Consulting vs. Full-Time Work: How I Weighed the Pros and Cons

When I found myself at a career crossroads, I had a big choice to make: Pursue full-time work again or bet on myself and go all-in on consulting?

Spoiler: I chose the latter. But it wasn’t an easy decision.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I considered:

✨ Consulting Pros

• Flexibility to set my own schedule

• Control over the types of projects I take on

• Variety. Every client brings a new challenge

⚠️ Consulting Cons

• Income can fluctuate month to month

• Self-promotion doesn’t come naturally to me

• No built-in team or structure. I create that from scratch

🛠️ Full-Time Work Pros

• Financial stability and benefits

• Clear roles, routines, and expectations

• A built-in team and infrastructure to plug into

⛔ Full-Time Work Cons

• Less autonomy over how I work

• The risk of misalignment with an organization’s values or leadership

• Less space to flex across multiple skill sets

Both paths have their challenges and rewards and honestly, there are days I still wonder which is “better.” But for now, I’m grateful for the freedom to shape my work in a way that feels authentic and values-aligned.

💬 Which path appeals more to you. Consulting or full-time work? Have you made the leap in either direction?

#Consulting #FullTimeWork #CareerChoices #WorkLifeBalance #CareerTransition #NonprofitConsulting