IT consultant vs regulat FTE job differences?

So a question for anyone that has worked as both as a consultant at a firm and a regular FTE position for a company. I know the main differences of consultant is ever changing and you deal with a lot of migrations and more technology. My main question is, do you really work a lot more hours? 40+ hours at the job?

Reason I'm asking is I have a potential position on the table as a consultant and I'm not sure I would like to work a constant 50+ hour week. When asking them they say it's standard hours of max 40 per week but I know that is a lie. True the money is a lot better, 30% increase, but is it worth it? Right now I'm FTE working max 40 per week with 0 overtime. Drive time identical.

Thoughts?

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Comments

tjb122982

Well, I haven't done it. However, I would ask myself do I need the money that badly? Sure extra money is great but are you going to have the time to spend it?

aftereffector

Just doing the arithmetic on it, getting a 30% pay increase but working 52 hours a week is exactly the same hourly wage as your current 40 hour per week job.

Zartanasaurus

aftereffector wrote: »

Just doing the arithmetic on it, getting a 30% pay increase but working 52 hours a week is exactly the same hourly wage as your current 40 hour per week job.

Well hopefully those 52 hours are billable, so you're getting 12 hours of overtime.

shodown

Working at a consultant increased my overall career earnings and skills and let to me opening up my own shop. I work with a lot of people who are career consultants. They hop around from project to project usually staying close to the latest and greatest. The grind of the project depends on whats being implemented and how well its been thought out. When I use to just post a lot on here it means the project was well funded and they allowed downtime on the clock. I had some projects were I just sat on my but and got a PHAT paycheck, others I was working by butt off and being underpaid. You can't really tell until you get in there.

NightShade03

shodown wrote: »

Working at a consultant increased my overall career earnings and skills and let to me opening up my own shop. I work with a lot of people who are career consultants. They hop around from project to project usually staying close to the latest and greatest. The grind of the project depends on whats being implemented and how well its been thought out. When I use to just post a lot on here it means the project was well funded and they allowed downtime on the clock. I had some projects were I just sat on my but and got a PHAT paycheck, others I was working by butt off and being underpaid. You can't really tell until you get in there.

+1 to this. Consulting will certainly keep you sharp and allow you tons of new opps in the long run, but you have to understand there is unpredictability with projects. Also some consultants travel like crazy so make sure you consider that too.

sj4088

aftereffector wrote: »

Just doing the arithmetic on it, getting a 30% pay increase but working 52 hours a week is exactly the same hourly wage as your current 40 hour per week job.

It's not the same because as a consultant you get paid for any time you work unlike a salaried FTE. So he would get paid for 52 hours.

The biggest drawback with a consultant is the unpredictably. So if you have a family it might not be the best way to go.

loxleynew

I ended up turning down that opportunity for the consulting today due to the unpredictability of the hours involved. Also they stated it was salary and you only got bonuses upon completing projects etc. So that 52 hourss you would be paid like 40 hours with a potential bonus at the end of the year.

sj4088

loxleynew wrote: »

I ended up turning down that opportunity for the consulting today due to the unpredictability of the hours involved. Also they stated it was salary and you only got bonuses upon completing projects etc. So that 52 hourss you would be paid like 40 hours with a potential bonus at the end of the year.

No thanks. I would of turned it down too. Why would anyone leave a FTE job for a setup like that? lol