Everyday life of a consultant – what’s going to change?
Have you considered switching to consulting, but you’re worried about your work hours skyrocketing and your free time plummeting? Wondering if you’ll still have energy for the most important people and furry friends in your life? Rocket scientists Tuomas Terho and Viktoriia Kuznietsova share their views on whether switching to consulting is a life-changing experience.
You sprint from one meeting to another, with billing targets pushing you to your limit and making you sweat in your moon suit. At home, you’re met with the duty of caring for your kids, pets and galactic elders. You barely have time to breathe. Work, sleep, care for others – rinse and repeat. Is this what the life of a consultant is like? Well, no.
“To be frank, nothing much changed in my day-to-day life when I switched to consulting, except that I now work for clients and have to remember to log my hours more regularly,” says Viktoriia Kuznietsova, rocket scientist #54. She transitioned to her first consulting role in early 2022 after having worked in various product houses. Now, Viktoriia has been working with the same client for over two years, which has made her daily routines quite smooth.
Tuomas Terho, rocket scientist #34, also sings the praises of consulting and its seamless integration into everyday life. “Moving to a consultancy was a leap into the unknown. However, the increased earnings have opened up new and awesome experiences for my family, like memorable trips and an array of mod cons. I even fulfilled my dream of getting a pilot’s license,” Tuomas says.
Still not convinced? We asked Tuomas and Viktoriia to answer the most common questions on finding a balance between demanding consulting work and everyday life.
Do your work hours skyrocket and does your free time plummet?
When it comes to consulting, many are concerned about the possibility of bench time and the decrease in their earnings level. Viktoriia isn’t worried: "To put it bluntly, the salary is high enough that I can put some money aside and prepare for potential bench time."
Viktoriia: “That’s a ‘no’ to both skyrocketing and plummeting. It’s no different from working in a product house. I had my doubts when I switched to consulting, but they turned out to be completely unfounded. I follow the same working hour principles as when I did in product houses, leaving plenty of time for personal projects, hobbies and family.”
Tuomas: “The great thing about consulting is that hourly billing leaves little room for overtime. You have to stick to the agreed hours, which means more flexibility. If you sometime need to have a shorter day, you can make up for it later.”
What happens when your child gets sick during work hours?
Tuomas: “As a consultant, you’re accountable to two teams: Rakettitiede and the client. The Rocket is laid-back about how I organise my daily schedule, and my client is also understanding. I’d say that in the end it’s a matter of negotiation, much like in a product house.”
Viktoriia: “In IT and software development, the outcome is what matters most. As long as the work is high quality, delivered on time and the team is kept in the loop, flexibility is possible.”
Does the billing-based salary model cause stress?
Just a quick reminder: in the Rocket’s classic salary model, the rocket scientist gets a gross salary equal to 50% of their client invoicing. This model is designed to reward hard work generously and give consultants the freedom to manage their own schedules. However, if there’s no assignment, the developer’s salary reverts to a guaranteed minimum.
Does this make Viktoriia and Tuomas worried?
Viktoriia: “Not at all. To put it bluntly, the salary is high enough so that I can put some money aside and prepare for potential bench time. Similar fears also exist in in-house roles. How you deal with such uncertainties depends on the person. I tend to take a long-term view.”
Tuomas says that consulting as a rocket scientist is the best of both worlds: "The Rocket’s support network and sales help if the assignment ends or you want to take on new challenges. Working with the client allows me to work on some really interesting projects in the embedded systems development.
Tuomas: “There’s always uncertainty about how long an assignment will go on, what will eventually replace it and how quickly. Economic cycles also play a role. However, I like to focus on doing my job day by day. Employment always comes with the inherent risk that the job might eventually end.”
If the classic pay model sounds too risky, we offer a more stable alternative: a fixed monthly salary plus 7% of customer invoicing. This model provides stability and security, especially in life situations where these are valued highly. Read more about our salary models (including their figures) here!
What happens if you end up being a benchwarmer?
If an assignment ends, the rocket scientist can return to wait their turn on a comfortable bench. There’s no need to worry too much about bench time, though, as our consultants’ sales rate is high.
Viktoriia: “Spending time on the bench allows you to learn new things and maintain your skills. This is the biggest difference from working in a product house. As a consultant, you need to keep your expertise up to date, as this makes you more marketable. At the same time, you need to be able to sell your strengths to clients.”
Tuomas: “I’ve worked with the same client since joining the Rocket in 2018. I’m not familiar with bench time, but I’m a good example of someone who’s not constantly having to switch gigs. If I had to spend time on the bench, I’d deal with it then.”
Normal daily work with inspiring assignments
Based on Viktoriia’s and Tuomas’ experiences, it’s evident that while you might feel a bit anxious about putting on a consultant’s space helmet, everyday life on the mothership consists of normal, fulfilling work. Both Viktoriia and Tuomas enjoy working at the Rocket because of the assignments they wouldn’t have elsewhere.
“Consulting as a rocket scientist is the best of both worlds. The Rocket’s support network and sales provide help if an assignment ends or you want to take on new challenges. Working with the client allows me to work on some really interesting projects in embedded systems development,” Tuomas says.
The moon suit is also the perfect outfit for playing outside with the kids, and the mothership offers mental support, such as the Auntie service.
Think you, too, would look amazing in a moon suit? Learn more about why joining us is worth your while!
Read more:
What kinds of assignments does Rakettitiede offer to its consultants?