Consultant vs. Contractor
Sunday, March 27 2005
I think Dave is dead on with his opinion on this topic. I don't think being independent has anything to do with being a "consultant" or a "contractor". Some of the smartest people I know and best "consultants" around are independent. Lots of people who work for big firms are really just "contractors" who bang out code.
The thing is though, isn't this all just divisive language in the first place? A way for some people to look down on other people? I think we would be better of forgetting these labels all together.
-James
Comments
- #1 Anon on 4.12.2005 at 12:23 PM
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When the original poster was talking about "consultants" she meant those who work for consulting firms who are assigned to clients usually as part of a team sold to that client (though sometimes body-shopped). There's a big difference between "consultants" from firms like Atos Origin, who are little more than managing agents, and consulting firms like Thoughtworks - who build their reputation on hiring a certain kind of individual and as a company promoting certain technologies / methodologies. As someone who has come from this kind of consulting firm and become an independent I totally agree with the original poster - though I've become respected enough that I can and have instigated changes and my opinion does matter.
- #2 An on 12.16.2007 at 2:32 PM
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There's a big difference between "consultants" from firms like Atos Origin, who are little more than managing agents, and consulting firms like Thoughtworks - who build their reputation on hiring a certain kind of individual and as a company promoting certain technologies / methodologies.