Are you being downsized from your job? Or are you leaving to have a more flexible lifestyle as a consultant? Are you worried about where you will find your first project? There is good news; your first project may come straight from your former employer! More companies are now outsourcing work to independent consultants, many of whom are former employees. Here are four steps to turning your former employer into a client:

1. Network Within the Company
Even if you are being downsized and will be leaving in a few weeks, start networking with former colleagues and bosses. Let them know you will be available to do projects for the company as a consultant. After you leave, keep in touch with these contacts by periodically meeting for lunch or breakfast. This way, you will continually be a candidate to receive outsourced projects.

2. Get on the Company's Preferred Vendor List
Many companies have "preferred vendors lists" -- lists of consulting companies that have established a good reputation with the company. Using your contacts, you may be able to find the departments that are in charge of these lists and find out how you can be a preferred vendor.

3. Try Subcontracting with a Preferred Vendor
Many consultants have more work than they can possibly do themselves. As a former employee of the company, you have an advantage over other consultants when applying to subcontract. You know who to go to in order to get things done. Try to get a number of different projects within the company and increase your contacts in a number of different departments.