Working for a consultancy - pros/cons?

[ChimpMaster]

Absolutely this.

The Mrs has just started a contract for a boutique type of consultancy. I have to say I liked their method of engagement and things seem to going well thus far.

One fly in the ointment is Accenture are involved, as they have had a number of goes at trying to catch her out.
One attempt was suggesting she did a big presentation (requiring business domain knowledge) to the business on day 3

She soon nipped that in the bud and presented just her specialist knowledge part. The client then commented on a number of occasions how good her part of the presentation was

Unfortunately, they are hugely out played by my Mrs and sometimes, unknowingly to them, I feed in a few choose suggestions too

Love it.

But yes some of the smaller consultancies can be good because they usually have the smart people working for them.

Thoughtworks was one such place a while back, but not sure now because it has grown quite rapidly.

[Mordac]

The Andersen who were banned from government work under Maggie? Or another part of the same company?

You are correct, they were excluded from govt contracts because of their involvement in the DeLorean fiasco. They spent the next decade sucking up to New Labour, on the assumption that sooner or later, NL would get back in, and they'd be first in the trough. It worked. I'd offer names, but CUK's lawyers will be having kittens at the mere suggestion, so I won't.

[MrMarkyMark]

You are correct, they were excluded from govt contracts because of their involvement in the DeLorean fiasco. They spent the next decade sucking up to New Labour, on the assumption that sooner or later, NL would get back in, and they'd be first in the trough. It worked. I'd offer names, but CUK's lawyers will be having kittens at the mere suggestion, so I won't.

Funny you mention DeLorean, I saw one just the other day, in good condition it was actually.

Had plenty of time to check it out as the driver had broken down and pulled up to the side of the road

[redgiant]

Funny you mention DeLorean, I saw one just the other day, in good condition it was actually.

Had plenty of time to check it out as the driver had broken down and pulled up to the side of the road

They are making them again so Alphas (and new Range Rovers) have some company on the hard shoulder!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorean_DMC-12

[Whorty]

Having worked in a big 4 consultancy, I can certainly say it's not for me. Apart from much of what others have said, another foible is the targets that are set for consultants. Where I was it went thus:

80% billable days
20% sales days
20% internal development

Yes, I know this comes to 120%. And that really is the case. When I was at client sites for 3 months solid (so 100% billable) I still had to meet the other 2 targets. 12 hour days in the office, then say goodbye to your weekends