Each month I get emails from members with ideas, suggestions, questions, etc., on how to better leverage IMC benefits and our members’ experience (e.g., Gayle Carson / David Goldsmith, which led to the biweekly Consultapalooza interview series – and yes, I answer all member emails personally!). Recently, I received one to which I wanted to respond publicly.

The question: "What happened to ‘Flash Opportunities’?”

For those who don’t remember, every Friday, IMC members received an email ("Flash Opportunities”) with consulting opportunities we had received during the week (we generally received 3-5 requests by phone or email every month). These were sent to all members and members did get consulting engagements through this route. However, this particular member hadn’t seen any for about a year and a half, and thought we had done away with that member benefit.

Nay nay, my friend!!! Flash Opportunities are alive and well – they just "grew up,” i.e., got automated, so you can get them quicker and specify the types of opportunities you want to receive. Here’s how the new process works.

A client contacts IMC, either through the website or calling / emailing the office. We capture the details about the engagement and the expertise for which they are looking, i.e., CMC, technical and industry expertise, etc. The information is posted in the Consulting Opportunities section of the IMC site, then automatically sent to those consultants who are registered to receive the type of opportunity. We still hear from members about getting consulting engagements with clients that posted their needs with IMC.

This whole process is automated but you must opt in to receive these notices.

Here is how you subscribe:

1. Go to your personal profile, and look on the right side of page in the menus. Click on "Manage Profile”
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list under "Networking and Careers” and click on "Career Postings”
3. Under "My Posted Opportunities,” click on "Subscribe.” That will pull up the menu of all the different types of opportunities to which you can subscribe
4. Check the boxes for those disciplines or industries for which you want to receive notices of opportunities, and then click "Save My Preferences”

However, even subscribers may not always receive opportunities, for several reasons:

First, emails are sent from office@imcusa.org and, unless you have white listed "office@imcusa.org,” they may be flagged in spam filters or junk mail folders (or you may delete these without reading them). The moral of the story – read at least the first couple of lines from your emails before you delete them!

Second, you may not be subscribed for all the categories in which you are qualified. Double check the category settings you have for opportunities – you may be too restrictive. Also, be sure to check these from time to time, whenever you update your IMC bio. Your expertise changes as does the market, and what worked a year ago isn’t what you can do or what is needed by clients now.

By the way, IMC also has an agreement with North Highland Consulting for them to preferentially use our CMC members. They will identify needs for consultants and post them in the Consulting Opportunities section of our website. If you are subscribed as described above, then you will be notified of these opportunities.

While you are at the website, be sure to subscribe to the Chair Blog (left menu under "Blogs.” This is how I send out information on new benefits for members and news you can use. Other IMC blogs include Daily Tips for Consultants, Website Features and Consulting Humor (feel free to contribute to this last one).

If there are other things that you want to know about via the Blog, let me know via email (drumm@imcusa.org) or call me (760-723-0022).

Yours in consulting,

Drumm McNaughton, Ph.D., CMC

Chair and CEO