(no subject)
Heard big news, in which I reveal the inner workings of a largish consulting company I used to work for.
Accenture in the area is broken down into three workforces: Consulting, Services, and Solutions/ATS. Consulting gets paid the most, fly around the world, work long hours, and are told to rapidly increase their skills so they can get to manager positions and eventually partner. They stay with a client for a project, then skip out. They are the proverbial movers and shakers. Services tend to be embedded with a particular client for long periods of time, have very stable jobs (until the next job cut and they realize that you are very expensive), and essentially "work for the client." If you are in Services, you don't get promoted unless you find another position, and that rarely happens. Training is minimal -- you are expected to learn on your own if you want to. Solutions (Accenture Technology Solutions, or ATS) is a mix of the two -- they are linked to an office and don't have to move (usually), but they are mini-consultants within that area and can switch clients when projects are over. They are expected to advance in their Accenture career, but at a measured pace. You are expected to attend some training, and you'll supervise other ATS personnel.
I joined ATS. It seemed like the best of both worlds. However, it was increasingly clear that ATS was being treated more like Services (can't switch positions), and the "other clients" in the Central Illinois area was the consulting equivalent of vaporware. Higher-end folks in ATS were either quitting, moving to Chicago, joining the client, or switching workforces as they end up advancing in their Accenture career but still doing the same old job at the client. The "measured up or out" approach to promotions was like a ceiling that you were rushing towards.
Last week, it was announced that Accenture was shutting down the ATS office in Bloomington, and everyone currently in ATS is being moved to Services. They're re-laddering folks and (possibly, rumors only) changing their pay scale. Any vacation you accumulated is paid out and you start fresh, although Services does get more vacation.
It makes sense. The Bloomington office was not that vibrant, as everything was being done at the client anyway. This way, Accenture admits that "yeah, you're working for the client, we don't care about your professional advancement" and makes a save versus Illusion that they're going to get other clients. But, this wasn't what we were sold three years ago when a lot of us were hired. It was evident (at least to me), but it is a nice personal justification that they're admitting it.
And Accenture that this is voluntary, but it's only voluntary if you want to keep your job and stay in the Central Illinois area.
Accenture in the area is broken down into three workforces: Consulting, Services, and Solutions/ATS. Consulting gets paid the most, fly around the world, work long hours, and are told to rapidly increase their skills so they can get to manager positions and eventually partner. They stay with a client for a project, then skip out. They are the proverbial movers and shakers. Services tend to be embedded with a particular client for long periods of time, have very stable jobs (until the next job cut and they realize that you are very expensive), and essentially "work for the client." If you are in Services, you don't get promoted unless you find another position, and that rarely happens. Training is minimal -- you are expected to learn on your own if you want to. Solutions (Accenture Technology Solutions, or ATS) is a mix of the two -- they are linked to an office and don't have to move (usually), but they are mini-consultants within that area and can switch clients when projects are over. They are expected to advance in their Accenture career, but at a measured pace. You are expected to attend some training, and you'll supervise other ATS personnel.
I joined ATS. It seemed like the best of both worlds. However, it was increasingly clear that ATS was being treated more like Services (can't switch positions), and the "other clients" in the Central Illinois area was the consulting equivalent of vaporware. Higher-end folks in ATS were either quitting, moving to Chicago, joining the client, or switching workforces as they end up advancing in their Accenture career but still doing the same old job at the client. The "measured up or out" approach to promotions was like a ceiling that you were rushing towards.
Last week, it was announced that Accenture was shutting down the ATS office in Bloomington, and everyone currently in ATS is being moved to Services. They're re-laddering folks and (possibly, rumors only) changing their pay scale. Any vacation you accumulated is paid out and you start fresh, although Services does get more vacation.
It makes sense. The Bloomington office was not that vibrant, as everything was being done at the client anyway. This way, Accenture admits that "yeah, you're working for the client, we don't care about your professional advancement" and makes a save versus Illusion that they're going to get other clients. But, this wasn't what we were sold three years ago when a lot of us were hired. It was evident (at least to me), but it is a nice personal justification that they're admitting it.
And Accenture that this is voluntary, but it's only voluntary if you want to keep your job and stay in the Central Illinois area.