Billability for junior staff 3

[geo6]

Running into a situation here.

I joined a environmental consulting firm a week ago and was assigned a new project during my first week. The project looks exciting since it will go from feasibility to actual implementation (groundwater related). However, right now we are mostly waiting for and re-organizing data from the client oversea (mining company in Africa).

Thus as a new hire at the junior level, my billable hours are likely to be quite low for the next few weeks.

My questions is: shall I look for some repetitive yet short term tasks from other project teams just to be billable during the waiting period ? At the same time, I do want to stick to this good project which is likely to pick up its pace after couple months.

Of course I could just wait out a bit without doing anything other than doing non-billable training and background research on my own. Perhaps it's the management's responsibility to make sure my billability is above acceptable level? (>80%)

Thanks for any input !

 

[desertfox]

Well I don't see any harm in asking for other work as it shows your interested and willing plus showing initiative.
Really it's down to the management who should know exactly what you are working on whether its training or some productive work, so if your companies management is good they will know your situation, although in my humble opinion and experience there are very few good managements these days.

 

[IRstuff]

"Perhaps it's the management's responsibility to make sure my billability is above acceptable level? (>80%)"

It's clearly management's responsibility to acquire sufficient business to achieve high billability. That said, it's your responsibility to take care of yourself, which may require you to hunt down projects that need help. No one knows what you can do better than you. As a new engineer, you need to put yourself out there, both to maintain billings, to find out what your limitations are, what your likes are, and what you may want to beef up on.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[DRWeig]

I agree with desertfox, if management or owners are focused on billable hours rather than training hours for a new hire, you'll make a good impression. Your basic premise would make a good impression on me, too. You're showing integrity in deciding what is billable and what is not. Combine the integrity with the willingness to be productive and I'd consider you to be the kind of folks I like to work with.

Just be glad you're in engineering and not law. In the same situation at a law firm, they'd be billing your hours even if you spent half of them playing Minesweeper. All they'd ask you to do is put more hours on your timesheet, work longer days, so they can up the billings. In doing that, they eat little chunks out of your conscience, one bite at a time, until you have no conscience at all. At that point, you're qualified to become a partner and rake in the big bucks.



Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[geo6]

Thanks guys. Very good and reassuring points here. Management told me not to worry too much during the first week and I was indeed approached for that good project on my third day ( I assume management was behind this).

I think the best way forward is to wait out for the first few days during my 2nd week and see if the workload is picking up. Then perhaps I will hunt for more work to keep myself billable.

 

[steellion]

"Just be glad you're in engineering and not law. In the same situation at a law firm, they'd be billing your hours even if you spent half of them playing Minesweeper."

No, they don't. The standard is to keep track of your time in 6-minute increments. Go to the bathroom? They want your timesheet to reflect that.


Definitely ask around for work, they will appreciate the initiative. Just present yourself as eager to help, not bored. I don't think it's uncommon to be slow your first week though as you are just getting started and you don't have carryover projects.

 

[DRWeig]

You're right, steelion -- I should have put a smiley in there, my comment was in fun. I'm sure the vast majority of law firms are honest this way.

I betya there's one or two like mine, though.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[steellion]

It's okay, DRWeig, I figured you were probably joking. My fiancée is a lawyer and she works her tail off, so I guess I'm just a little sensitive about that sort of thing. And there's no doubt in my mind that there are unethical companies in law and every other profession overcharging clients.

 

[DRWeig]

I had a fleeting thought that you might be married to an attorney, steellion. Engaged is close enough. I'll steer clear of the lawyer jokes, though I have about a hundred of 'em.

My uncle is a prosecutor. It's fun to hear the party get much more quiet when he arrives.

Back on topic. I just finished reading my backlog of Dilbert comics last night, geo6. If enthusiasm and striving to meet the company goals are part of your package, that's quite honorable. If your firm is big, you'll run into Wally*, and maybe more than one. They won't like you. You'll be showing them up.

The thing to remember is, it's OK to be disliked. It's their problem, not yours. In one of my early jobs, I let them turn me into a Wally. That was bad.

*If you haven't read Dilbert, find Wally to see who I'm talking about. Or maybe it's better if you don't read Dilbert...



Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[berkshire]

Dave,
Dilbert should be required reading for all engineers and engineering technicians.
Come to think of it , anybody who works in an office.

B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[Maui]

If geo6 was located in Arkansas, the title of this thread might have started with Hillbillybillability.

Maui

http://www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

 

[debodine]

Maui:

Great one! That would also work for Tennessee, at least if he was around Clinch Mountain where my mom grew up in the 1920's...

 

[dhengr]

Geo6:
If you’re not doing the normal training and indoctrination stuff which is a normal part of the first few weeks at a new job, ask for some copies of reports, specs., plans (work product of the company) which you can review and study. This will give you some insight into what they do and how they expect it to be done. As you get to know the people in the office, ask if they need any help for a short time. Dilbert aside, watch to see who the real movers-n-shakers are in the company, and who the slackers are. You will learn the most and be appreciated the most by working with/under the guys/gals who are doing the real work. Steer clear of the others, all they do is complain about what a tough life they’ve got and how under appreciated their laziness is.

 

[geo6]

Thanks guys.

Perhaps not the first few weeks, only the first few days. I found myself surrounded by overachievers in this firm. The guy sitting beside me is apparently working on 3 projects at the same time.