Technical advisors are professionals who are paid to use their expertise or personal knowledge to ensure the quality of their clients’ work products. For clients, a technical advisor gives advice and verifies facts. On a movie set, for example, an experienced police detective might be hired to advise on the script’s detective tactics accuracy. Advisors should have demonstrated expertise in the field they are hired for, regardless of the field.
Before a company blasts an area for development, a construction-based technical advisor may be asked to examine explosives. Advisors are frequently used adventure tour companies to protect them from liability. The advisor looks at the company’s policies and procedures to see if they’ll be able to safely provide clients with an exciting adventure. Depending on the complexity of the film, several advisors may be hired during production.
Due to their specialized training and experience in their field of expertise, former military personnel are frequently hired as technical advisors. Moviegoers expect filmmakers to conduct thorough research and provide an accurate depiction of events. History buffs who attend a war movie will pay close attention to see if the movie is historically accurate, down to the type of gun used in specific battles. The military advisor for the film ensures that the film is not chastised for such inaccuracies.
Reading written material, physically inspecting equipment or land, and writing a report of the findings are typical technical advisor responsibilities. Before work begins on a planned development, a construction advisor can go over the specifications and point out any issues. Law enforcement advisors will be able to inform a director if a line in the script is inappropriate for real-life police work. By spotting potential problems before they occur, the advisors can save time and money.
The level of education required varies field. Technical advising is built on a solid foundation of job experience and education in the field. It’s also crucial to be able to see the big picture and pinpoint both small and big issues. When an advisor begins working for clients and performing well, word-of-mouth referrals can help launch a career. Many technical advisors work full-time in their field and only do consulting on the side.