As a consultant, you know that the first impression is everything. That's why it's crucial to prepare thoroughly for your client interviews. In this article, we will discuss all the steps you need to take to make a great impression on your potential clients. We will cover everything from researching your client to preparing your questions.
1 - Preparation is key
It is very difficult to generalize the get-to-know interview with a client, as they vary from topic to topic and client to client. In all cases, however, it makes sense to develop some structured ideas about how to best approach the challenges outlined in the project briefing and to think about what makes you a perfect fit for that project.
To help you prepare yourself for the call, the support team will share with you as much information as possible. However, this information is sometimes not complete, as it depends on what the client has shared themselves. Therefore, please summarize all open project briefing issues that you need to clarify with the client in advance.
It is possible that some aspects of the contract set-up will be slightly adjusted after your initial call(s). These adaptations should happen in close coordination between the client and you. If there are larger adaptations that, for example, have an effect on the timeline of the project or on your daily rate (keep in mind the Malt Strategy fee if doing so), it is crucial to adapt those changes via Malt Strategy. This is for your own good in the case of any disputes. You can find an article summarizing our best practices to write a well-documented quote here.
2 - Question guide - for the consultant
If you can answer these questions well, you are well-prepared for the interview!