Originally Posted by Dude
In IT, "consulting" just means "I don't work permanently for the organization I'm currently working for." In some situations, it's just white-collar jargon for "temp agency."

This is true for other industries too, particularly the STEM-related industries I've worked with and have knowledge of. It's less expensive for large corporations to hire via contract than it is to hire people as employees (pay benefits etc), and going through contract organizations gives the corporations flexibility to increase/decrease work force as needed without laying off people (which also costs $). The employees that are hired either independently or through a contracting firm are commonly referred to as "consultants" within the corporations they are hired to work for, and by themselves, on their business cards smile

pbear