Hi All,
I like to hear from people who have done or currently doing IT consulting with a 100% travel in companies like Accenture etc.
I have about 11 years of experience in software development - all in product companies. I have no consulting experience. All my previous jobs have been permanent position with *zero* travel.
I am thinking of trying out consulting for a year or two. I like the idea of traveling on the job. Although the trips are not just sight seeing trips you still get to visit many places.
I like to hear from people who have done it so I know what I am getting into. Is this a good idea or does it sound like I am going through mid-life crisis which is making me think crazy? What kind of profile fits these jobs or what the companies look for. Any inputs appreciated.
thanks in advance!
Consulting with 100% travel
Consulting with 100% travel
You must be kidding to seriously think about 100% travel at this point of the life/career. 11 years experience puts you in the early to mid-30's age. In general, the family profile would be married with one/two very young kids.
1. Can you stay away from family 4 days a week every week for the next one year
2. Can you eat hotel food 4 days a week
3. Can you get up and run to the airport every Monday morning
4. For major consulting companies, you would still be permanent employee only, or to put it more aptly, a bonded slave.
5. All offices look alike and in the US, even many towns look alike and it would be hard to distinguish one city from the other except for the tourist attractions. And with your schedule, you won't get any time to see them.
6. Can your spouse (if you are married) handle the household alone 4 days a week?
Consulting is for the early career person (about 25 years old), single and care-free. It is their time to pay the dues and get into fancy titles before moving into comfy jobs by early 30's. You seem to want to do it the other way around.
1. Can you stay away from family 4 days a week every week for the next one year
2. Can you eat hotel food 4 days a week
3. Can you get up and run to the airport every Monday morning
4. For major consulting companies, you would still be permanent employee only, or to put it more aptly, a bonded slave.
5. All offices look alike and in the US, even many towns look alike and it would be hard to distinguish one city from the other except for the tourist attractions. And with your schedule, you won't get any time to see them.
6. Can your spouse (if you are married) handle the household alone 4 days a week?
Consulting is for the early career person (about 25 years old), single and care-free. It is their time to pay the dues and get into fancy titles before moving into comfy jobs by early 30's. You seem to want to do it the other way around.
Consulting with 100% travel
chn_real;309917Hi All,
I like to hear from people who have done or currently doing IT consulting with a 100% travel in companies like Accenture etc.
I have about 11 years of experience in software development - all in product companies. I have no consulting experience. All my previous jobs have been permanent position with *zero* travel.
I am thinking of trying out consulting for a year or two. I like the idea of traveling on the job. Although the trips are not just sight seeing trips you still get to visit many places.
I like to hear from people who have done it so I know what I am getting into. Is this a good idea or does it sound like I am going through mid-life crisis which is making me think crazy? What kind of profile fits these jobs or what the companies look for. Any inputs appreciated.
thanks in advance!
OP,
Things are rosy with travel the first 4 weeks. You will start getting tired with airport delays, client frustrations, getting bumped by hotels etc.. I have been doing this for 2 1/2 years and thanks to the recession and cuts , i now perform most of my work at the comfy of my home office. Of course, the other side is that if you are a careful planner, you accumulate miles, hotels points and car rentals. Again depends if you work for big companies like IBM you DO NOT benefit too much on air travel. The smaller the company, the more flexible they are.
Bottomline, unless you are forced to do this by circumstances or you have a pressing need to be away from home because of a nagging wife/in laws.. Stay away
Consulting with 100% travel
Consulting is for all age groups and consulting =! 100% travel. The amount of travel decreases as you rise up the ranks though its still is around 40% (local+national+international) for even the higher roles. If you start with consulting you get adjusted to it. By the time you have a family your travel is reduced or you can pick assignments with more local travel. I have worked with people who have been local 100% of the time in large projects for 3-4 years in a row.
I have seen people moving from consulting to non consulting companies in 30s and moving back to consulting companies in 40s. But these jobs are not for everyone just like lot of people cant handle sales job or project management.
I have seen people moving from consulting to non consulting companies in 30s and moving back to consulting companies in 40s. But these jobs are not for everyone just like lot of people cant handle sales job or project management.
Consulting with 100% travel
Note that you might end up going to the same place for six months in a row depending on the project. Its not fun if that place is Kansas / some small town (no offense to people living here!)
chn_real;309917Hi All,
I am thinking of trying out consulting for a year or two. I like the idea of traveling on the job. Although the trips are not just sight seeing trips you still get to visit many places.
thanks in advance!
Consulting with 100% travel
OP,
I have done 100% trveling consulting jobs for years. Its a completely different lifestyle which if you have not done in the past it will a bit difficult to get used to it (specially with a family).
As some else said, you may end up traveling to a small town for 6 months where restaurants close at 8.30pm in the evening. So, don't get in to this with the idea that you will be traveling to Manhattan or Vegas and actually sight-seeing.
Having said that, travelling is extremely addictive once you actually start enjoying it you will look forward to that next level of airlines miles status and hotel rewards. Per-Diems and traveling expenses are nice perks to have. Miles and Hotel points will last you a while if you do it the right way. Of course all this comes with eating restaurant food 4 days a week, flight delays, being away from the family for days and spending evenings in a hotel room watching TV all by yourself.
I have done 100% trveling consulting jobs for years. Its a completely different lifestyle which if you have not done in the past it will a bit difficult to get used to it (specially with a family).
As some else said, you may end up traveling to a small town for 6 months where restaurants close at 8.30pm in the evening. So, don't get in to this with the idea that you will be traveling to Manhattan or Vegas and actually sight-seeing.
Having said that, travelling is extremely addictive once you actually start enjoying it you will look forward to that next level of airlines miles status and hotel rewards. Per-Diems and traveling expenses are nice perks to have. Miles and Hotel points will last you a while if you do it the right way. Of course all this comes with eating restaurant food 4 days a week, flight delays, being away from the family for days and spending evenings in a hotel room watching TV all by yourself.
Consulting with 100% travel
thanks all for the input. I should say reading the responses have tamed down my enthusiasm for the 'new idea', but still keeping the option open. So far, I am seeing more negative feedback than positive for this type of job.
Consulting with 100% travel
Sorry about this post not being a positive one as well. But this is just another perspective. What does your wife thinks about it? My husband did 100% travel job for 2 years and I hated it. Ask her if she is ready to handle all the reponsibilities of the kids and the household for most part of the week. Is she ready to take care of doctor's appointment, groceries etc. etc. all by herself. It becomes even harder when she is working as she will have to juggle a lot of things. But I think the worst part for the spouse who stays back home is to feel lonely at the end of the day when the kids are in bed. She might have to wait to make the call to talk to you because you might be in a different timezone or travelling. It might be exciting for you as you will be travelling to a new city or facing a new client, but will not offer much to the non-travelling spouse except for perks like airlines mileage etc. as the OP has suggested.
Consulting with 100% travel
Dude,
I am exactly in the similar boat as you. May be 1 step before you. I am going through negotiations on salary with one of Big-4. I have an option of moving to NY and stay close to them to avoid traveling. I will know what i am going to do in next 3-4 weeks.
Good Luck with your decision.
I am exactly in the similar boat as you. May be 1 step before you. I am going through negotiations on salary with one of Big-4. I have an option of moving to NY and stay close to them to avoid traveling. I will know what i am going to do in next 3-4 weeks.
Good Luck with your decision.
Consulting with 100% travel
cool. keep me posted of you experience. If at all I make a move it will early next year.