employee

For those of us who have found ourselves transitioning from in-house consultants to full-time employees; the transition process is often bittersweet. On one-hand there maybe excitement about the new opportunity and security that a full-time position can bring. However, there is also the process of becoming accustomed to colleagues and work environment. I have compiled a short list of items that are important to remember during your transition.

Tips for Your Transition:

• Corporate Culture: It is important that you assess the culture of the organization that you will serve prior to coming on-board as an employee. Serving as a consultant provides insight into the inner workings of the organization. This assessment will help you determine which characteristics drive projects in that organization. For instance, is this an organization where the culture seems to be very political, fast-paced, slow, authoritative, etc. Accurately making this assessment while help you to understand how quickly or slowly decisions will be executed.
•  Collaborating with Colleagues: As a new employee, you now have the benefit of having colleagues that have the business acumen to help move initiatives forward. While these keen business skills can be a huge asset. It is important to remember that everyone doesn’t come from the world of consulting so the processes by which colleagues execute deliverables may vary. It is very important to focus on building relationships with your colleagues and to learn each team member’s core strengths. These relationships will prove valuable during execution, and understanding your colleagues’ strengths will ensure that everyone is working on deliverables that meet their skill set.

It is important to have a good grasp of the people, processes and organization goals in order to serve the company successfully. Remember, your job is to complete all expectations with quality and efficiency. The organization is ultimately concerned about how they can benefit from your talent and expertise.

Acknowledged as a “visionary leader”, Vicki Hamilton develops new IT strategies to address old workplace problems. An award winning technology executive with over 20 years of senior level experience, Vicki’s strategies drive high value results ($20M+.) Her latest initiative, The Wright Answer, is a global online match making mentoring program for women from college through retirement. Connect with Vicki and join the experience online at thewrightanswer.net.