Part 1: The Basics
Since the pandemic, I’ve noticed an upswing in the number of young people exploring User Experience (UX) - a field I and many of my colleagues at Ingage are passionate about. I’m always glad to share my own journey, but it’s worth pointing out that the learning path into UX is now well paved: books, courses, communities, and tutorials abound. It has never been easier for an aspiring practitioner to find their way in.
What isn’t talked about as often is what it’s like to practice UX as a consultant within the IT sector. That’s a different story - and a crucial one. There’s a significant difference between being a full-time employee (FTE) at a company and serving as a consultant for a fixed term.
As it happens, I’ve spent nearly my entire career as a consultant - something my younger self would’ve found hard to believe. Over time, I’ve distilled a few observations that might help others considering this path. This blog is part one of a two-part series, where I’ll share the day-to-day realities of consulting, along with the skills, challenges, and opportunities that come with the territory.
(Note: I won’t be covering UX craft itself - I’ll assume you’re already skilled in your IT specialty. Instead, I’ll focus on the extra layers of consulting: the expectations, the dynamics, and yes, some pros and cons.)
More Bosses, Please!
In Office Space, Peter Gibbons famously had eight bosses - and ultimately couldn’t cope. While you probably won’t rack up that many, consulting does mean you’ll have more than one.
Here’s why: you answer to your consulting firm, who wants you to represent their brand and strengthen the client relationship, and you also answer to your client, who expects you to “hit the ground running” and deliver results right away. That effectively doubles your professional obligations. Think of it like Severance - but instead of just one “innie,” you’ve got two (with hopefully fewer goats involved).
The upshot: you’ll be evaluated twice - by two organizations, on different criteria. That can be stressful at first, but in the best situations, both companies want you to succeed. You’ll usually have support on both sides, mentors to lean on, and colleagues to help you adapt. But to thrive, you need to be comfortable working with new people, adjusting your communication style, and integrating into unfamiliar environments quickly.
Pros
- Greater challenges bring greater rewards
- Faster professional growth
Cons
- More professional obligations
- Greater potential for stress
A More Dynamic Job Mix
Early in my career, I discovered that I get restless once work becomes routine. I thrive on variety, new challenges, and fresh learning opportunities. Consulting turned out to be the perfect antidote to boredom. Most of my contracts have run six months to a year.
Some clients have renewed me several times, but even in those longer engagements, I often rotated between projects or products. This variety kept things fresh and helped me broaden my skillset across different teams and domains. On two occasions, I had the chance to work on what I can only describe as “idea labs”- internal strike teams that other groups within the company could tap for brainstorming, testing, or early prototyping.
For someone like me, who craves novelty, that was pure joy. But if you thrive on routine and long-term goals, a traditional FTE role may suit you better.
Pros
- More variety, less stagnation
- Broader exposure to tools, teams, and processes
Cons
- Less stability and predictability
- Harder to establish long-term routines
I’d be lying if I said my career didn’t include its share of ups and downs. But overall, life as a consultant has treated me incredibly well. I’ve built a broad, versatile skill set that I likely wouldn’t have gained staying at a single company. I’ve contributed to a wide variety of impactful projects. And perhaps most rewarding, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with a wonderfully diverse group of talented, passionate people.
For me, the trade-offs have been worth it. For you, the question is simple: do you thrive on variety, adaptability, and new connections? If so, consulting might just be the perfect fit.
Coming up in Part 2: getting social, and the benefits of being flexible.
