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 fit exactly with the niche skill requirements you have for a particular project. Finally, you will find that because consultants are more visible and accountable to hourly billing; therefore, the client will quickly find consultants to be very productive and extremely results-oriented. For a detailed list of advantages, please click on Commonly Asked Questions About Using Consultants.

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.

The main equation we use to determine a bill rate is compensation (C) x markup (M) = bill rate (B). Our markups are minimal, and consistent. Markups are required to support all the costs associated with operating our business (or cost of doing business).  We guarantee that you will always know up-front our markup factor M so that there are no surprises. The compensation C is determined by: anticipated length of contract, skill set and experience of the consultant, perceived difficulty of project, and the compensation required by a particular consultant. These factors that determine C are added together and then multiplied by our markup M to equal a final bill rate B. The result is a very competitive and affordable bill rate B that fits nicely within your budget.

1)       We specialize in publications; therefore, we know what we are talking about.  The benefit to you is securing the right specialist for your project requirements, and also knowing that you have a very competent professional 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 consulting expertise, hardware, software, and resources you need outside of your premises).

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

If you have never had the experience of working with a consulting or contracting company, then the following is offered as a “tutorial” on how to work effectively with JPG so you can achieve the best results possible.

The process of providing you quality publication project resources in a timely fashion is a “dual” process involving the mutual cooperation of both sides. Fulfilling a certain number of dependencies on the client side will help ensure that we can effectively implement our search and screen process.

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: Let’s say that JPG is given the “green light” to start submitting resumes. If 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 of the change of status.

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. 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. This includes: project objectives, miscellaneous tasks to assign, specific professional skills and experiences required, software skills, other expectations.

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 consultant. The client can terminate a consultant 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 basis per task (aka: time and material). Also, we can offer “safety net support” for any of your internal corporate project needs. This includes providing backup support for any of our JPG on-site consultants who we have placed at the client facility.

JPG is covered by workers compensation, commercial liability, automobile liability, errors and omissions, and fidelity bond.

Yes, JPG does background checks and drug testing. All costs are paid for by JPG

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 care about our clients; therefore, we want to make sure that they all their expectations are completely satisfied.

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 engage many types of publications professionals with our clients, including: technical writers, technical illustrators, instructional designers, editors, graphics designers, electronic publishers, web content developers, web interface developers, and many more.

The majority of the positions JPG fills are temporary (either short-term or long-term). However, we do recruit for contract-to-hire and direct-hire positions.

On-site consultants who bill on an hourly basis are paid every 15 days. If the consultant is connected to a project which is billed to the client on a quotation (or do-not-exceed PO basis) and is of long duration, then the consultant will be paid every 15 days; if the project is of short duration, then the consultant will be paid half at mid-term, and the balance at completion of project

We receive many different requests from clients. Some clients require the consultant to be on-site for 40 hours/week (for reasons such as: access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), access to files, access to product, etc.). 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 consultants who may have other clients or projects, but their schedule is less than 100% full; therefore, they may seek out an additional project (or projects) from JPG to fill in the remainder of their schedules.

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

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

The length of engagement depends on the needs of the client’s project. Some can be as short as one week, other as long as one year (or longer).

Ideally, we try to give a minimum of two weeks notice prior to the ending date; it can be even sooner if we have determined a definite end-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 have multiple projects in the works while assigned to a JPG project, either direct with another client or through another agency. JPG’s only stipulation is that you 1) notify us if you are working on another project (or projects), and 2) make sure that you set aside ample time in your schedule so that the JPG project is not compromised in quality or completion date.

Yes. Our only stipulation is that you inform us if you have been submitted by another agency for a particular client requisition for which we also are the supplier. Being submitted by two different agencies can be awkward and embarrassing for all parties involved; also, it can sometimes result in the client removing the candidate from the submittal list.

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 facility. However, if you are interested in a position that is off-site, then a home office with internet, email, and fax capability is necessary. For more detailed information on setting up a home office, click on How to Get Started as an Independent Consultant.

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 generally pays very well, 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 assignment becomes available.

There is also a perception of less stability with consulting, as consultants are sometimes laid off when there are budget cuts at a company (however, one may argue that a full-time permanent position is not always stable either).

Another disadvantage of consulting is that you will not receive benefits with your compensation (the hourly bill rate that you command is your only compensation, along with potential tax deductions).

Consultants are also usually not included in corporate events, meetings, or parties.

Finally, consultants are often held to a much higher standard of productivity versus full-time direct employees, with the added disadvantage of minimal or no training from the client company.