What are your options?

Your options in choosing an IT consultant will vary from project to project.

In many cases, you should be able to hire any IT consultant that appeals to you, as long as you are confident he or she can do the job. But other times, your options are not so cut and dried.

For example, if you're installing new software (or even customizing existing software), the vendor may require you to use a consulting firm with which it has an established relationship. But this can work in your favor: when implementing sophisticated software, it's often best to go with a consultant that is endorsed by the vendor.

However, a vendor's seal of approval doesn't excuse you from doing any of the necessary background checks on their consultants, or requiring the terms of the consulting project be fully outlined.