Frequently Asked Questions. Answered.
Who is the typical StealthForce consultant?
There is no typical consultant. Our network includes current and former investment professionals (from analysts through the C-suite), licensed professionals (from architects through attorneys and accountants), and functional specialists (M&A strategy, program managers, etc.). Some 75% of them are currently employed (and only available for nonconflicting roles), and the remaining 25% are either in-between roles, fully independent consultants, or even semi-retired.
Why should I join?
Consultants join for a variety of reasons, including monetizing excess capacity, expanding their industry network, or simply choosing the work you love, rather than what's assigned to you in a traditional employment framework. We find that junior professionals seeking agency in their choice of work, and senior professionals who are semi-retired but looking to remain connected in the industry are both particularly well-suited for the network.
How are consultants vetted?
To join the network, we confirm demonstrated real estate investment industry experience (through any combination of Linkedin, resumes, and reference checks as needed). To be considered for a project, it depends on the complexity of the deliverable and the ideal consultant profile in the Project Brief. We can and will require proof of licensing, complete phone interviews, reference checks, employment history confirmation, background checks, and skills testing, based on the needs of each client.
Can I join if I'm employed full-time?
Yes. More than half of our consultants are employed full-time, and simply moonlighting for nonconflicting occasional projects via StealthForce. Our Terms Of Service (to which you agree as a condition of joining the network) specify that you must not violate any current agreements, including employment contracts, to which you are a party. It is your responsibility to determine whether it is appropriate for you to accept nonconflicting outside consulting engagements while employed. StealthForce does not provide legal guidance.
How is pricing determined?
Pricing is determined by the employer. When you start a project by completing a project brief, you indicate a target budget. Our team reviews each project brief to ensure that the compensation is in line with the expectations of consultants with the experience to match your ideal consultant profile. When there's a mismatch, we provide guidance before launching the search. Our goal is to get you the talent you want, the first time. But you're always in the driver's seat with regards to setting compensation.
Is my information kept confidential?
By applying to join our network, consultants consent to our Terms Of Service, which include a confidentiality clause to protect employer information. In addition, prior to commencing an engagement with a client, each consultant signs a contractor agreement with confidentiality language specific to the project.
How are consultants compensated?
Membership is free. When we invite you to consider a Project Brief, we specify the net consulting fee to you. Upon completion of a milestone or project, StealthForce remits funds to you, as a contractor for the client. You are not employed by StealthForce.
Is StealthForce like recruiting or outsourcing?
We are a complement to both recruiters and outsourcing firms. Recruiters focus on full-time placements, and complete a level of nuanced search which is not scalable via a platform like ours. Our focus is on all placements other than full-time. Our test-drive offering also enables the employer to essentially step into the shoes of a recruiter. Outsourcing firms typically keep their consultants on-staff, which means that when you hire them you're paying their overhead. In the case of StealthForce, you're simply paying what the work is worth to you, and our fee is deducted before compensation is remitted to the consultant.
Can I refer others to StealthForce?
Yes! In fact, we have a client referral program which you can join (send an email to [email protected] for more information). As consultants, you are our best ambassadors. And we find that many of you come across employers looking for a service like ours, whose needs don't exactly match your skill set. Help us grow, so that we can help you gain access to more projects!
Are consultants remote or on-site?
Both. Typically projects are remote, but the breadth of our network enables us to tap into consultants with widely varying flexibility as well as expertise. The key is in creating your Project Brief. When you launch a project we ask you to specify remote versus on-site, and project versus test-drive (among other items). These things help us locate your perfect consultant match.
What is the consulting process?
- Apply to join the network.
- If accepted, you will receive a Confidential StealthForce Project Brief when a Client's needs match your profile. You consider the project, and opt-in or opt-out based on availability, conflict, and fit.
- Of those who opt-in, we select and send the top candidates to the Client for consideration.
- If selected by the Client you will be awarded the project. We process all payments through our platform, check in to ensure proper treatment of consultants and proper fulfillment of client expectations, and to ask for feedback.
Why would currently employed professionals join a consulting platform?
Our consultants join for a myriad of reasons. Of those who are between roles, or who are fully independent consultants, they typically see StealthForce as a way to expand their outreach for projects. Likewise, those who are currently employed join for varying reasons. Senior or semi-retired professionals often are looking towards the next phase of their careers, hoping to step back from full-time employment, and seeking to build a pipeline of consulting clients. They also liken StealthForce to opting-in as conference panelists or industry commentators; it's a way to continue to serve as an authority in the real estate community. For more junior professionals, the incentives include supplementing their income in their free time, growing their networks and being considered for full-time roles at other firms, and simply being able to select the areas on which they want to focus, rather than having to accept whatever an employer assigns to them. Across the network, consultants regularly share an increasing prioritization of quality of life, and a reticence to remain tied to major cities in the long term "just because that's where the jobs are."
How can I position myself to obtain the maximum number of project invitations?
Specialization and demonstrated experience are key. When applying to the network, be sure to share your complete resume, in word format, including detailed deal histories. The best way to rise to the top of a match process is to provide data demonstrating why you're the most experienced candidate in a particular arena. Another way to raise your profile is to write a guest post for our website (to be included under our News section, and shared with the community). Email your topic ideas and credentials to [email protected].