1) Trying to explain at social occasions what it is you do for a living.2) Finding that outside of an elite band of MBA alumni, consulting ranks barely ahead of car salesman or estate agent in the social pecking order.3) Getting up for the Monday morning red-eye flight only to find it’s been delayed – or worse still you’ve missed it owing to a no-show from your taxi company.4) Discovering from classmates that you’d be well on the way to retirement if you’d only gone into banking.5) Seeing managers at your client swan off home hours before you do – whilst having a sneaking suspicion they’re actually pulling in more bacon.6) Getting a rude awakening that when the economy turns south there’s even less job security in consulting than there is in industry.7) Ordering yet another >9pm pizza delivery to the office... and then discovering they messed up your favourite topping.8) Finding your hotel has assigned you a smoking room for the week.9) Chasing up room service 10) Filling in expenses claimsSo what have we missed?! You’re closer to the day-to-day consulting lifestyle, so do submit your additional pet hates and let’s see how big a list we can create!<b>Don’t miss: <a href=http://events.top-consultant.com/UK/careerconference.aspx?ID=421>Your career at a crossroads – which way next?</a> (23rd October)</b>

11. The poor hourly rate of pay. Yes, it IS crap.12. The egos. 13. Clients who think they are smarter than you, but aren&apos;t.14. Having to constantly &apos;prove yourself&apos;.15. Your performance being constantly examined under a microscope. I can&apos;t even belch without 20 people descending on me with "feedback" about how it went.16. The travel. Hour after hour of gridlock, delays, or filthy train carriages.17. Bosses who think you can work on a train. Yeah, by balancing your laptop on someone&apos;s head as you stand rammed in like sardines.18. Clients who are paid more than you but actually do no work at all.19. The total lack of job security. On the bench for a few months? Hello missed mortgage payment!20. Having 100 bosses because you work for a &apos;flat organization&apos;.21. Idiots who try to take credit for your work.22. Having to deal with the client&apos;s politics as well as your own.23. Clients who think you work full time for them when actually you have 5 other assignments on the go at the same time.24. Meetings that over-run.25. Spending all day in meetings or workshops, and then returning to 20,000 voicemails and e-mails you have to deal with.26. Idiots calling you on holiday.27. Being treated like sh1t.

28) Whinging consultants as above

1. Bonus time.2. Total flexibility.3. No accountability.4. You never see your direct reports. 5. Public sector hours, private sector pay (only on some Govt clients though!).6. Switching jobs every 12 months.7. Job security during all economic cycles.8. Young graduates will do almost anything to get on your job.....9. No-one knows what you do. 10. It&apos;s fun!

1. Bonus time. Yeah, 0% all round. -10% in some cases (9 day fortnight and all that). Yay!2. Total flexibility. Flexibility as in &apos;bend over and take it&apos;.3. No accountability. Except for every &apos;job end appraisal&apos; you get every few months, plus an annual 360 degree appraisal incorporating feedback from virtually everyone you have worked with in the past year.4. You never see your direct reports. Cuz u have none, big manager that u are.5. Public sector hours, private sector pay (only on some Govt clients though!). I didn&apos;t realise they do 80 hours a week in the public sector.6. Switching jobs every 12 months. Yeah, whether u like it or not.7. Job security during all economic cycles. So secure that you&apos;ll be canned the moment ur utilization drops below 80% for more than a month.8. Young graduates will do almost anything to get on your job..... Or take ur job.9. No-one knows what you do. Or the value u add.10. It&apos;s fun! Particularly if ur a masochist and have a willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.

That cheered me up after a hard day.You might want to have a look at http://snipurl.com/rjw42 Marty pretty much nails the truth about the industry, and he&apos;s a really nice guy, even though his follow up book was about how to be an a$$hole.

Mr Tickle might be in for a nasty shock one day.

adding to your list

1. zero social life - your colleagues can never be your friends and you dont have time for your friends2. no career path - work flat out in the flat organization dreaming to be a partner and in the process becoming useless for industry 3. late night emails for that very important presentation tomorrow morning - bcos world depends on it4. net surfing - fun when on the clock, sucks when off it5. Coffee meetings - explaining every tom, dick and harry in the company about the value you bring to the table...or to bed

Forgot to mention:11. Working at home.Glory days

If you want to know what a really crap job is try being a manager in the NHS. Hundreds of staff to worry about, all unionised, press on your back every time a customer dies by accident - oh and they get paid less than some wally with a powerpoint deck who is there to "help" realise efficiency gains.Guys - most of us get paid a good salary, don&apos;t have much responsibility, can hide from the rest of our organisation when we feel like it, get to work from home a lot of the time and no one expects us to be loyal or grateful - if you dont like this job go and work for Sickville and Chronic NHS Trust.

A jealous superior because you&apos;re getting more attention from the client than he/she gets

Clients who ask you to write proposals and make you jump through loads of hoops and then never proceed with the project.