Getting Staffed
Now that you have a consulting job, guess what? Your job search, in essence, begins all over again. That's because your first few assignments can be critical to your future at your firm. One frequent danger is pigeonholing. (The danger of this tends to be greater at larger consulting firms.) Complete a computer-based training module about the programming language COBOL, go on a few successful COBOL training assignments and voila! - you're a COBOL expert and will be staffed primarily, if not exclusively, on COBOL assignments. This is fine if you're got a desire to specialize, and even better if you happen to become an "expert" in an area where assignments are diverse and plentiful.
However, there can be drawbacks to such an approach. You might grow to loathe COBOL. You might be routinely staffed on assignments where travel is unavoidable. COBOL might be the furthest thing from your career goal.
Ask yourself a few questions. Where do you want to work? Do you want to travel? Do you want to work with a particular client? (Many consulting firms have bread-and-butter clients with whom they routinely work.) Do you want to stay with this firm for a few years, or for a career?
If you're not in an area you like - or worse, if you're not getting staffed at all - you have a few options. Do your best to receive training in an area that interests you. Ask those a level above you, as well as your mentor (whether informal or assigned by your firm) if they are aware of any current or upcoming projects in your preferred area. Some consulting companies have internal intranets; don't be shy about using yours to locate projects that interest you and the appropriate contacts.
You may or may not have a representative in human resources who staffs you. Make sure you meet your HR rep and communicate your preferences to him or her regularly. But be warned: while some HR reps are looking out for your best interests, many are simply trying to staff warm bodies.
If you're new to the organization and know no one, you may not have any options. You may need to take whatever is given to you, be a team player and do the best job you can. If it's not your first choice, in a diplomatic way, make sure your HR rep knows that - to be able to better fit you to your next role. Then use that project to become known as a person who has a great attitude, can do anything, and is someone people want to work with.
Even if you despise your project, build relationships with project managers on every project you are staffed on. They are the front lines to the staffing opportunities; they decide who they want to be on their team. Those managers will also support you for promotion and help you navigate the company. Soon, you will be staffed directly on projects by your contacts.
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This article is excerpted from the Vault Career Guide to Consulting.
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