Job title: Freelance or Independent

[mudskipper]

Going on for six years that's been there if the date is right.

Though I don't think MF has been struggling in yank land for that long. Feels more like 2 years. Wasn't he selling wicker crap out of chinese containers back then, with multiple 'shops' in the UK?

Someone's telling porkies. Maybe everyone.

He was an American cage fighter back then IIRC. With sledges.

[m0n1k3r]

Am dreaming up this week's job title, and wondering which one to go for. Which conveys more "gravitas". Which one I can spell correctly consistently.

I'll be providing consultancy services for networking technology, but across a number of vendor products. So I want to get across that I'm vendor agnostic/neutral/experienced across the lot.

Currently looking at pitching myself as either of these:

• Freelance Consultant
• Independent Consultant

From the point of view of customers, a freelancer is mostly somebody who works on smaller projects from home, often several at the same time for different customers. Examples are copywriting and graphical design.

A consultant is independent (from the customer) by design so no need to spell it out.

I would use just consultant, although many people (especially in the UK) associate that with developing options and presenting recommendations in a report, and possibly overseeing implementation. That's also what you seen on the business cards of people from most IT consultancies. Beware though - recruiters may think you are a recruiter yourself as they nowadays all tend to call themselves 'consultants', despite never providing any useful advice or reports.

Consider IT consultant, as that is associated with both recommending and more hands-on specialist work.

From the point of view of customers, a 'contractor' is never independent. It is just a short form name for contract worker / temp staff / contingent labour / leased labour / resource / employment business (staffing agency) staff etc. Avoid that, unless that is what you really, deep in your heart, want to be.

[m0n1k3r]

I like to use Engineer, just to wind up the precious lot who think Engineer is a reserved title like Doctor.

It is in certain countries. Don't use it, or Architect, unless you have the necessary qualifications.

[psychocandy]

but more importantly what do you tell your mates/family?