2 of 7 Things I did when I was projectless

Projectless. It’s a real word now. As a consultant, you sometimes experience periods without projects or job offers. Sometimes it is seasonal (Companies usually don’t start up a new project during Christmas and Summer Holiday season), and sometimes it’s simply because no one is hiring. It happens. In 2015 I went through several months of no-projects-for-me, and since I was quite new to the consultant business, I had to learn how to tackle those periods – the hard way. It’s my hope that others in this situation can use these experiences, for inspiration, or at least for knowing that you are not alone.

Stage 2: Got better at testing. And waiting.

Even though I had no gigs, I didn’t have to hang around in an office and pretend to be busy. Instead I started improving some test related skills. I signed up for the BBST online class, joined different test networks on Twitter, Slack and Facebook, read a lot of test-related material.. and waited. And waited. And then I waited some more. It was a very special form of waiting. I didn’t want to take on any longer courses or personal projects, because I needed to make room in my future schedule for that project that was waiting just behind the riverbed. So I focussed on short, easily manageable things instead. And after waiting some more I started to get a nagging feeling in my stomach. I wanted to prove myself, I wanted to be an asset to my new company, but I felt like there was nothing I could do. I was new in testing, my network was limited and I had only started participating in the rich context-driven test group on Twitter. I needed something to do. consultant with no project

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7 of 7 Things I did when I was projectless

Stage 7. Started up side-projects. I’d learned that I need daily social contact, and a project of sorts. And since there wasn’t any for me, I had to make them myself. Thus I started up small, weird side-projects. Most of them only exist in my head to this date, but it felt good planning and making things. Most of them only exist in my head to this date, but it felt good planning and making things.

6 of 7 Things I did when I was projectless

Stage 6. Got to know myself. With at least some surplus of energy, but no upcoming project, I did a free Myers-Briggs test. And another. I took other free tests, and even if they are nowhere near a holy grail, it got me thinking about who I am and how I work.

5 of 7 Things I did when I was projectless

Stage 5. Got fit! I decided that I had to get that stress out of my body. And the best way to do that, is to exercise. I would also benefit from having a daily goal, something I had to do, now that I couldn’t go to work every day.

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