Working for Bob

[portseven]

Anyone worked for / through Bob (Shwadiwadi)

Got a offer of a gig back at a client I really enjoyed, but this time it's working through one of the BobCo's - And given my good history with said clientco, Bob wants me to take a bit of a team lead role for some of the other Bob's.

Love to go back to client, don't think I can do it other than via Bob as they have the place sownup. But would appreciate others tales of similar situations.

[mos]

Love to go back to client, don't think I can't do it other than via Bob as they have the place sownup. But would appreciate others tales of similar situations.

Are your former co-workers still there? In all likelihood they all got fired by now. Since you know the client, you will be training the new bobs and passing on your knowledge. Bullied and discarded as soon as they feel that they know just enough that they can "pretend" to do he job by themselves.
The sad part is that they have overtaken UK so working with or for them is non optional.

[tranceporter]

Worked with a client in Norwich via an indian company, and it was not fun until I got to work directly with the client team. It started off with a bob agency taking more than 20% margin, but the irritating bit was that nobody in the indian company (onsite bobs working on the same project) wanted to even talk to me apart from their project manager. I later learned that this due to them being afraid that they will be sent back to india, if I did not approve their work. Luckily, a couple of months into the gig, I was absorbed directly into the client team, and did not have to deal with the indian bunch at all. If you run into a similar situation, book meetings with the bobs ASAP, instead of waiting for them to come to you and get on with the project. Needless to say, if you want to continue the gig for a longer period, you could always keep some critical bits to yourself so that the bobs are always dependent on you

[bobspud]

Are your former co-workers still there? In all likelihood they all got fired by now. Since you know the client, you will be training the new bobs and passing on your knowledge. Bullied and discarded as soon as they feel that they know just enough that they can "pretend" to do he job by themselves.
The sad part is that they have overtaken UK so working with or for them is non optional.

Not totally true. Bobs tend to be of a non agressive manner however deviousness is not beyond them. They might try a few tricks although once they understand that their behaviour is likely to get them a non insured hospital stay they will behave.

The only thing I would say is that once you have worked with the bobs then their taint of chaos is on your cv and it might be harder to stay out the way of like wise gigs.

I have worked with out sourcing firms in the past and I have seen some good work from teams but mostly attrocious standards.

Depends on what you fancy doing...

[mudskipper]

Not totally true. Bobs tend to be of a non agressive manner however deviousness is not beyond them. They might try a few tricks although once they understand that their behaviour is likely to get them a non insured hospital stay they will behave.

The only thing I would say is that once you have worked with the bobs then their taint of chaos is on your cv and it might be harder to stay out the way of like wise gigs.

I have worked with out sourcing firms in the past and I have seen some good work from teams but mostly attrocious standards.

Depends on what you fancy doing...

I would have thought that "getting along with bob" experience (especially a successful one) would be useful on the CV.

[GB9]

2 bob

I recently managed 2 bob orgs for a client. One bob org was as helpful and technically capable as any people I have worked with. The other bob were a bunch of useless, lying cowboys. You can't always judge a Bob by its cover.

[northernladuk]

The two most annoying problems when working with bobs are the poor communication and the lack of any kind of proactiveness or ownership. Everything has to be communicated in very simple terms and always have a clearly written action at the end or it just won't happen. The fact that they will always do what they have to to the letter and not a jot more also annoys me. No ownership of the problem, no reciprocal communication and always bringing problems rather than a problem and a possible solution. It's just bloody awful. The group I am with don't seem to have any opinions or ideas that you chat about from time to time which can often completely change the approach to a piece of work. They just do what they are told and nothing more. Very poor from a consultant at any level in my book. Technically outstanding I have to say but that alone doesn't deliver a project.

[Notascooby]

Many more of the big firms like Wipro have a very large-scale UK workforce, so it's not a done deal you'll be working with 100 overseas. What sometimes happens is that after a period of sub-contracting you'll be given an ultimatum to go perm. Rates tend to be 50 to 100 per day lower than going through and agency too.

But as long as its not a no notice contract, you can suck it and see and walk if it doesn't work out.

[Project Monkey]

Some Bobs are good, some Bobs are bad.
Some BobCo's are good, some BobCo's are bad.
Some non-Bobs are good, some non-Bobs are bad.
Some non-BobCo's are good, some non-BobCo's are bad.

IMHO

[portseven]

What sometimes happens is that after a period of sub-contracting you'll be given an ultimatum to go perm.

That's already been hinted already, Bob said 'after some time I would like to have discussion with you about going full-time employee'...

Happy to have discussion but already know my answer, unless it's a stonking offer (which it probably won't be). I am hoping my credibility with clientco will help me out in putting off the permie ultimatum.