Leaving IT Consulting

[SisterImpera]

Hello. I’m sorry if this is a bit self-indulgent, I know I’m lucky to have a decent job really. It’s not with the major players so I have a reasonable work life balance. But I’ve been doing it for years and I’m increasingly finding it a bit soul destroying. My background was software engineering/data engineering but years later my technical skills are gone and I feel I’m barely using my brain.

I tried to get out (into jobs like data manager, etc) but couldn’t convince in interview so ended up taking another consulting job. And there seem to be few jobs out there that would pay as much as my household needs me to earn. So am I stuck forever? Can I get the love back, and if so, how? 20 years more working life to go I reckon, but I can’t face that while feeling like this. If any other IT consultants are loving it, please infect me with your enthusiasm!

Hi - am looking to get back into consulting (did some for my own ltd company before IR35 years back), away from my perm position, so interested in any tips conversely in terms of ways to get back into consulting while keeping a bit of security behind me. Am beyond tired of organisational politics, and really want to still utilise my skillset while not having to manage people etc.

In terms of you moving back into a perm role, what has been your feedback so far from interviews etc? I find that linked in while a pain, also provides a lot of interest in CVs, and a good recruitment agent focused on the area you want to move into is worth finding and cultivating a relationship with.

Thanks for your thoughts 247SylviaPlath! I did use LinkedIn quite a bit but didn't really get much useful interest, it was really good for finding roles to apply for though. The feedback from interviews wasn't massively helpful, I think they're looking for things like bringing projects to fruition over a long term and managing big teams but as a consultant I swoop in (with at most 1-2 colleagues), solve some problems, and then bog off - usually in 1-2 months. So I just can't evidence deep experience, just a succession of short, shallow engagements.

I'm actually in a perm role at the moment myself, most of my consulting has been while employed by a consultancy, not as a contractor. I have freelanced in the past but IR35 has made the risk/insecurity of it completely not worth it. Are you thinking of going freelance again? I'm hearing horror stories about the state of the market for contractors!

I gave it up about 15 years ago (stupid decision based on not having to work), I'm now getting divorced and couldn't get back into it, so I'm starting from scratch I took a junior marketing role 18 months ago and I'm slowly rebuilding my career, but I miss consulting so much (and the money), I'd love to get back into it, but I doubt I'll ever be able to. Don't give it up unless you're really sure.

I’m an IT consultant of many years standing, and I get what you mean about soul destroying. What I realised though, is that it wasn’t the work itself but the intensity: if I’m only going in for a few months to sort something out, then I have to be at the top of my game every single day. I have zero support, and I’m dealing with people who are intensely stressed because of the problems they’re having, and they want to use me as a therapist to dump this frustration on. Building trust with them takes time and a lot of work and it’s intense! In the past I’ve dealt with things by taking a few months off every couple of years or so. Is that an option for you?

(I do technical work BTW, and I the stress is still there!)

Not sure I've been much help @SisterImpera !

I guess the trick there is to 'frame' your delivery - I.e. the breadth rather than the depth. Focus on the problem solving nature of what you do, and you could also say that your part was the project (I.e. don't always reference the wider project). They only know what you tell them after all...

Not sure if that's useful but was something I used to do when describing what I'd been involved in.

I'm really torn about what to jump to because of exactly what you describe for independents (though used a lot in the sector I work in right now), but also work with consultants I have brought in to supplement some projects, and while they're great, they don't seem massively happy either. I think I want more flexibility and to be able to work 6 months a year ideally, which means indy, with all the inherent risks that brings. It's not one for right away but I do want to keep thinking about how I can get off the treadmill eventually.

Anyway - away from my ramblings about me! Best of luck - and I'll keep an eye on this thread too if anything comes to mind 👍