How to go about applying for full-time job after being a consultant

[Anonymous]

I am considering applying for a full time job after being a government relations consultant for the past 6 years. I have had by most standards a very successful consulting career and I relish the freedom that consulting allows, especially with three kids!

DH recently lost his job because his company was highly impacted by government cutbacks and sequester. I lost three large clients last year because of the bad economy. One large company client filed for bankruptcy and one of my other clients acquired another client! I still have clients, but this economy is tough.

I saw an ad for a job that I should probably apply for but I really don't know how to write the cover letter.

What do I say as my reason that I am looking for full time employment?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

A cover letter is to get an interview. You don't need to explain that at this point, you need to explain why you are awesome without being cheesy.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, but if I were on the other end, I would really want to know why this fabulous consultant wants to give up the consulting perks.

But let's go with your idea, that the cover letter is to get me in the door. You're correct, but I will need a reason why I'm looking. What to say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering applying for a full time job after being a government relations consultant for the past 6 years. I have had by most standards a very successful consulting career and I relish the freedom that consulting allows, especially with three kids!

DH recently lost his job because his company was highly impacted by government cutbacks and sequester. I lost three large clients last year because of the bad economy. One large company client filed for bankruptcy and one of my other clients acquired another client! I still have clients, but this economy is tough.

I saw an ad for a job that I should probably apply for but I really don't know how to write the cover letter.

What do I say as my reason that I am looking for full time employment?

TIA!

What bad economy? The economy has been in a pretty sustained upswing for the last two years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering applying for a full time job after being a government relations consultant for the past 6 years. I have had by most standards a very successful consulting career and I relish the freedom that consulting allows, especially with three kids!

DH recently lost his job because his company was highly impacted by government cutbacks and sequester. I lost three large clients last year because of the bad economy. One large company client filed for bankruptcy and one of my other clients acquired another client! I still have clients, but this economy is tough.

I saw an ad for a job that I should probably apply for but I really don't know how to write the cover letter.

What do I say as my reason that I am looking for full time employment?

TIA!

What bad economy? The economy has been in a pretty sustained upswing for the last two years.

Did you happen to see yesterday's job numbers? No, the economy is not in an upswing. Wall Street is having an upswing, not the overall economy. The American economy is somewhat stable today, but teetering. Most of my clients were in the housing and financial sector. I can assure you, there has been major fall out in that sector of the economy. DH is in the defense industry. If you haven't noticed, there have been major cutbacks in that sector as well.

I really detest snarky responses such as pp's when I am trying to prevent my own family's financial catastrophe.

I would greatly helpful responses here.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

OP here again. To add to my point about how bad the economy is: I recently spoke to my CPA and told me that he and his firm have been swamped the past three months revising estimated earnings, financials and taxes. Why? He said that an incredible number of people in this area have been hit by the sequestration and the cutbacks. For what it's worth this is in the Chevy Chase, MD area.

[Anonymous]

I get what you are saying here, OP, but I guess the takeaway is that saying you are moving out of consulting due to the bad economy, when there's a perception that the economy has improved, doesn't make you sound like such a great consultant.

You could say something like "Due to changing circumstances I'm now looking for a fulltime position and look forward to focusing my professional skills on a single company...." blah blah blah. Does that seem like it would work? You could be getting divorced or something and need more stability, it could be that you enjoy sustained work for a single client better than fracturing your energies...any of these sound stronger to me than the economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, but if I were on the other end, I would really want to know why this fabulous consultant wants to give up the consulting perks.

But let's go with your idea, that the cover letter is to get me in the door. You're correct, but I will need a reason why I'm looking. What to say?

That is an interview question, not a cover letter question. You just need a sentence that makes it clear that you understand it is a full time position. People are busy- we don't have time for your personal issues (sorry). The bottom line is why should I interview you. What skills are you looking to bring to this organization on a full time basis? The rest you can practice for the interview.

[Anonymous]

As a hiring manager I wouldn't give a shit you were a consultant. I'd assume you are just looking for FT work with more security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. To add to my point about how bad the economy is: I recently spoke to my CPA and told me that he and his firm have been swamped the past three months revising estimated earnings, financials and taxes. Why? He said that an incredible number of people in this area have been hit by the sequestration and the cutbacks. For what it's worth this is in the Chevy Chase, MD area.

What exactly is your CPA revising? It is time to calculate actual numbers for 2012 and to calculate estimated tax payments based on the 3/31 financials. So it is time to prepare 2012 tax returns; 3/31 financials; to pay actual tax due for 2012 and make estimated tax payments for the 1st quarter - not to revise anything. It sounds like you heard something, but didn't understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. To add to my point about how bad the economy is: I recently spoke to my CPA and told me that he and his firm have been swamped the past three months revising estimated earnings, financials and taxes. Why? He said that an incredible number of people in this area have been hit by the sequestration and the cutbacks. For what it's worth this is in the Chevy Chase, MD area.

What exactly is your CPA revising? It is time to calculate actual numbers for 2012 and to calculate estimated tax payments based on the 3/31 financials. So it is time to prepare 2012 tax returns; 3/31 financials; to pay actual tax due for 2012 and make estimated tax payments for the 1st quarter - not to revise anything. It sounds like you heard something, but didn't understand it.

OP here. My CPA didn't need to revise anything for me. The way I understood him was that federal contracts started being cut prior to Jan. 1, 2013. The cutbacks increased through this spring and what I understood from his point was that he was revising estimated payments for quarterly taxes. I didn't stop to question him, he was just talking about how things were in general. He's been my CPA for 6 years and has never said a word about something like this. He may not have clearly stated something to a non-CPA (myself), but he's general message was that the economy has gotten worse, at least in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a hiring manager I wouldn't give a shit you were a consultant. I'd assume you are just looking for FT work with more security.

OP here. Thank you. This is very good to know. I don't want to provide any excuses or sob stories. I just want to go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a hiring manager I wouldn't give a shit you were a consultant. I'd assume you are just looking for FT work with more security.

I agree, I don't think it's a necessity that they'll ask this question. They may or may not, especially if they haven't really paid attention to lifestyle or compensation of consulting. It's common for consultants to look for perm jobs especially after kids, since they want to cut back on travel, instability, etc.

[Anonymous]

I got FT job after being an independent consultant for many years. I regret this now. As an employee I get less respect, now have bosses instead of clients, who assign any tasks they want regardless whether they make sense. Anything can be piled up on your lap as an employee and if someone quits they usually spread the job this person used to do to the rest of the staff instead of hiring someone, vs. with consultants, they are hired for a specific job and are rarely reassigned or asked to do things outside of their area. Also, there is no overtime pay if you are a salaried employee, so you must tread waters carefully and not over-commit to things you cannot accomplish within 40 hour week. As a consultant you are used to be paid for every hour and you may not be able to escape this train of thought that your time is worth a certain price. It has been a hard adjustment for me so far, not sure if this is just the office I am at or I am just wired differently after being my own boss for so many years.

The nice things is getting health insurance, sick days and vacations, and of course, more stability, which I didn't have before, and which is a plus when having kids. But overall I made much more as a consultant than I do as an FT employee, it was a pay cut for me. Most likely it will be for you as well, so do calculations of your real hourly rate considering paid benefits before you accept the offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got FT job after being an independent consultant for many years. I regret this now. As an employee I get less respect, now have bosses instead of clients, who assign any tasks they want regardless whether they make sense. Anything can be piled up on your lap as an employee and if someone quits they usually spread the job this person used to do to the rest of the staff instead of hiring someone, vs. with consultants, they are hired for a specific job and are rarely reassigned or asked to do things outside of their area. Also, there is no overtime pay if you are a salaried employee, so you must tread waters carefully and not over-commit to things you cannot accomplish within 40 hour week. As a consultant you are used to be paid for every hour and you may not be able to escape this train of thought that your time is worth a certain price. It has been a hard adjustment for me so far, not sure if this is just the office I am at or I am just wired differently after being my own boss for so many years.

Everything you said is so true! I made an opposite transition - from being an employee to the independent consultant role. I love it so much! There is zero stress - I forget about the job the minute I leave the office. I work on just 1 or 2 projects simultaneously, not a few dozens as I used to at the employee's role. I have no boss - so no worries about performance review or raises, no goals' setting and no performance reviews any more. No subordinates with their issues and drama. And yes, overtime is paid, and they don't even ask me to work much overtime because I'm expensive. So their employees work 60-hour weeks, and I work only 40 and make more money than they do (at my level).

Headhunters keep reaching out to me regarding full-time opportunities, but I don't know how I can even become an employee again.