IT Consulting Firms

[jorken]

Yeah, they confuse me a bit. I'm not exactly sure how they work really. Suppose a consulting company gets me a job at some other big corporation, who am I working for? The consulting firm? Whose working for the larger company? Are the jobs obtained from these firms normally only temp jobs that last a month or two, then when you're done you're done or are you still technically working with the consulting firm who is working to find you a new position? Or is it more of a direct-to-hire type of deal, headhunter style where large companies pay the firm to find people like me to work for them?

I tend to confuse myself often, can someone provide a little more explanation of how these firms go about their buisness?

 

[CollegeGuy]

Consultants work for the consulting company, not the customer. The customers pays the consulting company for whatever services, and then the consulting company pays the consultant. Jobs can last anywhere from one day to several years.

 

[jorken]

Alright, but are they similar to a regular employment agency where they find you a (temp) job, and when its over you're back to the drawing board on the job search again? Would I be just a name and qualifications in a file and they'll just give me a call out of the blue one day saying they have a position for me, or is it very reliable where when you're done with one they'll have another already lined up?

 

[CollegeGuy]

It really all depends on the consulting firm. If they hire you as an independent contractor, then yes -- you need to find another job when your current bit is up.

On they other hand, and this is really more common, a consultant may work for the consulting agency full-time -- the consulting agency has another project lined up for him/her when their current project is finished.