Ask HN: How to Consult Part-Time as a Community College Instructor
Hello. Back in the fall I made a career change from being an AI researcher working in industry to becoming a tenure-track computer science instructor at a community college. I am based in Silicon Valley; I did not relocate when I changed careers. I have a full teaching load during the fall and spring semesters where I teach introductory programming courses, discrete math, and data structures. However, I also have a one-month winter break and a 2.5-month summer break where I am not required to teach. I love my new career teaching computer science and I have no plans to return to industry.
I am curious about doing part-time consulting during my breaks as a way for me to keep my practical skills up-to-date and also as a way of making extra money. I am wondering how I could get started as a part-time consultant, and what the market for consultants is like, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aside from AI, I have also done research in storage systems, and I have some software development experience from non-research jobs.
What kind of “consulting” are you trying to do? Are you trying to do strategic consulting in a field where you are an SME or are you looking to do staff augmentation?
What would you bring to the table to convince someone to hire you as a consultant knowing they have to work around your schedule? Why would they bother?
I am in a similar position to yourself but more concerned about remaining current, than looking for paid work.
Working with a colleague/friend in my last job for ten years gave me the edge to stay ahead. I have not figured out how fill that gap.
Talk to people you know. Everyone you have ever worked under over or beside. Consulting is networking and sales.
Understand that working around your schedule is going to be a non-starter for many potential clients. It conveys a low commitment to their problems. Low commitment breeds low trust. Consulting is b2b and b2b is built on trust.
Finally, it is reasonable to assume that the market for your work is efficient and that the exiting base of good clients is more or less already served by the existing cadre of consultants. This means that hanging out a shingle will tend to attract clients who are more problematic than ideal. Good luck.