Hiring, Firing, and Surviving in the Soil Consulting Realm.

The world of consulting for soil scientists is a classic paradox where one needs to have experience to get hired, but one has to work to get the experience in the first place.  Getting hired by a consulting firm begins months, if not years, before one can expect a job offer.  Advancement within a consulting firm is often ill-defined, often linked to individual performance on specific projects, under the leadership of a demanding manager.  And avoiding layoffs and terminations during uncertain economic conditions makes employment at a soil consulting firm more risky than government opportunities.  A panel discussion, composed of National Society of Consulting Soil Scientist officers and board members, will describe the skill sets, field experience, communication skills, and work ethic that consulting firms are always looking for in prospective job candidates.  All panel members are business owners and most have more than 20 years running those businesses.  This session is intended to be interactive with attendees soliciting questions.