The Rational Guide to IT Consulting (Rational Guides)

By Joe Webb

Written for anyone--software developers, IT architects, project managers--wanting to start a consulting business, this guide includes reasons for becoming a consultant, how to start a business, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972688854
• ISBN13: 9780972688857
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Rational Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Good, quick read

I started up an IT Consulting business and I looked and gathered lots of info. This book was one of the pieces of the puzzle. It answered some questions I had and provided some guidance. You have to remember that no book will provide all the answers needed, but many books will provide you with most of your information needed... this is one of those books.

Very useful information

I went independent at the beginning of 2005 and I found this book most valuable in my search for quick and clear information. Once you buy it, you can register the book and get access to template contracts too (which makes this book really pay for itself 10-fold).

Rational and Practical!

At just 128 pages this book is short and sweet. However, don't be fooled by the brevity. The author provides shares real-world experiences and lessons learned over a lengthy career as a consultant. There is no fluff or philosophical preaching here. The author provides information he wishes he had known when he started his consulting practice. These kinds of tips are invaluable, and this book overflows with them. Concise, well written, well done!

Concise yet informative

I enjoyed the book. I've been considering entering the IT consulting field for a couple of years and have been doing some research. This book was the first I've seen that boiled down the steps to take to get there. The book was succinct and easy to digest, yet sufficiently detailed. I especially liked the information in there about starting out by doing contract work for headhunters. Mr. Webb was the first author to suggest that, that I've seen.

Wow, what a great book

Joe Webb's guide to being a consultant in the Information Technologies field is informative and, unlike many books on the subject, gives comprehensive strategies with real world examples. I would further recommend this book for any person in the IT field not yet comfortable taking the step into consulting, but wanting to move up in IT management and / or interested in increasing his or her compensation. Joe's candid explanation and suggestions on separation of work from self, along with directed instructions on how to deal with clients would be very beneficial to the aspiring IT professional. It is far too often the case that talented and ambitious IT folks limit their own growth and potential by not mastering these two skills even though technically they improve year to year.