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Choosing a Consultant / Trainer
It is important to make a careful selection when hiring your consultant
or trainer. Ensuring that you find someone who has both the skill
set and the working style that fit your requirements will be important
to your project's success. While the selection process is an individual
matter for each organization, we offer the following checklist as
a general guide to choosing a consultant. Keep in mind that the
purpose of engaging a consultant is to help your organization access
expertise, obtain resources, and to work with you in arriving
at solutions. It is a collaborative relationship that requires compatibility
on both a professional and a personal level.
Have you…
1. Defined as clearly as possible the organization's needs and
the project purpose? (Bear in mind that assessment can be tricky.
As organizations work with consultants, they sometimes discover
that other undiagnosed issues become priorities for action.)
2. Identified your selection criteria (i.e. the skills, experience
and background required for the work)?
3. Defined the role you wish the consultant to play (i.e. facilitator,
resource person, teacher, communicator, adviser, "expert",
etc.)?
4. Identified the style and orientation that you prefer (i.e. task-oriented,
process oriented, formal, informal, participatory, etc.)?
5. Asked other community organizations for names of consultants
they may have used for a similar purpose?
6. Invited 2 - 3 consultants to submit a proposal by a specific
date?
7. Reviewed each proposal against your selection criteria?
8. Interviewed the preferred candidates?
9. Considered the "fit" with your organization - the
people and the culture?
10. Requested copies of other reports or documents the consultant
has worked on in the past?
11. Done reference checks on interviewed candidates?
12. Once a decision has been made, has a written agreement been
drawn up with the consultant (summarizing the work to be done, goals,
expectations, process, desired outcomes, timeline and payment details)?
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