InformationWeek Career Counsel

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July 28, 1998

I received my doctorate in applied physics at 31 and spent two years in basic research. After deciding to jump to the PC field, I started as a software QA engineer. Five years and several jobs later, and having become certified in Oracle DBA and PowerBuilder, I am managing a group of three in a small data warehouse project. Eventually, I'd like to be a consultant exposed to a wide range of technologies and industries. Should I go with a Big Six firm? Or should I go with a smaller company working as a contractor? What are the drawbacks of working as an independent contractor?

Your choices depend on what you want to do long term. Going to a Big Six firm is an excellent route for the variety of engagement experience and the quality of the work. In addition, it serves as a great springboard because companies love to see Big Six exposure. However, it's not the most lucrative. As an independent contractor, you're really a hired specialist--floating from job to job, you constantly need to live from each engagement and rarely get exposed to much more than pieces of technical projects.

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