So you want to be an Associate…?

There are many ways that we have come across the various Associates we have under the Independent Thinking umbrella.

Sometimes, it is because we have been approached by someone who has seen what we do and wants to join us. The first step here is when we say, here is a card with our details on it, let us know what you can bring to the party. That eliminates about 97% of people (especially when they realise they would be an Associate, not an employee, so income is not guaranteed as it depends on demand for what they offer and the amount of work they do).

There are those who get past the first hurdle and contact us. The next stage for us is to sort out those who are genuinely making a difference in schools with a creative flair and revolutionary zeal from, well, 'the nutters', what with genius and madness being so closely linked.

That leaves about 2% of people who do actually have something to offer.

What we then ask is that they drop us an e-mail with what they demonstrably have that schools and young people actually need. What have you been doing so differently and so well that people from all around the country and further afield will not only pay good money but give up their precious time to hear what you have to say?

Next, once you have identified what you have to say, is to identify if you are any good at saying it. In the same way that some people don’t have a fear of public speaking but should have, just having something to say doesn’t mean to say that you can hold a hall full of school leaders, teacher or students for 30 minutes, let alone a day. Do you have the presence and charisma to be as good as some of the people on this website who are among the very best public speakers in the world - and make it look so easy?

If you are happy that you are ticking the boxes so far (and remember you could still be 'a nutter' but no one has pointed it out yet – you’ve seen X-Factor) then please get in contact.

Next, we will want to see what you can do. Twice a year - parallels with the X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent and the end sequence from Phoenix Nights not withstanding - we run an opportunity for potential new recruits to spend an afternoon with us. Here you will have about 45 minutes to give us (us being a small number of Associates along with other potential new Associates) a sample of what you do and how you do it.

We want to find out: Do you know your stuff? Do you know something others don’t? Do you have a marketable angle? Do you have a personality? Can you be part of the team? Are you flexible in your working arrangements, after all, we can’t guarantee you work? Do you have a book in you we can add to the Independent Thinking Series?

Once we have ticked all the boxes we can think of, the next stage will be a profile on these pages and the identification of some possible clients. With new Associates, we always let the potential client know that the Associate we are putting forward is a newbie and encourage both parties to talk things through. If everyone’s happy – and that includes agreeing to the terms of our ‘satisfaction or you pay nothing’ guarantee – we move ahead.

Welcome aboard!

<< Back to 'Who'