It doesn't matter if your consultant has worked on the biggest projects for the most prestigious corporations in the world. That doesn't mean much if he or she can't demonstrate proficiency in the area you need.

Here are some examples on how to approach certain projects that require IT consulting services:

Example 1: The big guys are too expensive
Your company just purchased a suite of software from Software Giant X. Proper installation and employee training is a must. The consulting services offered by Software Giant X are beyond your budget. You'd like to consider an independent, local, third-party software IT consulting firm with reasonable rates.

Is certification necessary? Before proceeding, ask Software Giant X if consulting on their software requires official certification. If so, and the consultant you hire isn't certified, you may be out of luck if the software malfunctions.

Get proof of past work. Also, if a consultant claims to have a close relationship to your software or hardware vendor, ask for proof.

Example 2: Customizing your own software
John Doe Software is customizing some software for you. Because this software has never been used by any other business, there isn't a single independent software consultant qualified to consult on this project -- except, of course, the consultants that are exclusively partnered with John Doe Software.

You have a choice: either use their preferred software consultants or try to implement and troubleshoot the software yourself. Whatever you decide, make sure to do the following:

• Base your decision on cost. If you can't afford John Doe's consultants, then you can't afford to have the software customized. If you are straight about that with the software vendor, they lower the fees so you'll still purchase the software. But if you wait to find about the fees until after the software is designed, you're stuck.
• Check the level of expertise. Don't assume that your preferred software vendor will be providing you with top-notch consultants. Find out exactly which individual consultants will be put on your project, and check their backgrounds extensively. If at all possible, get assurance in writing that at least one senior level consultant will be a key player in your project.