Dilemma: am I the problem or the project?
Hi everyone,
I'm in an interesting dilemma at my job currently, and I wanted to get feedback from others who may be in a similar background / situation, or just an outside perspective in general.
I'm currently working as a consultant for one of the big implementation-focused consulting companies. It's been about a year since I joined the firm, so I'm pretty new.
Currently, there is a big mega project at the firm that requires a huge manpower, (several hundreds) and I was sucked into the project as soon as I joined. I've been on the project for almost a year, and since I don't have any experience in working on other types of project or working with anyone from my division, I'm slated to get extended on this project forever. I'm thinking at least until the end of this year.
Here is the problem. This isn't a project that I would consider a consulting project. As an analyst, my daily job literally consists of, opening up a document that's several hundred pages long, look through it and identify key documents and key information, and transfer those key information to an excel sheet following standardized template. ALL DAY. Of course there are other aspects of the project, but as an analyst, this is what I do for 90% of my time.
I'll spare you the reasons why I would like to move on to other projects, since it's obvious. (I'm not learning anything, hard to keep motivated, etc) I've tried very hard to find opportunities within my company by getting involved in leadership roles for various organizations within the firm, helping out with proposal work, and aiding a white paper. I've networked hard, and I've connected to a lot of people I could go ask for a project opportunity. But simply, I won't be let go from my current project, because the project is too large, too important, and requires too many people.
I've expressed my concern to people in various levels, but there is just no way around this. I was advised to just persevere. However, having already spent a year, I'm not sure if it makes sense from my career's perspective to not do anything for another year or so.
So am I just whining, or do you think it makes sense to look outside the firm? Is this what everyone goes through, at some point in their career?
You have legitimate concerns. Good friend of mine at work was in a very similar situation and got out of it by networking with people in other teams until one of the requested that he be moved to their team. Having a Director level person ask for you, specifically, to be moved to their team is really the only way to get out of it without seriously pissing people off (which will still probably happen, just to a lesser degree).
Pick up new responsibility/try new role within the same project. Not all 200 people can't be copying stuff into Excel. Tell your Manager you want to learn new things and get more client interaction and whether it's possible to find additional opportunities for you within the team. Then slot another n00b analyst in your role.
And also don't expect yourself to be above others in any case. I was up late last night copying shit from pdf to Excel, and I am 3+ years in the job. Sometimes you just have to go do it.
lol..
"yesum Massa. Iz likes some mo'"
I think the answer also depends on whether the project (or the part of it that you are on) can realistically end within a year. If yes, I think you should suck it up and perform as well as you can - when assigning job on new projects in the future, your managers are likely to remember good performance. I think you'd be better off if you are remembered as a guy who does his work no matter how crappy it is, rather than someone who complains all the time. Also, the task you are doing sounds very technical indeed; is it possible to make it automatic to at least some extent? Like get programmers involved who'd extract those pieces of data based on keywords, etc.? If it's possible and can be cost-efficient, you should suggest it to your manager. If you help save time and money, you'll earn good reputation within the team. Overall, I think most people, except a lucky few, had to go through periods of doing crappy tasks (I had to spend several weeks doing nothing else but scanning a ton of documents). It can be demoralizing indeed, but you should try to see the light in the end of the tunnel. If you don't see the light (or it appears to be a train), you definitely should look for other opportunities.
Thanks for good responses. happypants, I tried that already, but to no avail. abacab, I'm trying that right now, too.
My biggest concern is the duration. If this was like 3 months long, I might still complain, but I wouldn't seriously consider abandoning all my built-up network and reputation (whatever little I have) by considering opportunities outside. I'm already one year in, and this could go on for another year. So at the end of my two year "consulting" experience, what have I gained? What have I learned, and how am I a better consultant? I love the firm outside the project, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved, and a ton of interesting projects. But what good are they for me?
I have friends at MBB to whom I talk from time to time, and even though they go through the same (probably worse) travel schedule, grueling workload, whatever, at the end of the day, they tell me they are learning a great deal and that they can feel themselves growing career-wise. Unfortunately, I can't say the same. :(
What exactly did you expect the job to be?
I was a consultant and to me it sounds like you're learning how to stay billable and that's pretty fucking important in the consulting world! I know that comes off as weird, but it's also 100% true.
I think most people have misconceived notions of what a "consultant" actually does. I was a consultant for IBM and half the time I was on projects for stuff that the client simply didn't want to do themselves. You want to believe that they are hiring you for something else, but the reality is that consultants get hired for all kinds of crazy/stupid/silly shit all the time. So don't worry about your next gig because they've been doing crazy/stupid/silly shit too - they're not going to expect you to be amazing. You could just walk into the interview and say, "I was 100% billable in my last two years, never on the bench" and the guys interviewing you will cream their pants!
I realize how being billable is important in consulting, but that's a pretty grim perspective, dude. but thanks for your critical viewpoints...
so I guess this is normal in this industry unless I'm working at MBB? do i need to just stfu and persevere?
Loool...look at your name depressed and confused maybe you are the problem haha
Loool...look at your name depressed and confused maybe you are the problem haha
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