For those who are new at work
If you are new to the industry as a freelance consultant (hired person), there are often several things you may feel a little unfamiliar or uncomfortable with. It can be sometimes difficult to know what to do in certain situations, or to know what is customary in the industry. Here are two important points to consider.
To be a freelance consultant
Being a freelance consultant is not the same as being an employee. Your immediate supervisor will not be with you at your daily workplace. You probably won’t have, one and the same care unit to go to every morning. And while it may feel like you’re really one of the employees in the workplace, it’s important to recognise that your specific circumstances are different from theirs.
As a consultant you need to be self-driven, flexible and approachable. You are expected to roll up your sleeves and take care of customers’ projects when needed. Many times you are brought in to work where there is a high staffing need
You need to be a team player who enjoys working with people to build good relationships and trust. You also need to be a good listener to align with customer expectations.
You have a consultant manager who handles all negotiations with the client (the care provider)
As a new consultant, it is often valuable to be connected to a staffing company with experience and knowledge, in order to easily find and get different assignments. But in these contexts, it’s important to know that you’re not the one who deals with the customer in the first place.
All legal issues, price negotiations and renewal negotiations are handled directly by your consultant manager – the link between you and the healthcare provider. For example, if you try to negotiate remuneration directly with your client, you run the risk of evading the tendering agreement – which can hurt rather than help.
If you’re looking for a challenge at work, want to be in control of your working hours while developing and building your network, the consultancy may be just for you. Maybe this is the right path for you?
Here are some more advantages of working as a consultant in healthcare
- It’s varied work and assignments of your choice.
- Changing jobs is one of the best tips for increasing your salary. If you are a successful consultant, you also have an even greater opportunity to influence your salary and career.
- By working with a variety of healthcare providers and colleagues, you’ll quickly build a wider networkof contacts in your field.