# Consultant Expectations ### Advice for new consultants **Many of our consultants are first-time freelancers, or have limited experience in the world of consulting. If this applies to you, please read the important points below.** ### 1. **Projects and start dates can shift** **Provisional vs. Confirmed**: Until you receive a [Statement of Work](/scholars/getting-started/statement-of-work.md) (SOW) from us and sign it, **no upcoming project is guaranteed**. Clients’ needs and timelines can change, and we want to ensure you’re protected from any last-minute surprises. See our [Project Status](/scholars/selection-and-onboarding/project-status.md) explanation for details. **Expect Changes**: Even after you start a project, the hours or scope can shift. This is normal in the freelance world, where clients often revise requirements mid-project. ### 2. **Avoid premature commitments** {% hint style="danger" %} **Don’t quit your day job** (just yet!): Never leave your current position or make financial decisions (e.g., joining a new co-working space, buying equipment) based on a project starting, before you have a fully signed Statement of Work. {% endhint %} **Signed SOW = Formal Go-Ahead**: Once the SOW is in place, you can proceed with more confidence. However, remember that this still isn’t a guarantee of long-term work—freelance engagements can be unpredictable by nature. Review our Selection & Onboarding page for more explanation of the process. ### 3. **Hours commitment and notice period** **Not a guarantee of hours:** Many of our contracts specify a maximum or expected number of hours work per day, rather than a guarantee. Our client may not have a sufficient volume of work to fill these hours, and so you should not treat this as a guarantee of work. As you become more familiar with the project and its workload, you will have more predictability of the hours required. **7-Day Window**: If a client needs to reduce hours, change the project scope, or end the contract early, our standard notice period is **7 days**. This means that you should be prepared for the possibility of a project wrapping up sooner than originally expected. ### 4. **Stay flexible and prepared** **Freelance Reality**: Experienced freelancers know that being flexible is key. Project timelines, client requirements, and workloads can and do change. **Open Communication**: We’re always here to help clarify project details. If something changes, we’ll update you as soon as possible, so you can plan accordingly. ### 5. **Support and Resources** If you have any questions about how a project is shaping up, reach out to the team who has been in contact with you. If you are not sure who to contact, visit our [Support](/scholars/support.md) page. We want you to feel empowered and prepared—never hesitate to ask for clarification or express concerns. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://imerit-docs.gitbook.io/scholars/selection-and-onboarding/consultant-expectations.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.