In 2022, I quit my permanent job without having a larger consulting assignment lined up. About two weeks after my notice period ended, I started an assignment at a large Norwegian company.

It may sound like a quick transition. But the journey had begun several years earlier, with an app of my own, small freelance assignments, and people I got to know along the way.

I wanted to create my own workplace

My father and several other members of my family were self-employed. I had therefore wanted to run a company of my own for a long time. When I started studying, my ambition was to create my own workplace.

My first job was as an intern at a startup. I liked the energy among the people who were building something themselves, and it made me want to try it even more.

During my studies, I sought out communities such as Startup Campus and StartupLab in Oslo. I contacted founders, got to know people, and shared what I was working on on LinkedIn. I eventually became a permanently employed developer, but continued working on my own projects on the side.

The app gave me more than income

While studying, I began developing an app where students could buy, sell, and exchange used textbooks. The university organised meetups where students did exactly that. I saw an opportunity to do the same digitally.

I had big ambitions and hoped I could make money from the app. I set up a limited company, hired an accountant, and began learning what running a company involved.

The income did not turn out as I had hoped. The costs of the accountant and other operating expenses continued nonetheless.

But working on the app gave me a great deal of experience. I got to practise both design and coding, and ended up with a product I had built myself. That would prove useful when I began looking for assignments.

I found my first small assignment on Facebook

As far as I remember, I found my very first freelance assignment through a Facebook group.

The client had a mobile app that was already under development and wanted help with the design and technical solution. I took over the codebase, created a new interface in Figma, and implemented it.

I think my own app was an important reason why the client chose me. I showed it to him, and he liked how it looked. This gave me something concrete to show when we talked about what I could deliver.

Eventually, I got in touch with consulting brokers and was invited to Slack groups. Through these contacts, I got another two or three small assignments, mainly for Norwegian startups.

This was work I did for a few hours a week alongside my permanent job. I got to try working as a freelancer and learned that someone was actually willing to pay for my skills.

A colleague made the opportunity more concrete

At the company where I worked, I got to know a colleague who was an independent consultant. Through him, I gained insight into the hourly rates and the freedom he had to choose assignments.

I knew few other people who worked this way. It therefore meant a lot to have someone I could ask questions and discuss things with. He helped me understand how I could get started and has since become a good friend.

When I decided to go for it, I had around five years of experience as a developer, my own projects, and several small freelance assignments behind me. The company and accountant were also already in place.

What I lacked was a larger assignment I could make a living from.

I quit before the assignment was in place

I had a three-month notice period. From my conversations with clients and consulting brokers, I got the impression that many wanted someone who could start quickly. Three months into the future did not fit well with the needs I encountered.

I therefore chose to quit without having a larger assignment lined up.

An important part of the decision was that I had built up some savings. I estimated that I could manage for around six or seven months without work. That gave me room to look without everything having to work out immediately.

I contacted people on LinkedIn, reached out to my network, and spoke with recruiters and companies. I went to several interviews, but some of the processes did not lead anywhere.

Even with savings, it was stressful. There were many conversations, and it was difficult to know which ones would actually turn into an assignment. At the same time, I had a small freelance assignment during the transition. It confirmed that someone needed what I could offer.

A one-hour conversation and an offer the next day

My first larger assignment came through an established consulting broker with agreements at large companies. I developed a good dialogue with a recruiter, who put me in touch with a large Norwegian company.

The interview process surprised me. I met technical people at the client for a conversation in which we got to know each other and discussed our field. After about an hour, we were done.

In my experience, the process leading up to a consulting assignment is often shorter than for permanent employment. The conversations tend to be about the skills the client needs and whether we can work well together.

I think part of the explanation is that the client sees a limited consulting assignment as less of a commitment than permanent employment. At the same time, it involves more uncertainty for the consultant. You have to deliver well and build trust along the way, but even a good collaboration can end when the client's needs change. The terms for ending the assignment are set out in the contract.

The day after the conversation, I received a call and was told that they wanted me to start as early as Monday.

By then, my notice period had ended. About two weeks passed from when I left my permanent job until I started the larger assignment, with a small freelance assignment in between.

It was a great relief to have it in place.

Timing helped too

This was in 2022. I found that many companies needed developers and wanted to get their projects moving.

My experience, the app, and the small assignments had given me a good starting point. At the same time, I was lucky with the timing. Both are part of the story.

The fact that it happened quickly for me does not mean I would have made a plan that depended on securing an assignment within two weeks. I had spent time searching before my permanent job ended and did not know when something would fall into place. That was precisely why the savings were important.

You can start with small steps

Looking back, I am glad that I had tried small assignments, built my skills, and saved money before taking the step. It also meant a lot to have someone who could answer my questions.

If you are considering becoming self-employed, my advice is to begin with a few small steps. Show something you have made, talk to someone who already works independently, and find out what assignments are available for your skills. This can give you a better basis for deciding whether and when to take the step.

I try to pass on the help I received. When someone asks how they can get started, I share my experiences, offer practical advice, and put them in touch with consulting brokers I know.

Are you considering becoming an independent developer and looking for someone to talk things through with? Feel free to contact me at Consulted.