In order to be a successful consultant you have to be able to sell your skills, and show that you can provide value.
This means in the interview process you need to surprise them with something they may not know. When they realize you know something they don’t, they take you more seriously.
You also need to be able to address their concerns about not embarrassing themselves. They don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t work out. It makes them look bad. So you have to address the key things that they are looking for that they need.
Many times jobs will be posted and the requirements are a fantasy. Honestly to be useful in any one topic requires time, and generalists can be the least helpful IT people. I am an IT generalist but I am an Subject Matter Expert in certain things and that is what has gotten me a job. People look for skills first, and then the nice to haves aren’t as important.
Change is hard and I think that is why most people aren’t consultants. However you do get to learn new things and it is always exciting. Overall being a consultant has been the most fun I have had working. I intend to continue unless there is a full-time position that I can’t say no to. No I am not advertising, I am being transparent.