anyone ever done consulting work for a large firm?

[Skiddex]

i have done independent IT consulting for a couple start up companies and really liked it and would like to do it as a career. has anyone worked for a large consulting company and did you like it?

 

[Skiddex]

anyone?

 

[Skiddex]

last try

 

[EKKC]

i work for a small consulting firm and i am working in a client, which is a large firm.
i like it. no office politics BS, you shrug it off saying its not your problem you're not an employee. but you will also be an outsider and you can't really build a trusting relationship with people if you're out of there in a few weeks or months.

 

[Reel]

I work for a large company but the consulting group is small relative to the whole(~1 bil rev vs 15 bil total). PM me if you want more details or have specific questions.

 

[Suture]

I've done consulting for both a small 8A company (that I will leave anonymous) and for EDS.

Basically, for the small consulting firm:
+ Chance to be there when the go big
+ Less political work crap to deal with, red tape, etc.
+ Lots of freedom
- Limited funds for inside projects
- Lots of competition on contracts
- Not as much resources as a large firm

As for my experience with EDS:
+ Better pay
+ More resources. If I want something, I get it. Period.
+ Good chances to bounce around to different projects.
- I am a nobody.
- EDS Intranet is ridiculous.
- Policies, policies, policies...

If the small company is obviously going to be successful, I'd have rather stayed. But it was completely mismanaged, both financially and from a personnel standpoint. I was with EDS on a federal contract years ago, and decided to come back. The pay is much higher and the benefits are excellent. EDS is also one of the few companies left that offers a pension program.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Yep, did it for 3+ years

Pros:
Decent pay
Meet alot of interesting people
Always learning new stuff
Usually paid hourly, can make great money with OT
Can avoid alot of office politics
Depending on your arangement you can get paid while not working
Great sense of satisfaction when you accomplish a major task

Cons:
Too much travel
Consulting firm usually makes more $'s for every hour you work than you do
Bennies are usually weak or non-exsistant
You often get sent on projects that your not fully qualified for, and are expected to fake it. (refered to as shoehorning)
Job security is non existant, even though the consulting firm makes every attempt to convince you that you have job security. Rest assured that if demand for services drop in your area, you will get the axe regardless of your past performance our longevity with the company.

In the final analysis the cons outweigh the pros for me. If your young single and adventurous it might be just what your looking for, and is a great way to pad your resume with gobs of experience. But as an older guy with a family it was pretty much the definition of hell, I would have to be really desperate to go back to that type of work

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Yep, did it for 3+ years

Pros:
Decent pay
Meet alot of interesting people
Always learning new stuff
Usually paid hourly, can make great money with OT
Can avoid alot of office politics
Depending on your arangement you can get paid while not working
Great sense of satisfaction when you accomplish a major task

Cons:
Too much travel
Consulting firm usually makes more $'s for every hour you work than you do
Bennies are usually weak or non-exsistant
You often get sent on projects that your not fully qualified for, and are expected to fake it. (refered to as shoehorning)
Job security is non existant, even though the consulting firm makes every attempt to convince you that you have job security. Rest assured that if demand for services drop in your area, you will get the axe regardless of your past performance our longevity with the company.

In the final analysis the cons outweigh the pros for me. If your young single and adventurous it might be just what your looking for, and is a great way to pad your resume with gobs of experience. But as an older guy with a family it was pretty much the definition of hell, I would have to be really desperate to go back to that type of work

I started last year, at the age of 25, and will be one year of consulting next month (i switched firms but been doing the same thing in march). may I ask how old are you and when did you quit being a consultant?

im thinking i wont be doing this after i have kids. now im not married yet, but i don't like spending 4 nights a week in some hotel room. i have it good in this second consulting gig since all travels are local within 100 miles. i used to fly to Ohio or drive to Western Maryland every other week which was unbearable.

You're pretty spot-on with the pros and cons. My pay rate literally went up 100% from last year.