The HR Specialist

In addition to providing plain-English HR advice that tells readers what they can do, not just what they can’t do, The HR Specialist shows HR professionals how to raise the profile of the HR function from the back office to the boardroom. Readers will find personal success by developing innovative solutions to general management problems.  Learn more about The HR Specialist and the two free reports you'll get when you subscribe...

Although it may seem counterintuitive, there are many good reasons to launch a one-person HR consultancy as the economy sputters.

Despite the layoffs and budget cuts, downsized organizations are still hiring HR consultants and contractors to perform a range of basic services. The use of consultants is likely to grow as the economy picks up speed and businesses tiptoe back into growth mode.

For now, however, organizations want to keep costs down. That bodes well for talented solo consultants who can offer services at competitive prices, in part because they have lower overhead.

“Organizations are trying to keep head count down and they have a greater need for work on a project-by-project basis,” says Jennifer Schramm, manager of workplace trends and forecasting for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Still, expect challenges in hanging out your HR shingle. Organizations may already have relationships with experienced consultants and could be unwilling to switch to an untested person. Employers have cut consulting budgets.

Needs vary by industry, organization

“Some (organizations) have technical issues in compensation or benefits that require analytical depth. Some have challenges in sourcing and retaining talent. Others are concerned about leadership succession,” says Dave Ulrich, co-founder of the Utah-based HR consulting firm RBL Group, and professor at the University of Michigan.

Basic consulting and outsourcing needs at midsize and large organizations include background checks, training, team-building activities, recruitment and professional development. Start-up consultants who get a foot in the door now on basic projects may be able to attract bigger projects as the economy recovers and budgets increase.

“Sometimes a recession is a license to clean house and evaluate what works and does not,” says Ulrich. “As many industries recover through the down cycle, HR issues will continue to be important.” And so will consultants.

Ulrich offers this advice to aspiring consultants: Don’t make the move because there may be a resurgent market for HR consulting. Do it only if you are passionate about the work.

He advises aspiring HR consultants to ask themselves these questions:

• Do I have something to offer a client that is unique and will help provide value from the (relationship)?
• What do I know that a smart client would not know?
• Why should a client hire me instead of someone (formerly) inside the company or someone else who has done consulting for years?

These answers should help you decide if flying solo is right for you.