Customer Reviews

The Scientist As Consultant

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I bought this book in 1998, the year that I decided to leave corporate America and start consulting as an Optical Engineer/Scientist. I took the leap and never looked back. In my field, this seems to be the decade of the Consultant. This book is not difficult to understand, is an easy read, and gets right to the heart of how much work it is to be self-employed. Scientists and Engineers that want to be consultants for a living get caught up in how smart they are and believe that everyone would come "beating down their door" as soon as they put up the "Services for Hire" sign. This book helps you evaluate what is necessary to make that step into consulting, how you find clients, how you maintain your contracts, how you determine how much you are worth in terms of salary, how to evaluate how your business is working, and exit strategies in case you figure out that it is not a career choice that is working for you. The authors' points relate to the gamut of different Scientific fields.

Now that this book celebrates its 10th anniversary, I would suggest the authors come out with a new edition that can address topics like using the internet, webpages, Google (and other search engines), to help find new clients (or to help them find you). There are many new options for consultants in terms of technology online that can help one hold conference calls and seminars without leaving your home office.

Even without a new edition, the points covered in this book are timeless. If you are even considering leaving academia or corporate America, let this book help you prioritize your options.

Was purchased as a gift for my daughter who fell in love with it. Delivery was prompt.