Tiny budget - rant

[blueyes]

I'm pretty irritated that I've eaten up the budget for my Phase I in one week and I've now got zero hours (after COB today) to spend on it - and the report's still not done. :mad: The proposal was bid SUPER-low and the hours slashed so we'd win the project. Well, we won it and I had a total of 32 hours for everything: site visit, historical stuff, report, the whole package. I've now billed 33 hours this week (I ate up an hour someone else hadn't billed) and there's at least EIGHT more hours of work.

I realize that they underbid the project in the hopes of winning the Phase II - easily over 100K - but really...I'm going to have to eat some hours next week and that just is crap. This is one of those days when I'm not so fond of consulting...BOO.

/rant

[WorkInProgress]

So I'm totally ignorant of how consulting works, and it'll show.

But, um, why do YOU have to eat those 8 hours rather than your company, since they purposely bid low to get the foot in the door?

I work for a contracting firm, and my company has bid low on a couple projects for pretty much the same reason, but they pay for the difference, not us worker-bees.

[CTGirl]

YEah, I'm not sure what you mean by YOU having to eat those hours. Do you mean you personally?

If we underestimate something for a client, we either try and up the price with them (that can be tricky) or the company as a whole takes the hit, not the individual.

[LakeJay]

It sounds like an issue with the sales/business development teams not being in line with the actual people doing the work. It's pretty common at my company. We cut time estimates and prices to unrealistic numbers and the implementation/operations teams have to scramble in order to make it happen. It screws us in the end because we either miss our deadlines/SLAs and we lose money on the deal anyway or we just lose the client. It's so ridiculous. I think the problem is that the sales teams have never actually done the work so they'll agree to whatever the prospective client wants and as long as the deal is done, the teams actually working on the engagements can go screw themselves.
I'm sorry you're having to deal (again) with this BS. This is one major reason I want to get out of doing client work. I feel like I bend over backwards for unrealistic expectations. And so I don't sleep...

By the way, thanks for posting this...I had been meaning to rant about my work as well.

[CTGirl]

It sounds like an issue with the sales/business development teams not being in line with the actual people doing the work. It's pretty common at my company. We cut time estimates and prices to unrealistic numbers and the implementation/operations teams have to scramble in order to make it happen. It screws us in the end because we either miss our deadlines/SLAs and we lose money on the deal anyway or we just lose the client. It's so ridiculous. I think the problem is that the sales teams have never actually done the work so they'll agree to whatever the prospective client wants and as long as the deal is done, the teams actually working on the engagements can go screw themselves.


This is when you bring in consultants like us to help the departments work better together and listen to one another :razz:

[LakeJay]

This is when you bring in consultants like us to help the departments work better together and listen to one another :razz:

We can't afford you guys. We're losing money left and right and we're supposedly about the bottom line :0 :huge:

[blueyes]

I have to take the hit for those hours and just do it and not bill it - or I do the slightly unethical thing and bill another project with room to handle extra hours. I'm not okay with the billing it to another project - I know it happens, but it feels underhanded and cheat-y to me - so I'll take the hit now and hope that we can make up those hours in the Phase II if we win it.

Either way, it is infuriating to work and not get the credit for it.

Honestly, I didn't expect anything drastically different: it's consulting, it's Phase I work (which I actually do love), and it's all in an attempt to win larger, juicier projects which keep the clients happy/out of the EPA's hair and means repeat business. I know this is how it works, but it doesn't mean I like it. :frustrate Anyone in consulting will tell you it's cutthroat and frustrating, but it can be one of the more gratifying things to hear a client give you muchos kudos for a job done exceptionally well.

I think it is also important to realize that I'm not willing to settle for less than my best - I got hired to do Phase I work (and air work) based on my claims that I f*cking rule at this and I'm not going to back down from that. It's slightly neurotic, but I'm not letting less than my best out of my hands. It's a consulting problem, right, Jay? ;)

[CTGirl]

What kind of consulting do you do blueyes?

I'm in Organizational Development Consulting, and while I feel you on the competition issue, in my company at least, individuals are not responsible for taking the cut on hours, we get our salary regardless, and its the company that takes the hit on any money lost.

[LakeJay]

I think it is also important to realize that I'm not willing to settle for less than my best - I got hired to do Phase I work (and air work) based on my claims that I f*cking rule at this and I'm not going to back down from that. It's slightly neurotic, but I'm not letting less than my best out of my hands. It's a consulting problem, right, Jay? ;)

Okay...you got me. I'm right there with you. But you also have to admit, that you hate it that the powers that be put you in those situations. Sorry...I'm also a bit peeved about the money situation as well. But I do hear you on the neuroticism with work. Regardless of the pay, I still take pride on my work and how it reflects on me.

[blueyes]

Oh, I'm salary, too - it's just a matter of billability. I'm an environmental consultant with one of the largest private firms. I won't get paid less, I just get the raised eyebrows during review time when my billability has slipped below 95%...

Say it with me: ouch. 95% billability means I am billable 38 hours out of every 40.

But you also have to admit, that you hate it that the powers that be put you in those situations...Regardless of the pay, I still take pride on my work and how it reflects on me.
Absolutely. It's a razor-thin line between enraging your superiors and enraging the client.

But if you can handle it, it's one helluva ego boost to have a client specifically request you. C'mon - you feel me on that one, right?! :lol:

[spokes]

ugh - everytime i eat hours they go straight to my hips.

[LakeJay]

But if you can handle it, it's one helluva ego boost to have a client specifically request you. C'mon - you feel me on that one, right?! :lol:

Accolades are great whether they come from internal or external. I think I am at a point though where I want those praises translated into dollar bills. I'm starting to question whether some of the positive comments are just lip service because they know I am making jack for what I do. Sorry...once again going on a tangent. Anyway I agree...you do get a high from "pats on the back" and it's enough to keep you going and wanting to do even better.

[blueyes]

I think I am at a point though where I want those praises translated into dollar bills. I'm starting to question whether some of the positive comments are just lip service because they know I am making jack for what I do.
Nope - feel you on that one, too. I left my last position b/c it was so much smoke and mirrors - and nothing tangible for me. Hell, give me a THANK YOU CARD - it was that bad.

The ironic part? The day I told my last employeer I was giving notice, they wanted to sit down and discuss how I'd been put on a long-term, off-site assignment (without my knowledge or permission) at the specific request of a client. Too little too late, guys.

[LakeJay]

Nope - feel you on that one, too. I left my last position b/c it was so much smoke and mirrors - and nothing tangible for me. Hell, give me a THANK YOU CARD - it was that bad.

The ironic part? The day I told my last employeer I was giving notice, they wanted to sit down and discuss how I'd been put on a long-term, off-site assignment (without my knowledge or permission) at the specific request of a client. Too little too late, guys.

Over the past 2 years I've received a $5 gift card to Blockbuster and a $10 gift card to Target for all my hard work :neutral:

I totally going all out on getting out of here after my vacation this weekend. I love hearing my supervisor talking about plans months from now or next year. I'm not even hearing her. Good thing you left your old place...I'll hopefully follow your lead.