consulting vs insurance, etc.

[johnny]

hi,
i'm not sure if this was discussed before, but if you have time to spare i would be glad to hear your thoughts. for those who worked in insurance and switched to consulting, or vice versa, which type of work do you prefer and why? also, if you are open to relocation, where would you go (state or city)? what are the most important things to consider about relocation? thanks a lot.

[Monty Python]

insurance:
Pros - 8 hour work day, little (obviously some) pressure to complete tasks, lots o study time, rotation = exposure to LOTS of new things = less chance of getting 'stuck' in a bad department/supervisor/etc and less chance of getting 'bored'
Cons - no pass, no job.
[Actually, i've seen people leave because they weren't passing, but if you are working hard but just haven't been passing exams, the company will 'usually' find a job for you in another capacity.]

consulting
Pros - $$$
Cons - long hours, often pressured (directly or indirectly) to give up study time (and personal time) to meet deadlines, no need to pass exams to keep the job; "BILLABLE HOURS" becomes the mantra; hours and tasks are tracked MUCH more carefully.

Just my own humble $0.02

[Alya]

On 2002-03-17 19:43, johnny wrote:
[...] also, if you are open to relocation, where would you go (state or city)? what are the most important things to consider about relocation?

Weather: everything else can be changed, but SoCal will stay SoCal no matter how much you make in snowy Boston

[Agtuary]

Most people say consulting is always a sweatshop. You have to work 60-80 hour weeks all the time. I disagree. I am in my second job. Both have been consulting and both have *required* 45 hours or less per week, most weeks. There were a number of occasions when the work load required additional hours because we were up against a project deadline, but that was not the norm.

Billable hours is not always stressed over study time. It is important to my current employer that I pass and progress through the exams, so study time is very important and I have no doubt I will get all my study time each exam.

Maybe I have been lucky and the exception to the rule. Both offices I worked in have been small, but for large (global) consulting firms. I chose location based on personal issues rather than going for a specific job, which is why I changed jobs.

Don't be afraid to ask about typical work weeks, how often people take all alloted study time, etc. If you are not honest with yourself, and your employer, about what you want you will end up being miserable.

[42]

On 2002-03-18 05:50, Alya wrote:
Weather: everything else can be changed, but SoCal will stay SoCal no matter how much you make in snowy Boston

At least until it drops into the ocean!

[Branwell]

My experience was that consulting did not involve as much overtime or as much money as I had been led to expect.

[WWSituation]

Some firms really will work the living heck out of you. Employees at those firms will tend to exaggerate even their tribulations.

I have worked for a sweatshop consulting firm, an insurance company, and a laid-back consulting firm. There is no global "how it is" anywhere.

[Minerva]

I agree that the variance is great. However, I disagree with the perception that there is little urgency or long hours at an insurance company. I have no direct basis for comparison, never having worked in consulting, but I can tell you that the pressure at an insurer to meet deadlines and work long hours (and give up study time) is not at all insignificant. I can't remember the last time I worked 3 45-hour weeks in a 6-week period.

OK, maybe that's because I'm not too bright (take it either way), but.....

In my observation, pressure in insurance tends to escalate with exam progress and experience (most people tend to treat students gently).