💭 Thinking Ahead: Fixed-Term Roles and Exploring Consulting

[RhiB]

Many of you will know that my current role is likely to come to an end later this year, as our organisation will be disestablished. I plan to go down with the ship, as I would like to see my mahi through, and I do have a redundancy package.

Like many others, I’m navigating a tough job market, and as I look toward 2026, I expect I’ll be seeking fixed-term contracts while the economy finds its footing.

That said, I’ve also been thinking seriously about consulting as a long-term pathway, perhaps a two- to five-year plan. I’m drawn to the flexibility and impact of consultancy work, especially with the kind of system-level work I love. But I’ll be honest: I’m risk-averse by nature, and the idea of going fully independent during a recession doesn’t quite sit right with me just yet.

So I’m in that early, exploratory phase. I’ve started mapping out what this could look like, including services, networks, income stability, and how to grow something sustainable.

If you’ve made the move to consulting, especially from the public or not-for-profit sectors, I’d love to hear your experiences. What helped you get started? What do you wish you had thought about sooner? Any advice for someone setting the groundwork now for a longer-term transition?

Ngā mihi nui in advance.

I appreciate any kōrero or insights you’re willing to share.

P.S. Another thing I’ve always fancied the idea of is getting into lecturing or tutoring. I really enjoy working with people and sharing knowledge. It’s something I’ve had in the back of my mind to explore once I felt more established in my career, and this might be the right time to revisit that idea. I would welcome any thoughts or experiences on this, too.

[vaughan.luckman]

Exciting times ahead!!

I always think of there being five options as a BA:

• Perm role. Sit inside a business and do the mahi!! Really rewarding as you get to go deep, and build long term solutions (and strong relationships)!
• Fixed term role Sit inside a business with a focus on a time bound outcome. A bit of a harder one as you get uncertainty without the ‘danger money’ that contracting brings.
• Contract role A gun for hire! Project specific, where you have to hit the ground running! Great for those who love variety and can adapt quickly.
• Perm consulting role Working for a consulting company with the benefit that you get to do fun work without having to wear the sales hat!
• Independent consulting role The hardest one as you have a lot of moving parts, has a lot of sales and admin - but is hugely rewarding!

I think that there are four key things when choosing which of these will work for you:

• How good is your network? Ultimately contracting and consulting works best when you know a lot of people who want to work with you again! These are roles / opportunities that won’t generally make a job board - and are filled via people the hiring managers know and trust!
• How risk averse are you? The concept of uncertainty in a role is something that suits some people - and is other’s worst nightmare. If you are going to live your days in a constant state of stressing over your next role then I’d suggest sticking to perm work!!
• Can you multi task? Consulting suits those BAs who can context switch constantly, and can pick up new domains super quick!
• Do you like selling? If the idea of constantly having ‘job interviews’ sounds fun, then consulting could be for you! This often involves lots of small strategic projects, across multiple clients - so you need to be constantly brining in new work to replace the old!

I worked with someone at Redvespa who was an amazing BA, and nailed their assignments - but they left to return to a perm role (inside an organisation) as they missed being a part of the core team!

So lots of different drivers here. But I always say that you should back yourself - if you do great work, and you know a bunch of people who are your cheerleaders then all of these options are open to you! Then it’s just a case of matching your personality against the options and ensuring that your choice will suit you …

Always happy to chat on this further .

[Hannah]

Oh this is such an excellent answer

[Michelle_Livingstone]

I completely echo Vaughan’s comments, especially around the value of being part of a core team. I’ve experienced a similar transition, though in the opposite direction. Working in consultancy gave me great exposure and experience, which I’ll forever be grateful for as it really kick-started my career. That said, having always thrived in team environments, whether professionally or through sports, it was a big shift. I often felt a bit like an “inbetweener,” not fully embedded in either the client or consultancy team. It’s worth taking the time to reflect on what truly drives your happiness and success in a role.

[Jasmin]

One thing I’d consider carefully is do you want to be a contractor, or a consultant? I’ve thought hard about that one, as it can easily get confused.

Do you want to define packages of work, and be funded to deliver those (upside / downside = yours) and do you think that is viable? Or, do you want to be clear about the role / deliverables and scope and time frame, and sell your time.
To me, the second (contracting) is simpler, especially in the analysis space. There is still a lot of room for ‘other duties as agreed’ (i.e. having fun) as long as it is delivering value and agreed with the client.
You know you and your clients though - so go with what floats your boat, and nothing to stop you being hybrid!
My other point? Wherever possible, run multiple contracts at once. Nothing underlines ‘I’m not your employee’ like being poly-contractual