Civil Engineering Consultancy or Contractor?

ManÓg84

Hi, i recently completed an hons degree in civil.. have job offers from both a medium sized uk consultancy and large uk/irl contractor.

Struggling to make a choice between both. Salary's are similar and contractor has slightly more perks but shouldn't be absolute driving factor.

Have actually a bit of experience in consultancy and got burned by recession however that's not a deciding factor.

Has anyone worked for both and willing to share their experience?

godtabh

dependon what you want to do. both will be very different

aquascrotum

Consulting pays less in general, but you've a better chance of a 9 to 5 -which while not a huge issue when you're 21 becomes an issue surprisingly quickly for many.

Contractor pays more but you'll either spend your life driving to wherever the work is, or more typically at the minute be in an airport on a Monday morning and if youre lucky be back for the weekend. You work whatever daylight hours the almighty sends. A lot of contractors would say theres more satisfaction in getting something tangible done, I think it depends on what consultant you might work for. Some consultants are deskbound, often out of budget as much as anything else.

For me its a lifestyle choice. I had lofty aspirations of starting out working for a contractor, getting lots of useful practical experience, and then moving to consultancy where it would make me a deadly designer. In my experience (having watched others) is the reality is that once you start in contracting, consultants will worry you dont have their skill set, while you would also have to take a paycut to go from contractor to consultant. It was easier to flit between the 2 during the boom when an engineer could pick and choose and the money was flowing.

Its not uniform but as a general observation of trends over the last few yrs I think its fair comment. Am a consultant btw - tried my hand as a contractor for 6 months (2nd last move before the bust) but it wasn't for me. I know too many contractor buddies now who dont have a family life and get by on chainsmoking and a bit on the side depending on where they are in the country for a few months. Not for me, but each to their own!

slowharry

Fair play for having two job offers. It's important to know if either company have a proper graduate training scheme in place.

slowharry

Fair play for having two job offers. It's important to know if either company have a proper graduate training scheme in place.

TransportCons

**** pay or **** lifestyle..... Up to you really...

godtabh

TransportCons wrote: »

**** pay or **** lifestyle..... Up to you really...

which relates to which?

TransportCons

I've worked with both consultancies and contractors, and essentially it comes down to a choice between crap pay or a crap lifestyle.

Basically if you are looking for good pay and maybe a company car, contractor is the way to go, but be prepared for long hours, male dominated work environment and grubby work conditions and movement from site to site to follow the work, and it will be difficulty to bed yourself into a local community if you are constantly moving from site to site. I don't know what your ability is, but if you are any bit decent as a site engineer, you will be promoted quickly.

Consultancies generally tend to have a better male/female balance, you will generally work out of the same office so it's easier to put down roots in an area, form relationships/social life, etc. You won't arrive home covered in sweat and muck, and likely won't have to work beyond the normal hours of 9 to 6. However, they will pay you less, and there will be less opportunities for promotion.

Personally, I'm glad I've tried both, but the consultancy way of life is much more enjoyable. You should be able to find other ways to top up your income if money is a concern. Also, note that consultants can also act as "Resident Engineers" which means you could also get a spell on site as a supervisor depending on the projects the consultancy specialize in.

Chronically Bad Farts

Definitely go with the consultant, slightly less pay but much better quality of life (Actually probably better pay if you work out the hourly rate).
I have met few people who enjoyed working for contractors. You will work work & work and be treated like an outcast for wanting weekends "off" (unpaid of course!). You will also work public holidays. How people can stick that long term is beyond me. The ones that do are divorced and in terrible health.