FAQs

Using a consultant can reduce your company’s overhead costs. It is easier to reduce staff when needed without paying out severance packages, insurance, etc. Also, by using consultants, you can find a niche group of publications specialists who will be more productive.

A consultant would be advisable in several instances.

• When a company experiences intermittent spikes in activity, such as where resources are needed to be added or let go quickly.
• When a company is looking for focused experience to satisfy a niche need.
• When a company needs to start a project without going through a long, difficult hiring process for each new resource.

Our markups are minimal. They are required to support: salary, FICA/Medicare, cost of doing business, worker’s compensation, liability insurance, account maintenance, etc.).  Hourly rates for providing on-site publications specialists are very reasonable, and do vary, depending upon such factors as length of the contract, skill set and experience of the consultant, and the compensation required by a particular consultant.

1)       We specialize in publications; therefore, we know what we are talking about.  The benefit to you is securing the right fit for your project requirements, and also knowing that you have a very competent specialist for getting the job done right and on time.

 2)      As we are full-service, we can offer overflow protection off-site (that is:  we can also supply the equipment, work space, and resources you need from our offices).

 3)       Our rates are reasonable.  We only charge you for our cost of doing business - and nothing more.  Our rates are, in many cases, below average industry levels.

Ideally, a good “rule of thumb” is to give JPG a 1-2 week notice prior to “offer” date, so as to allow time for search, screen, interviews, and background/reference checks.

Prior to JPG starting the search and screen process, please make sure that all approvals for requisition(s) and budget are signed-off internally.  Example:  If JPG is given the “green light” to start submitting resumes, and a week or two later the process is put on hold or canceled, then time and resources are wasted.  This can also be somewhat awkward for JPG when informing the candidates. 

When JPG is given the official “go ahead” to begin screening candidates and submitting resumes, please re-evaluate your project needs and schedules so as to avoid us starting the search or interviewing process prematurely.  Example:  If we screen and submit candidates too many weeks in advance of the start of project (or if a candidate is identified too many weeks in advance), then it is increasingly more difficult to retain candidates.  The odds of candidates either losing interest or being hired off the market by other opportunities increase as each week passes.

Please provide JPG a complete candidate profile.  The more complete the profile of the “ideal candidate”, the more accurate our search and screen process.

When resumes are submitted, JPG prefers timely feedback as to the interest level for each candidate.  This is always helpful to ensure retaining candidate interest and availability for interviews.

Our Off-Site Services Group specializes in providing publications consulting from our offices in Lake Elmo, Minnesota (suburban Saint Paul). Many of our consultants also are available to work from their home office.

Buy-outs are on a diminishing percentage scale, from 17% within 30 days, to zero fee after 6 months.  And by the way, all our contracts are “at-will agreements”, meaning there is no contractual obligation by the client as to the length of engagement of a contractor.  The client can terminate a contract employee at any time, for any reason.  All we ask is a minimum of 5-10 working days notice, if possible.

Ideally, to allow for ample time for the search and screen process, we prefer a 1-2 week notice. However, we are able to fill positions on short notice. If need is urgent, we are able to fill a request in as little as 24 hours.

Our off-site consulting group can provide services per: 1) project quotation basis, 2) hourly effort per task. Also, we can offer “safety net support” for any of your internal corporate project needs. This includes providing backup support for any of our own JPG on-site contractors who we have placed on-site at the client facility.

JPG contractors are covered by workers compensation, full commercial on-site liability, automobile liability, E&O, fidelity bond, and employee dishonesty.

Yes, JPG does background checks and drug testing.

Yes. JPG does frequent follow-ups with the client in the beginning of a new consultant’s engagement, followed by intermittent follow-ups to check in throughout the duration of the contract.

We also offer a “client feedback form” which allows the client to comment (or rate) the consultants’ performance against a list of provided categories.

We hire many types of publications professionals including: technical writers, technical illustrators, desktop publishers, web content developers, web interface developers, instructional designers, editors/proofreaders, and many more.

The majority of the positions JPG fills are contract temporary (either short-term or long-term). However, we do recruit for contract-to-hire. Also, we receive requisitions for direct full-time placement openings.

Consultants get their first check three weeks after their start date, and every two weeks thereafter.

We receive many different requests from clients. Some clients need a consultant 40 hrs/week on-site. However, we have projects where the consultant can work 50% on-site and 50% off-site, as well as, some projects allow the consultant to work 100% off-site. Each client and situation is unique.

Yes. JPG works with several consultants that just take on projects from us when they’re slow on work from their own clients.

JPG has served over 100 clients located in the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Iowa.

JPG has close ties to the technical publications community and is a member of the Society for Technical Communications (STC), National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), American Medical Writers Association, and the Women’s Business Entrepreneurial National Council (WBENC).

The length of an engagement depends on the needs of the client. Thus, lengths can vary considerably with an engagement.

Ideally, we try to give a minimum of two weeks notice prior to the ending date. The sooner we can notify the associate, the better. This allows the consultant ample time to make arrangements for future employment.

Yes. Many of our associates are working on multiple projects at once, either directly for another client, or through another staffing agency. JPG simply asks that you notify us if you are working on multiple projects.

Yes, as long as you are not being submitted by another contract firm for the same position.

No. Since JPG respects your choices of opportunity, we will not submit a candidate’s resume to a client without prior approval from the candidate. Also, this will prevent any "cross-submittals" of the same resume from two different firms.

No. The majority of consulting positions are on-site, meaning you would work at the client’s facilities. However, if you are interested in a position that is off-site, a home office with internet, email, and fax cabability is necessary.

Advantages: Being a consultant (or independent contractor) allows you to have the independence of choosing projects that interest you, as well as the ability to choose a variety of projects to broaden your experience. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to have a flexible work schedule, often with the option of working from home. Being a consultant also frees you from corporate politics within an organization. Finally, compensation for consulting is generally high, with many expenses being tax deductible. Disadvantages: While some may consider this an advantage, consultants sometimes find there is “down time” between projects, until another assigment becomes available. There is also a perception of less stability with consulting, as consultants are sometimes laid off when there are budget cuts at an organization (however, one may argue that a full-time permanent position is not always stable either). Another disadvantage to consulting is that you will not receive benefits from the organization for which you are working. Consultants are also usually not included in corporate events, meetings, or parties. Finally, consultants are often held to much higher expectations of productivity with minimal training from the client company.