Reply to: Which option ?

[andyg]

My View - Avoid the Big4 Option

Hi,
Which of these options (in your opinion) is best for me?
I’ve been a contractor for 8years. Last year, I had my little girl - she is 9 months old now. I’m ready to return to work!
The options I have are:

1. Perm Offer from one of the big4 consulting firms - 75k
2. Contract offer of £450 pd from my previous client
3. Contract offer of 425 pd from another consultancy

Would consulting mean definitely long hours? With my background in retail banking, I will end up working for one of their retail banking clients anyway. So the culture may not be that bad? I never saw people work late in any of the 3 banks I worked! Also, We plan to move to Canada in a few years (DH is Canadian) - I thought working in a consulting firm can make this transition easier for us (secondment options etc). I’m terrified at the prospect of long hours though. DH works in an Investment bank - he works long hours. So I have to pick up DD from the nursery.

My previous client was ok. Boring place - but had a lot of flexibility on some projects.

The other consultancy - I told them I need flexibility - they are ok with it.

For what it's worth, and if I was in your position, I wouldn't pick your option #1 for the reason that they may well put you anywhere in the UK. On my last project there were a number of Deloitte perms, one based in Glasgow, one based in North London, and one Wales for a project based in Brum. Lots of travel plus staying in lonely hotels of an evening plus out eating crap food every night on crap expenses.
Your option #2 sounds good as they know you and (possibly) knew about your forthcoming (at the time) news about baby.
I remember staying away for work when my children were young and I missed out on so much. With hindsight I would have stayed local for less day rate.
Good luck as I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you and your family.
And Oh, ignore some of the complete tw*ts on this site.

[Casablanca]

Oops

Oops old thread. Well I hoped it worked out for the OP.

[Casablanca]

I would contract where they know you, potentially negotiate a 4 day week or some working from home to reduce the stress of making nursery collection time. It can be done. I negotiated 3 contracts (3 different clients who were all new to me) in a row from 5 days/week to 4 so that I had some extra flexibility when my children were small. If you use a nursery, expect many days to be lost due to your child getting too sick to attend, a childminder may be more willing to take moderately unwell child. Nanny would be best option if you can although that can cause different problems ( a friend was a bit disconcerted to realise she had to pay for her nanny's maternity leave as well as fund a replacement!).

Also suggest your husband looks to do a condensed week / more flexible working and is equally prepared to take leave at short notice to cover sickness. There is no reason why your career should suffer disproportionately. When my son had chickenpox,or one of his multiple ear infections, we tag teamed childcare, each working 2/3rds of a day, one starting early and the other finishing late with a meeting in the city centre to handover the sick child. That way we were both available to work at least part of a day, and minimised time out. Make the most of the nursery years - rude shock to the system going from private nursery hours to school plus wrap around care.

The bonus of contracting rather than perm is that I felt I had no guilt if I did need to take additional time out. I managed my workload and minimised impact on the client but took probably another 5-10 days leave on top of a normal perm allowance.

When they get older (mine are now 10 and 7) it gets easier if they are ill because they can be left to fester in front of the TV with occasional checks Husband and I play top trumps with who has the most important/number of face-to-face meetings but because typically I am doing the morning drop off (he collects from afterschool club), I am more likely to be the one to discover someone isn't fit for school.

HTH.

[Spikeh]

Acc are not one of the big4.
And refer to my previous post around my experiences of contracting with the big4s - it is not always the case that you are worked to death...

You're only worked to death if you let them take the mick!

[kaiser78]

Sadly, parents don’t live nearby. I’d love to go part time, but due to the nature of my job, I don’t see many options
Ideally, I want to go back to work after my daughter starts school. But I am terrified of the prospect of being written off. (My friend is really struggling to get back to work after a 2yr break)

Could you not re-train to something that is a bit more family flexible ? Those years whilst children are young are so precious and you will never get them back.

[kaiser78]

Do not take up a role with a consultancy and definitely not with any big4 ( especially one that starts with acc). They will work you to death.

Acc are not one of the big4.
And refer to my previous post around my experiences of contracting with the big4s - it is not always the case that you are worked to death...

[Winterdiva]

Do not take up a role with a consultancy and definitely not with any big4 ( especially one that starts with acc). They will work you to death.

Have you considered part time for the first few years ? If your husband works long hours too, it might be helpful for you to work less since you will be the main person looking after the child. Children bring along all sorts of complexities, they fall sick at the drop of a hat, they will get all sorts of bugs. Working closer to home helps or else your parents will be doing a lot of running around.

Sadly, parents don’t live nearby. I’d love to go part time, but due to the nature of my job, I don’t see many options
Ideally, I want to go back to work after my daughter starts school. But I am terrified of the prospect of being written off. (My friend is really struggling to get back to work after a 2yr break)

[fullyautomatix]

Do not take up a role with a consultancy and definitely not with any big4 ( especially one that starts with acc). They will work you to death.

Have you considered part time for the first few years ? If your husband works long hours too, it might be helpful for you to work less since you will be the main person looking after the child. Children bring along all sorts of complexities, they fall sick at the drop of a hat, they will get all sorts of bugs. Working closer to home helps or else your parents will be doing a lot of running around.

[fullyautomatix]

Millennial?

The interesting thing is you specifically mention 'not leeching' and yet you're probably claiming childcare benefits from people like me who pay their taxes! Laughable.

Why this unnecessary and unfair attack ?? How do you know she claims childcare benefits ? Wind your neck in pal, she is doing what pretty much every other mother is doing in this country.

[northernladuk]

True. Please can the moderator delete all the irrelevant “women should sit at home” replies on this thread? Including mine where I wasted time responding!

Asking mods to delete posts is a bannable offense.

[Winterdiva]

This is a Professional Forum.

Opinions on others parenting choices to go into General (where they will be savaged as appropriate).

True. Please can the moderator delete all the irrelevant “women should sit at home” replies on this thread? Including mine where I wasted time responding!

[Hertsseasider]

Mods - Red Card ?

[cojak]

No flaming please WinterDiva - slug it out in General.

[Winterdiva]

or the 'lack of parenting' to be precise, hiding selfishness behind flimsy excuses. The 'you can have it all' brigade.

My parents both worked full time. My sister and I turned out fine! We are very close to our parents and are incredibly proud of our mum. I’m sure there are plenty of people that had/have working mums.

Are you jealous that some people really seem to have it all?

[cojak]

This is a Professional Forum.

Opinions on others parenting choices to go into General (where they will be savaged as appropriate).