My SM was saying it wouldn’t be a good time to be on the bench in case they decide to make layoffs… I just joined this year but imagine more science would go into the decision then just whoever isn’t on a project

likehelpful
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What deeper science do you need than “who is making us money and who is costing us money?”

likefunny

In an ideal world you'd look at past utill, but the golden rule in consulting is a day not billed is a day lost. So if you need to save money and someone is billing and someone isn't you will almost always keep the one with the meter running.

In reality what happens is we know who the good people are and when we feel a "pinch" coming we make sure our "good guys" are locked up on projects and just let the rest ride the wave of fate.

Fair? NO... Will it change? NO!!!

Errr….that’s a bold move cotton. Let’s see how it works out for SC

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Thanks for this useless comment lol… I’m not on the bench I was just wondering

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It’s unlikely people on the bench will be culled at a point in time simply for being on the bench. It’s not musical chairs. What’s more likely is the Partners will look at forecasted demand for the next few quarters and allocate cuts based on underperforming groups.

From there, it’ll be low performers (people on PIPs, with low YE ratings, low utilization) and anyone left from most to least expensive (MDs and SMs/Ds who aren’t selling or delivering, then down the line).

Letting go of a Senior doesn’t generate a lot of cost savings, so it’s not the worst position to be in. But actively trying not to be utilized will put a target on your back. Unless you’re currently networking your way onto a project more in line with your skills, best to keep your head down.

likehelpful

Seriously. Finally a helpful answer. Thank you SM3

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You don’t want to be on the bench when business is slow. It’s like running through a gun range dressed as a target. Might not get shot, but you are trying to…

like

This is how the M&A world works… then another 2-3 week diligence then maybe a 10 week transformation effort. Pretty common

helpful

Maybe the SM is trying to speak to their own insecurities because they know that they are high cost and likely to get cut before an SC.

like

ABC (always be closing) for seniors and ABB (always be billing) for juniors.

When you’re not, you draw attention. And not in a good way

Just the reality of professional services.

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But when we go below PIPs… in a perfect world the group with less business would get more cuts but the reality is it often gets peanut buttered so every group loses. In those rare cases of economic downturn, pip is first, then it can be qual or quant. When it is quantitative those with lower utilization are more likely to be impacted. Really firm dependent …

like

Ya I like SC in these economic conditions… can easily stretch to an M role but cheaper, but still post MBA so more valuable than peasant BA/C

Just as an FYI… these economics work all the way down the chain, BA/Cs are very cheap and Cs flex up to SC all the time/SCs are actually performing as Cs… My project has Cs leading workstreams w/ SCs reporting to them. Then core BAs are more expensive than USI and USDC, we are all replaceable in a macro sense.

We’re all peasants until PPMD, and even then you’re another PPMD’s cattle

Seconding SM3. This is a slow time. In the “old days” aka 3 years ago, we always had a bench this time of year. As long as you’re being helpful where you can be, maintaining connections, and not dropping off the face of the earth, you’ll be fine.

Performance is always a factor if the dates available. There are plenty of duds who happen to be staffed at a given time, and strong performers who happen to be in the bench. At least at D, being staffed is not an indication of job protection

Same thing at EY. Definitely easier to backfill a low performer who’s lucky enough to be staffed with someone you actually want to keep and happens to be on the bench at the moment.

If you have been here less than 1 year the LTA threshold is much longer.

If you think the firm applies some deeper analytics then don’t sweat it.

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