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    Plan for success: How to establish yourself as an independent consultant

    The project-based nature of development work and the frequent need for specific, short-term technical expertise make this sector ripe for a thriving consultant base. If you’re considering leaving a steady paycheck for the life of a consultant, here are four tips both recruiters and seasoned consultants advise.

    By Kate Warren // 27 January 2015

    The project-based nature of development work and the frequent need for specific, short-term technical expertise make this sector ripe for a thriving consultant base.

    Independent consultants play a large role in assisting NGOs, consulting firms and donor agencies in their activities, and striking out on your own can be a practical, and even lucrative, option if you’re seeking a flexible schedule or technical concentration.

    Last week, together with membership group International Consultants Working for a Better World, Devex hosted a panel discussion on independent consulting to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities in branching out on your own.

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    Read more career tips:

    ● How to be a CV showoff without overwhelming a recruiter
    ● Global development consulting: How to gain the right experience
    ● How to succeed as a development consultant

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    About the author

    • Kate Warren

      Kate Warren@KateDWarren

      Kate Warren is the Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Devex, where she leads a global team of journalists, event producers, and communications and marketing professionals to drive conversations around the most pressing and urgent issues of our time, including climate, global health, food security, philanthropy, humanitarian crises, and foreign aid funding. Through live journalism — via in-person and virtual events — along with insider news, analysis, podcasts, content series, and special reports, Kate and her team ensure the most important ideas, voices, and debates reach an influencer audience to drive impact and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

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