Interesting Meeting With Client

[SandyDown]

How's life on the bench Sandy?

I only stayed on the bench for 2 weeks, I got an offer and had to wait another 2 weeks for a start, at my new gig I have no internet access and don't even have external mail but am getting used to it, its close to home and I can get home.

[ChimpMaster]

I was in the same position as FaQQer - even though it was the consultancy arm of a small software house I was with rather than the Big 5.

I used to enjoy the consulting lifestyle but it just got too much when the travelling became more widespread and the personal choice was reduced. I hated being in one country one week and on the Friday being told to go to another country on Monday to do an entirely different task.

You're pretty much a contractor but without the choice, having to work consultancy hours and always trying to stretch yourself to get that "bonus" and the grade review at your appraisal.

It was challenging, and certainly more interesting than what I do now - but I get paid twice as much now and I can be home every night. That to me is a real luxury.

I will never go back to consultancy unless they can offer me reduced/localised travel and with a serious pay packet.

[buffdaddy]

Ahh,,
the sterotypes around consulting are coming out. Which of the Big 5 did u guys work for.

Luckily I work for a smaller consultancy, within a niche market. The bottom line is the contract rate is way way better than the 50k (which was ther first offer). I didnt want to beat around the bush trying to negotiate this as I thought they wouldn't be able to match my contract equivalent salary and they agreeded.

At the end of the day i am in a very client facing role with 2-3 differnt clients at a time, about 40% coding, 20% lunch meetings, and the rest is a mix of analysis, presales, training seminars (i do it all),,..but yeah i can imagine how big consultancies can sandbox their consultants.

If it ever gets to the point where i have to work weekends (by the way my contract stipulates that I charge twice if I have to work weekends), I will give in my notice.

The verticle they have placed me in means i will be in the city of london, a mere 20 mins walk from home.

[TheFaQQer]

But these guys are a consultancy..so the work is like a contractor anyways...even if u are a permie..the whole politics etc doesn't come into it..

Don't you believe it!

I'd never go back to a consultancy, unless the pay was mind-bogglingly huge. Not worth the crap that you get, and not having a say on where you work, when, or for whom.

Having to put up with smart ideas like "Let's have a company day out at Alton Towers. You need to be there by 9am, Saturday morning, no accommodation provided, spend half a day in meetings, then you can go to the park. And don't forget to dress smart - you're still working."

[Churchill]

How's life on the bench Sandy?

[SandyDown]

the permie rate (50k) is far far lower than what they pay me as a contractor. So i basically said no to their permie offer (nicely) and said I'd be happy to contract for them once the current one has expired,

they were really happy with you and offered you 50K

what would they have offered you if they thought you were crap??

consultancy work:
1- work for client 9-6pm

2- 6-8 pm attend useless consultancy meetings to discuss business and progress how are we gona make more money from the client etc

3- 9-10pm or weekends (your choice), complete your personal development plan, project appraisals (and there are a few of those in a consultancy) complete 360's, give formal and informal feedback on colleagues, participate in your sector progress i.e. as they call it go the extra mile and prove you are worthy to be part of the sector by organising events, project reviews, volunteer for bids and mentoring / training others, do recruitment
write business case each year to get promotion of 3-5 K increase (max)

4- training ?? used to go through hoops and had to write business case to justify any training I wanted to do, most were turned down... the ones that were approved (free training) got cancelled in the last minute cuz the sector want to meet their quarter target out of your utilisation

5- Utilisation targets - don't get me started... to achieve the target it means you can't get sick, or take all of your holiday you need to chargeable all the time (that's why you need to fit in all the above tasks in your own time)and when you don't achieve your target, guess what - no bonus or very little bonus (talking about £500-£3000 per year max average £1000 per year)

6- Travel all over the place, cheapest form of travel else you need to write a business case why you used anything but cattle class or cheapest bus, never see your family ..


hmmmmm who wouldn't do all this for 50K, you must be mad!!

[buffdaddy]

erm

good question. For a normal client probably not. But these guys are a consultancy..so the work is like a contractor anyways...even if u are a permie..the whole politics etc doesn't come into it..

but it would have had to be similar to what i earn as contractor

[TheFaQQer]

the permie rate (50k) is far far lower than what they pay me as a contractor. So i basically said no to their permie offer (nicely) and said I'd be happy to contract for them once the current one has expired,

Smart move.

If they'd offering far more, would you have taken it, though?

[buffdaddy]

the permie rate (50k) is far far lower than what they pay me as a contractor. So i basically said no to their permie offer (nicely) and said I'd be happy to contract for them once the current one has expired,

[TheFaQQer]

What permie rate are they considering? Might be worth taking it for a year, at the least!

[buffdaddy]

nope....not at an IB

consultancy

[ChimpMaster]

You're working at an IB aren't you?

[fzbucks]

Found out the following facts

- they want me to go permie (current contract expires at the end of the year)
- If I do not want to go permie, they are still willing to keep me for the entire 2008 year.
- They pay the agency 18% of my day rate (seems normal?)
- Want me to do some exams at their expense


Quite happy with the meeting i might add.

All you need now is a rate increase and 5 days working from home a wek and you'll have the ideal contract

[Torran]

Found out the following facts

- they want me to go permie (current contract expires at the end of the year)
- If I do not want to go permie, they are still willing to keep me for the entire 2008 year.
- They pay the agency 18% of my day rate (seems normal?)
- Want me to do some exams at their expense


Quite happy with the meeting i might add.

yes but did they ask you to sign anything in blood and use words like"soul" and "devil"?

If not, well done

[buffdaddy]

Found out the following facts

- they want me to go permie (current contract expires at the end of the year)
- If I do not want to go permie, they are still willing to keep me for the entire 2008 year.
- They pay the agency 18% of my day rate (seems normal?)
- Want me to do some exams at their expense


Quite happy with the meeting i might add.