www.gettingdrunkinfirstclass.com has the best overall description of consulting...

Not sure I would use the word best with that site, I would say it has the most jaded view. There are some of out there who actually like what do (which is why we do it) and enjoy working with our clients! That site represents people who consult because they dont want to 9-5 but have no interest in being a consultant

to add...
 

Excelllent explanation Lehava. ^ To add to that, there are differnet areas/practices of consulting such as Strategic (strat), Information Technology (IT), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning - which happens to be my main focus right now), and many others. Google actually has a good directory of the different areas of expertise: http://www.google.com/Top/Business/B...es/Consulting/

Lol. Don't warp the guy's mind already. :p Getting Drunk In First Class is a very funny website...but one must keep in mind that just about every story on there is exagerated 10 times over. You will find some truth in some stories at times, but 95% of the stories are meant as a distorted mirror image of a consultant and should in no way be taken seriously or 100% truthful. Most consultants love their job. Those that don't are only in it for the money and should just quit complaining and take an industry job.

If you're wanting to learn more about consultancy, I would start here: http://consulting.about.com/

Regards,
Mike

True, true. I think it's most useful as a reminder of what you DON'T want to become!

This is SOOOOOO true and one of the best pieces of wisdom here.

A few pieces of advice I got from a seasoned strategy guy when I first started consulting have stuck with me, and they are something I pass on to younger consultants. I should also note that I ignored most of these my first few years on the road and I now regret that I didn't heed them earlier.

1. Take care to maintain your relationships WHILE you are on the road... keep a blog your friends/family can read, reach out to folks during the week to make weekend plans, be careful scheduling activities for right after work (for when you are home) or right when you return because you WILL find yourself getting caught up (whether at the office or with flight delays) and sooner or later, people will get tired of it, and try to get out and do things during the week at times you DO get to be home so you remember what "normal" feels like.

2. Don't eat/drink everything offered to you while traveling (in the lounge, on the plane, at the hotel, at the client, etc.) unless you have a ridiculously high metabolism. And just because the expense account means you can have cocktails and three courses doesn't mean you should at every meal. You know how folks joke about the Freshman Fifteen? We used to call it the the First Year Forty. I gained 25 pounds my first year consulting and I've never taken it off (and I've had another 25 to 30 pounds on top of that that comes and goes). Learn to work out on the road. It IS possible. Ditto eating healthy.

3. Get yourself in a routine when you are at home so that laundry gets done, bills get paid, and you get rested to go back on the road. I still neglect this a lot... as a result, I've bought enough lingerie to last me two months without doing laundry, but that's an extreme. I also spend entire days (like today) opening the mail that has piled up when I go through weeks of ignoring it!

4. Have fun. You will go places you may never go back to - try to do something fun everywhere you go. Savor the experience. If your firm allows you to fly elsewhere for the weekend (or stay on) if the cost is equal or less than flying home - take advantage of it occasionally.

5. Make friends along the way. See FT Community for DOs and get togethers on the road. FT was a lifesaver for me when being staffed on projects alone (or with folks who didn't like to go out to dinner at night) - I was able to make friends in cities I was in as well as find folks I could travel with on the weekends.

6. Enjoy the ride. Consulting is more than a career for some of us - its a lifestyle. Give it a year or two - you'll either love it or hate it but regardless, you'll get great experience!

Great advice from techgirl, particularly about making FT friends along the way. I have plugged into a great group of people in the city I fly to most and it makes going there feel a lot more friendly. Also never be afraid to post an "I'm in XXX anyone want to have dinner with me" in community, you would be surprised 1) how many other ff's are in that city and want company or 2) how many locals will jump on the offer. You meet great people and have some fun. It really helps

Another piece of advice I would give you (the one I screwed up most) - set expectations on you with your company/clients from the get go. I made the newbie mistake of wanting to please everyone in the beginning so being willing to work crazy hours, travel on weekends, fly horrid amounts at the last minute thinking once everyone knew how good I was at my job I was I could cut back. NOPE. Once you have set the stage for what you are willing to do, people expect it and you cant easily regain your control of your life without changing jobs/clients.

I agree with those that have already said bills, laundry and house cleaning are hard. The worst is getting to things like Dr appts, my dr is used to my "I am stuck out of town and need to reschedule it), my hair dude calls me the day before and asks "so what city are you in"

It is DEFINITELY a lifestyle, and not one for everyone. Many of us love it but it does take work to make it liveable

hey jmpeace501 I am an ERP'er also. Which package are you working with?

I agree with all of the above... it's DEFINITELY a lifestyle... and I don't even really do it full-time.

I'm a media relations consultant currently contracted to a professional sports car racing team... you'll see a million places you never thought you'd ever see, but more often than not, what you'll see of them is hotels, all-night restaurants and the highway to the airport. Savor the moments you get away from the job, because they'll often be few and far between.

That said, I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world. As one of my co-workers said as we stood at the top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico City last month... "I can't believe they're paying me to do this." :)

I'm currently working for a consulting firm that specializes in SAP products & services. You?

If you have Messenger, IM me: jmpeace501 (yahoo & msn)

Listen to TechGirl.... she knows what she's talking about!!! :)

Also, try to pay as many bills as you can online. Also, I have things like my house phone bill, cable, internet, etc automatically paid by credit card. Makes things a lot easier for me, since I just need to review my CC statements online instead of writing checks or remembering what to pay and when.

And don't lose touch with the people (consultants, clients, friends, etc.) that you come to know over time. A client that I worked for last year is going to be in my area in a few weeks and we're going out for dinner. Little things like that make a big difference, and it also felt good to know that this person wanted to go out while in town even though we don't work with each other any more. ^

Regards,
Mike

I am an independent consultant, specializing in Deltek products but work on other systems too.

Sorry I only have AIM for instant messaging