Not enough work to do in consulting 6

[heartlandce]

I've read a couple threads on the site about what to do when you don't have enough work. I'm in a slightly different situation from many of the posters in those threads, in that I work for a consulting company and need to fill out a time sheet. The past couple weeks I've had a lot of time that has just gone on overhead and have had to explain to my boss what I've been doing.

The thing is, I've asked for billable work from coworkers and even my direct boss but things have been kind of lean. I can fill my time doing lessons learned type documentation, coming up with documented procedures etc., but none of that can be billed.

I've only been at this job a couple months, so I worry that asking for work all the time will threaten my job. If I don't ask for work, however, and spend my time doing things that are useful, but not billable, I cost the company money. It's a lose lose. The thing is, the billable work I have received I think I've performed well on. It's just that people need to give me a chance to help them.

Any suggestions on how to make myself relevant within the department so that more work is directed my way, all while not seeming 'whiny' about it or being a nuisance?

 

[TomDOT]

Do you have ANY billable work on your plate?

If so, complete it.

If not, the discussion with your boss should have been simple, either:

"I have completed all the billable work I have available. What else do you have for me?"

or the slightly more nuanced

"I have completed all current billable work, until the Smith/Jones/Barry accounts respond to my questions/have our progress meeting Tuesday. I expect I have about 20 work hours until then. What other billable work do you have for me in the meantime?"

 

[TheTick]

It's called a "Death Spiral".

 

[cvg]

you never want to be in the position of "have had to explain to my boss what I've been doing".

You need to be proactive and communicate this until you are assigned to do something. Of course your job may be on the line, but sitting around wasting time is not going to help your cause.

 

[TheTick]

Seriously, I've been in this situation more than once, panhandling for billable work within a company that doesn't have enough. Never ends well. Time to go.

 

[berkshire]

If you are sitting around, and your boss is giving you books to read, then it is time to polish the resume.
B.E.

 

[heartlandce]

Are you all saying I should choose to go, or I will soon be asked to go? I started this job 3 months ago, was very busy at first, and things have slowed down. I've been told by my colleagues that's there projects down the line that just haven't kicked off for various reasons.

 

[cvg]

how could anybody on this forum know if you will be layed off? you need to make your own evaluation. but if you are not the hardest working stiff in the office and your supervisors are not sure what you are doing from day to day, then with just 3 months in, you will be at the top of the list for layoffs. doesn't matter what your colleagues say, they are not signing the checks.

 

[msquared48]

Write spreadsheet programs that will save the company time and money in the future.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[ajack1]

If you have asked your boss for billable work he is aware of the situation, so continually asking him will not help.

I have no more idea than anyone else on here as to what is around the corner at where you work, but if they have only just taken you on and are still employing you that says to me that they are happy with you and expect things to improve in the near future and are prepared to take a short term hit in order to keep you.

My advice would be to go to them and say something along the lines of if there is no billable work in the short term would you like me to sort out (whatever in your opinion needs sorting out) or would you sooner I spent the time studying or reading up on standards etc or would something else be of more help?

I short offer a couple of solutions or give them the chance to tell you what to do with the “spare” time.

 

[MintJulep]

Some consulting firms have reputations for holding on to valued employees during lean times. Others have reputations for trimming the fat any time there is a down turn. So it would help to know which type of firm you are working for.

At any rate, one of the oddities of consulting is that being 100% billable drives down the actual overhead rate. So it's actually good to charge overhead once in a while to help the company justify the overhead rate that it claims on government contracts.

 

[cvg]

the fact the you need to "ask" for work, clearly indicates to me that your supervisor may not be on top of things. A good supervisor would be communicating with you what is required on a frequent basis and would certainly encourage you to ask questions. The fact that this is apparently not happening should be a big red warning flag.

just because your are still employed does not mean your boss (which may be somebody higher up than your direct supervisor) is happy with your performance. nor does it indicate that business is improving or that the company intends to keep you on. You could just as easily be called into the office this Friday and given your walking papers.

 

[TheTick]

First time: Company was hanging on to surplus engineers to provide labor during an expected impending strike. I left, and many were axed shortly after the strike was resolved. Three years later, when union contract was satisfied, facility was razed and relocated.

Second time: After a couple months of struggling to keep busy, I was let go. Months after, company went dark.

Third time: Struggling to stay busy while management openly questioned whether my position was needed. Cut loose. Learned later that new product development was stopped in all divisions and all design-related personnel were let go.

 

[berkshire]

The tick,
Same story some years ago, was hired on , busy for first 3 months, then company did not get an expected contract. Work dried up in the office, I re organized file folders, and drawing racks spent time learning ansi codes, then the call to the bosses office, given separation package.
Three months later, company is bought out and facility closed.
Heartland ce
You wonder why I say polish your resume, you may survive if they have an upcoming big project and are prepared to carry you until then.
B.E.

 

[ajack1]

Whilst it is obviously less than an ideal situation, it amazes me how many see a small slow spell as the impending death of the company.

Is there anyone out there who has never worked for a company that has lost a project or had one put on hold that has meant things are slow for a while that has recovered and things have worked out fine?

What a good job company owners don’t feel this way, if every time there was a slight downturn they thought oh well that is it I might as well walk away there would be no jobs for anyone.

 

[heartlandce]

For a forum of engineers, I'm surprised at how quickly many were willing to jump to conclusions and assume my company will be shuttered in a couple months, or that I'm not hard working and just choosing to sit around. I don't think a company of thousands of employee owners will be closed because a new EIT has a slow couple of weeks. I understand the situation doesn't need to be sugarcoated and everyone just tell me things will be okay, but especially cvg has had nothing but negative, unconstructive comments. I do realize it's not an ideal situation and that I'm not going to be viewed as the most valued employee right now, but I'm trying to figure out how to remedy that. To the others who provided constructive advice, thanks.

 

[TheTick]

So... you asked a question and now you are upset because you don't like the answers you elicited? Take it any way you want. One way or the other, a lesson is sure to be learned.

 

[cvg]

heartland, if you wanted sympathy, you came to the wrong place. don't leave mad, come back later and let us know how everything turns out

 

[debodine]

heartlandce, I don't have any magic answers for you, but two anecdotes. A friend of mine got an opportunity to move to a large aircraft manufacturing facility. He gave notice here, worked on beginning the move, and reported to work as a new hire on a Monday. That same week on Friday, the large aircraft manufacturing facility had a major layoff and he was one of the first ones out the door (last in first out).

I work for a company that went through hard times (more than a few months, a few years instead) but did their best to keep people and avoided a layoff for most of those years. Then they were forced to layoff about 15% of the work force, but managed to avoid cutting any deeper. Then business picked up and the people they kept were very glad to be there, including me.

My point is there are two examples that illustrate the extremes, and no one can predict where you current company is on the scale between these extremes. What you are seeing in this forum is the multitude of varied experiences. A person who when through the first extreme would most likely say run as fast as you can somewhere else, but a person who when through the second extreme might advise hanging on at all costs.

Which would give you the better advice? Who knows, but remember to allow people from who you ask opinions to share their opinions. The most important thing to remember is occasionally the most necessary information you may receive could be couched in words, terms and attitude that you don't like. My personal recommendation? Learn from the information and ignore the tone. There are persons on this forum (I have monitored for years) who would probably be delighted to punch out my lights if we ever had a five minute face to face conversation, but from who I have also learned valuable lessons by reading to understand, not to refute.

Because in my forty years I have seen plenty of the extremes and the middle, I recognize the precarious nature of your position right now, and I wish you success in choosing what path you will follow.

debodine

 

[JedClampett]

When you start a new job, there's a time period where everyone is getting used to everyone, you need to be trained, etc. When I started the job I have now, the project I was hired for was delayed for four of five months, so I was in the same boat as you. I was given small tasks, fill in owrk, stuff that others could of done better, just to keep me billable. There were times I wasn't billable. Now I know it's just a cost of transitioning in a new employee.
Keep asking your supervisor for work. If there isn't any, ask what you could do to be productive. Are there typical details that need updating? Maybe there's standard specifications where the manufacturers have changed model numbers and you can update them. Sometimes there's projects that have room in their budgets for a few "miscellaneous" hours charged.
You're right to be a little worried. But when you get down to it, it's not your job to keep yourself busy.