If you get a request for a proposal where the potential customer / hiring committee clearly just copy/pasted a set of items that don't even fit their company type or area, or that ask for unreasonable stuff from the start, then you will save yourself a TON of time by saying thanks but no thanks.
If someone has an interesting set of question or a clean and focused RFP, fantastic. GO for it, you will enjoy working with them.
Another item - if your customer will need to do some type of work, have a TINY bit of that in your engagement process. Ie, let's say client will need to write a lot of text, have them briefly respond to a question in the process. If they will need to fill out worksheets, have them do a tiny one.
Another one - if they won't tell you what they need or who they are - not worth it.
If you get a request for a proposal where the potential customer / hiring committee clearly just copy/pasted a set of items that don't even fit their company type or area, or that ask for unreasonable stuff from the start, then you will save yourself a TON of time by saying thanks but no thanks.
If someone has an interesting set of question or a clean and focused RFP, fantastic. GO for it, you will enjoy working with them.
Another item - if your customer will need to do some type of work, have a TINY bit of that in your engagement process. Ie, let's say client will need to write a lot of text, have them briefly respond to a question in the process. If they will need to fill out worksheets, have them do a tiny one.
Another one - if they won't tell you what they need or who they are - not worth it.