Consulting Discussions
Utilization Rate

2nd year advisory Sr. Manager (Business risk/Internal Audit). Based out of LA. 153k + Bonus (which we don’t receive these days). Always meet utilization goals. Primary sales 4-8 MM. Curious to know low I am? How are others faring?

I romanticized being a consultant while working in industry. Then I got a consulting job, a couple promos, and now the idea of consulting just makes me roll my eyes. I love the pay and I don’t mind working hard, w/ long hours, but the “business of consulting” is exhausting (e.g. maintaining utilization, selling engagements, 6k iterations of a deck, etc). Great company, great co-workers, and interesting engagements.... I can’t be the only one feeling this way.

Time to exit or is this a phase?

I'm a new senior, started last fall. Been on the bench since and been working with a few partners on leads. I guess I did ok so they put holds on my schedule in anticipation for the sell. however, none of them have sold and I'm left with no utilization but my calendar shows booked for engagements to staffing.
I know there were at least 2 sold projects that asked for me and couldnt get me on due to these holds (to staffing I'm booked).
Should I be worried about utilization? Advise on handling?

I was let go with no prior indications that I will be laid off. Good utilization solid engagement feedback. HR set up a call to tell me this. When I asked to counselor he couldn’t answer my questions

How does it feel to earn less than US Consultants while also struggling for utilization

Working at Baker as J3. I was hired for arbitration PG but arbitration pg was slow in the past 3 years. So I also managed to get experience doing real estate/compliance/m&a; I was utilized at these practice areas for almost a year (doing minimal arbiration). I want to transition to pure transaction/m&a practice but will not be possible at my current firm. I want to display my past m&a experience without giving a "couldnt fit into arbitation pg" impression. Opinions?

Is utilization a big 4 specific thing or does it haunt you once you go to the industry as well?🥲

I’ve had minimal workload the past 4ish weeks (still utilized on a project, maybe 3-4 hrs of actual work per day) but still feel extremely anxious. Anyone else get anxiety from not having work to do?

Has anyone utilized a nutrition coaching program that they would recommend? I'm looking to change my view of food and determine my true maintenance, not necessarily looking to bulk/cut or drastically improve performance. Trying to research M2 performance nutrition, Tactic functional nutrition and others.

Am I expected to ask specific questions about things like utilization, performance metrics, rollover PTO etc etc. during interviews?

After 2.5 YOE I feel like I still don’t know all those answers at Deloitte and definitely didn’t know enough about consulting or post college work to ask before starting my first job. Alternatively are employee handbooks leaked/available online anywhere? Can’t find them and am interviewing with KPMG and EY

Wasting many hours on mundane tasks of data extrapolation and formatting in Excel and PowerPoint (due to limited junior staff and programmers). Has been happening for a while due to us being short-staffed.

I don't see myself "above" these tasks per se, but it's taking nearly 50%+ of my time. The mundane tasks can't be automated simply either (I have no programming background). I don't feel like I'm being utilized well given my background/experience. Is this a dead end? Common experience?

For anyone who needs to read this: I left consulting 9 months ago for a tech company. I don’t love what I am doing, nor the people, nor do I have WLB, but I don’t miss the toxicity and judging people based on where they work or their utilization. I’ll probably leave soon, but have no regrets jumping ship when I did. Press on. The grass may not be greener, but at least I know where I need to water.

What are firms utilization and sales expectations for manager? My sales for first year manager is 1m and utilization is 70%. Is this generally normal, lenient, or aggressive? I’m at a small boutique ~100 people

Hello all, hoping some of my fellow fish can help provide insight. I’ve received an offer and am really struggling.
-4.5 YOE
-2 years at a mid size firm, 1 year at daddy D, and 1.5 at current boutique firm
-current comp is 100 base, roughly 120 TC with bonus (monthly based on utilization) and 401k/HSA match
-offer for 150 base and 12% bonus (based on clearing yearly utilization of 85%) and manager title
-current firm countered with 130 base and an increase in bonus accrual metrics

Cont’d...

I am a developer and one of my performance metrics is "Utilization" (billable hours). I am finding it hard to meet this goal (get enough work from my project team), accomplish all my admin tasks, and take vacation/holidays. Any advice?

For the past several months I've watched painfully as my utilization suffered because I was assigned to a project that does not allow me to be fully utilized (EM also nitpicks hours billed)...my manager and ppmd are already aware of the situation but haven't offered up another engagement. How can I fix this situation without annoying them?

I want to get on a new project and I need guidance on how a SC starts to pursue their own projects. Up until now I’ve been told to wait for your manager/practice leader to assign projects to you, but that’s landed me in a situation where I’m under-utilized and on an engagement that has nothing to do with what I want to do. Plz help.

Pros and Cons of Flexible/Unlimited time off policy while maintaining the utilization targets to avail leaves?

Is it typical to get a year end raise, even if you are not getting promoted? For example, I’ve been at my current rank for one year and am close to next level. My value is higher since I am more experienced but still billed as a senior analyst. Is it reasonable to ask my employer for a raise? My reasoning as follows:
- My work quality has significantly improved since last year
- 90% utilized this year
- Current pay is below market value
- No harm in asking

Started at the firm as a new grad in September, first project ended last week and haven’t gotten a bite for a new project yet. Been on the bench for almost a week, should I be worried about utilization?

For those of you who went audit to FDD - do you think eating time is more or less of a thing than what you experienced in audit. Personally - I feel like I eat way more time in FDD and get so aggravated when my utilization is around 100% and the firm makes it seem like I’m working 9-5 every day. I know it’s my own fault but given the increased billing rates and overall unpredictability in schedule just curious as to others experiences.

Have an opportunity to roll of a 6-month engagement soon. PPEDs & SMEs would like me to return (minimum another 6 months). Client work is something I have absolutely no interest in (open SOW so a lot of BAU work). That being said, I don’t have another engagement lined up. I have been networking but my conversations have translated into involvement in pursuits/leads. I’d be walking away from guaranteed utilization on a G360 account and a potential agile promotion in May..gamble or not? thoughts?

Did PWC announce layoffs today? Or were they more targeted / based on performance and utilization? My partner just met with HR 😢

I wish admin utilized Tier 1 supports with teachers. Smiles, appreciations and acknowledging ones efforts would do a great deal to boost morale and climate. I just don’t understand what that is so hard to do.

Do pending PTO get paid off if you quit amex suppose I have not utilized my 24 PTO and I quit Amex will I paid off for that PTO and my sick leave during full and final settlement with Amex?I

What’s everyone’s life utilization %?

What’s a good utilization percentage? Should I care or worry about it?

DM me if you are a Staff or Senior** that is interested in a Cyber role at EY. Our team is fully utilized and we are interested in hiring.

Is billing for utilization more difficult with no travel? Before, you could bill 100% of the time you spent at client site. Now you can only bill time you are “working”

Feeling stuck with this engagement. Team only allocated X hours for me which only makes me 66% utilized, when in reality I’m working the same amount as I would be with 100% utilization. Do people at the SC level typically rely on the practice partner align to you to projects? Or do you find your own? Just curious how other consultants handle this.

I feel kind of guilty. I don’t know why, but I make 110 base and 15% bonus, and lately my project is so slow that I’m filling my days with internal tasks and maybe 15-20 hrs/week of actual project work. I’ve talked to people about this and I guess given the year we are having it is what it is. Project goes til year end and either extend or roll off. Utilization still holding around 90% YTD since I was busy early on. I feel stupid for complaining, friend in government reminded me big $ low hrs.

My therapist just referred to the job as an abusive relationship. This is one of the more intense projects I’ve been on in my 4 years - not the most, but has been going for 6 months billing 120% utilization. Yeah, that checks out.

What’s everyone’s utilization on average? My firm targets 85% which I think is pretty solid but if you have a bad month it’s kind of hard to crawl out of it.

For those who work at companies with “unlimited PTO”....how does that work out for you? Do you like it? Do you find that you actually use/get time off? Does it negatively impact your utilization?

My project goes live Nov 9th but I have accepted a new job. When do I put my two weeks in? I have been with this client for > 1.5 years. My gut says give notice Oct 15th but stay through Go Live week. I don’t want to jeopardize my utilization at my new firm. New firm supports pushing start date but obviously prefers an earlier start date.

Never been on the bench. Always been 90+% utilization rate. Can I just be on the bench so I can study for CPA 🤣😭

Prob have had around 20% utilization so far is 2020. And that, my friends, is my protest to capitalism 🤑

How many consultants (perhaps at M/SM level) exited to big tech, and finds the scope of work is super insignificant & your consulting/management experience under utilized?