Being on the bench this time around is seriously starting to take a toll on my mental health - have others experienced this after weeks of projects falling through or lack there of ?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

What are you all talking about?

I gym tan laundry every day on the beach.

Catch up on books, movies, shows.

If you don’t have a life outside of work, work on getting one.

Seriously, you’re complaining about a break in our non-stop busy work schedule.

like

Not really about “having a life outside of work”. When I was on bench I was getting very worried because even if I was to exit and reinterview for jobs, I barely have any new experience. Under my job title would be....helped on BD decks? Stagnating skill sets are not something to be happy about. For the first 2 weeks it’s relaxing to have a break, but once it hits 4 months you begin to get very worried.

like

It drives me crazy, here I am begging for work, while listening to others who are drowning. Not sure the answer, but the staffing model is inefficient to say the least

like

Is it time to start looking for a job outside of consulting ?

like

I’m in the same boat. The anxiety shoots up.

like

Yup. Same. Can’t get productive at all. No personal care. Been day drinking too. 🤪

like

I felt so anxious and stressed out that it started interfering with my sleep schedule and I was having anxiety attacks earlier in January. It's subsided now bc I realized I can only do what I can and the rest is up to someone else to respond. Try working on yourself/expanding your skill set if you're feeling restless and unproductive.

like

I keep a list of everything I wish I had time for when I’m on a project and then check off everything when I’m on the bench. I’ve been on the bench for 6 weeks and my entire list is almost done. I have deep cleaned my place, taken elderly family members to lunch, watched movies I wanted to see, finished a couple of projects lying around the house, etc. I only get to be on the bench every 3-4 years so I try to make the most of it when it comes.

like

Been in the consulting business for 20 years. Q1 is always a tough period as the deal cycle normally run long. Try to get on sales opps or reach out to your practice leadership and offer to do work that helps the practice during this time. Normally consulting firms won’t try to thin the bench through cuts unless they’re seeing a week Q2 pipeline. I wouldn’t worry too much but always have a plan B even if you are fully utilized as you never want to be caught unprepared.

like

It's actually not about being on the bench itself, it's the fact that HR is up your ass every 48 hours asking for an update on your "effort"

like

In the same boat here. This is my fourth week on the bench and I am going crazy. I love consulting but I can’t keep doing this to myself every time I am on the bench. I feel like I am an unemployed employed person lol

like

That may be how it is at Accenture (though I worked there and don’t recall having as much trouble at all). Other firms don’t operate this way.

Where I’m at now, staffing and chargeability are the responsibility of practice MDs.

like

I was on the bench & had anxiety, now I’m on a project & have anxiety still & wish I was on the bench...it’s an endless cycle

like

Same boat here. Emotionally draining and feeling really down.

like

Same, but I’m not technically on the bench. Rest of the team took most things over, & I am remote. Could be worse, but it does bring out the depression and anxiety something fierce.

like

Suggest 1. If you have BD and other work, doing it from the office. Don’t WFM. 2. If you don’t have work then go sit in the park or explore museums but don’t sit in your living room staring at computer.

like

I was on the bench for 5 months when I started. Stayed home for a solid month because the office was depressing to be in when there’s no work to be done. Genuinely felt depressed and thought about quitting. I eventually got staffed and absolutely love my project (this is my first—thank god a manager took a chance on me), feeling motivated now to get up and start working. The lead up absolutely sucks and I recommend emailing senior managers your skill set and availability but also taking the time to gym, enjoy time with family, and do personal fun things. Distracting myself was the only way I was able to push through.

like

I’m sorry to all of you whom feel this way. In consulting there are ebb’s and flows. As an analyst especially you can’t control this. Your goal is to grow your network and try new things. If you have questions or concerns please message me. Happy to help if I can (L5 here).

like

Work out

🙋

Related Posts

What agency out of these have good culture/team structure/quality work or strategic work? I have never gotten a chance to work on any strategic deliverables throughout 5 years as an account for consumer/patient side (i’m an AS).

Some names I saw were:
-FCB Health NY
-McCann Health
-Havas
-Klick
-Publicis Health
-21grams
-w2o/real chemistry
-evoke

like

Don’t mix Investment and Insurance.
Buy term insurance in your early age.
Invest mix mode equity and debt .
Ping me for invest and insurance help.
Also get discount price for insurance

like

Any doctors in here? 31/M and get occasional sharp chest pains. Any notion to what my outlook for causes are? No health insurance currently and little in reserves.

like

Hi, my mom in India, going through dialysis due to failure of both kidneys. Are there options to continue her dialysis in US? Any knowlwdge of insurance coverage? Any inputs based on your experience?

So I have completely lost interest in my area of practice mainly because I haven’t been exposed to many matters (our team is really slow) and I am the most junior in the team. So billable work is never constant. I feel like this has impacted my interest and stagnated my growth. I am thinking of moving into a different area of practice that I’m interested in. Has anyone ever done this? I’m actually depressed and I really hate being given work now. I have ADHD. Please advise

like
like

Does anyone feel burned out from healthcare from this past year? I straddle tech trans and do procurement/manage the research department of a health system. Is it just me or do health systems compensate less? If I'm going to have to work long hours - I might as well get paid more going the private sector/tech company route.

like

Hi friends, Got two offers. One with: Humana(Remote)[Insurance based company]and another with Mastercard(Hybrid) (Ofallon, MO)-need to relocate after 6 months. Both are for Senior software Engineer. Humana- TC= 155K, Mastercard-TC=175. Which is a better option, as talk are going on that, recession will happen soon. I’m confused to choose, as some say Insurance company doesn’t get effected with recession. Please suggest.

like

Hello all! I'm a clinical research professional with up to 5 years' of diverse experience featuring lab/bench side work, data management and information, and clinical administrative work. I am also currently pursuing my CCRP SOCRA certification as I am actively looking to switch jobs. I currently work as a Lead Research Associate& Protocol Coordinator at NIAID as a contractor and I'm looking for clinical research opportunities that are remote amd exciting! Would love a referral please!

like

Anyone out there a nurse health coach? How do you like it?

like

It’s hard to understand COVID-19 rates of infection where I’m at or was, and the contracts was not inline with corporate ideals at least not in the IT sector. Their ideals was radical and the spread of harmful information on past events to prevent ethnicities to get vaccinated was alarming. It has highest infection rate in private sector. Don’t know death rates was strictly remote and put on non-sanctioned project NDA wasn’t signed and never knew until it came down the grapevine.

likefunny

Hi All! I am currently seeking a remote HR Generalist role. I have a broad range of experience over ~5yrs at a 500 person global tech company. Most relevant projects/programs include developing and leading global CSR, well-being, culture/engagement initiatives, event management, LMS admin, 1yr handling US health/401k benefits, solo office manager for 3 US offices, + 2yrs as AR Specialist (all overlapped). Looking to dive fully into HR, would love to connect or can share my resume. TIA!

like

Interview with Deloitte for Healthcare Ops transformation Senior Consultant. Wanted to know what salary range i should expect. Candidate with post 6 years of experience with Top 20 MBA degree. Currently at a competitor.

like

Facing a tricky situation and never dealt with this stuff before 🙃 - I generally dont smoke/drink, its seen as taboo in our culture and our household. I have a younger sibling who just finished college this week. I know he ocassionally consumes alcohol which tbh not too surprised/worried abt. Recently heard from one of his friends that they are worried about his smoking habit and was totally blind sided. Apparently its been going on for 2 months and he recently upped it to twice a day..(cont)

like

Any women working in Commercial Insurance in B.C. (Broker, Underwriting, Account Manager or Management) that work for a company you like or love? I'd love to hear what company and why you like them.

like

Will my probation period increase by 1 month if I am on bench for 1 month ? I am a lateral hire

like

Don’t know if the agency life is for me anymore but not sure what else to do now. I’m not happy at my current agency but I like working in health/pharma. Thoughts, advice?

How important is WLB for long term health? Do you think working for hours and hours infront of the screen everyday will cause health issues after retirement?

likehelpful
like

Does fis insurance cover cataract surgery?

like

More Posts

Federal Consultant who transferred from PDM to PPD this past PY. Got a 3. S&O General Management. Any guess on what my raise and bonus would be? They said that they'd adjust my salary for the PDM to PPD transfer. Currently at $71,800 with a strategic masters and 8 years of non-consulting experience. I feel like I am at the low end of the band and would like to feel like my salary will go up a reasonable amount, but am tired of the disappointment.

like

Hi Fishes,
How many days Persistent takes to share interview feedback?

like

Furloughed and want to pick up new skills. I would love to hear resources that people have for learning a language, specifically Spanish- I could use this for my practice

like

Any fish in line w me at the Vivienne Westwood sample sale in NYC? Good luck.

likefunnyhelpful

Anyone looking for 2bhk in Bangalore city near Deloitte usi office I will be moving this month?

Any suggestions broker contacts etc?

like

Can anyone give me Azure DevOps small task or project so I can do practice as new in DevOps

like

I am looklooking for complete remote job in Data Analytics in US based company.
I have 5 YOE as same in India.

If anyone have any reference, please help me.

like

Took audit last week. I’ve passed everything else. Really hope I pass audit so I can be done. I’m just going to continue studying until I get that passing score God willing. It’s a weird feeling to think I may be done with this exam. Wish me well guys

likeuplifting

Houston or Phoenix?

like

Looking for referrals for SWE internships. Open to working in most places in the US, but I would prefer Washington DC or Los Angeles.

like

How does pivoting from one government job to another work? Are there pros & cons to taking a break in between? Does the two weeks notice still apply?

like

What can be the maximum pay at nagarro for selenium lead of 9.6 exp?

like

What are your opinions on going deskless in the classroom?

Do IBM hire candidates with 3 YOE? Tech Stack- GCP certified, DevOps Ansible, Git, Jenkins, MQ, Linux
Can someone please help me know this.

like
like

How much fis takes to share service letter. As it's already more than 20 days.

I am a field marketer. I travel and cover 12 states. HQ is across the US on the east coast. My manager put a surprise calendar invite twice now to go to home office without consulting dates to see if we were available. I stood up and asked to be included on available dates and said I will attend virtually but asking me to be away for 4 additional full days away from my family without asking me is not OK. I already travel a lot and this boundary is super important to me. Am I right or wrong?

like

S&P Global Hey everyone, Heard this rumour that huge layoffs are going to happen in S&P global india....can anyone give heads up about this ?

S&P Global

helpful

Does Infosys has office in Noida? Infosys

like
like

Additional Posts in Consulting

When it's been a day so you order steak. 🥩🍷

like

Has any of you had any luck joining another firm as a partner while not being one at your current firm?

like

This free Hult MBA thing at EY for real? 🤦🏽‍♂️

likefunny

What is the range of a chief of staff role, 2 YOE at a startup? How much equity should I ask for?

like

2 or 4 wheel carry ons?

like

Federal tax refund - where the eff is mine ? Been processing forever. Anyone else been waiting forever ? Uncle Sam owes me a good stack of money.

like

So...my friend is paying $6k for a matchmaker to set her up on dates for three months (no not the Indian matchmaker it's someone from philly). I tried telling her that she's probably just better off trying to find love on her own but there's no talking her out of this one. Any matchmaker success stories out there?

likefunny
like

Management Consulting at Big 4 or Equity Research at a BB. Which would you take?

funny

Thank you Global Entry.

like

What are typical backgrounds for people who go into product management at FAANG companies?

like

Happy 21st second of the 21st minute of the 21st hour of the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century

likefunnysmartupliftinghelpful

Is there a souped up excel I need to know about. I'm dealing w very large files and it takes forever to do anything.

like

Healthcare consulting future - Better to go into the tech space, or focus on strategy/ops?

like

APAC Kearney employee here. Have an opportunity to shift to Bain, but have been in the firm for only a few months. Any thoughts? Should I shift? Or stay back longer?
Shifting will push me back 6 months.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

like

Ugh. Deloitte is making it impossible for me to find out the salary range and the compensation ratio for my position. Anyone with suggestions for a GPS pursuit manager within enabling areas? Other big four: what’s the average salary for this position at your firms?

like

Free deposit of 50% of Elite nights from last night for Marriott Members. Sounds like Marriott really wants us to start going back and staying in their hotels.

like

How often do Senior Associate Consultant level folks leave consulting and get Director level industry roles? Just saw a LinkedIn update from an old colleague and holy wow, good for them. Is this common?

like

This is why we need Universal Healthcare

Post Photo
likefunnyupliftingsmart

Good bike brands for 6 yr boy. Budget 100-200. Is it better to order and assemble or buy from walmar or cycle store directl

likehelpful

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Send download link to your phone

OR

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Messaging rates may apply

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal