I joined a large consulting firm last year from a successful career in industry.It's not working; I lack support and my utilisation is poor.I like a challenge and relished the idea of a new career but no matter what I try I'm struggling to make a success of it. This is unusual for me and it's taken a lot to admit it, both to myself and my partner who has been aware of a change in my usually cheerful and positive outlook.Any ideas on how to make a success of it or whether I should open my little black book and return from whence I came.Cheers.

First, don't worry. It's only a job. You can always get another one where you will be happier.Secondly, is this related to a specific project? I remember my first assignment (a long time ago!). It was awful. Basically I was being given tasks that were doomed to fail, and I didn't know how to handle the situation. But, a lot of it was down to having a really bad line manager, backstabbing colleagues, and a project that was simply boring.Can you tell me more about your specific situation, the type of company you work for, what your colleagues are like, what the tasks are that you're struggling with?Chin up m8.

I don't want to go in to too much detail, the hills have eyes and all, but it's just a total problem getting onto paid work.I've done little bits here and there but I never know when it's coming and when it does it's only ever for a few days at a time.I thought that if I got into consulting I'd learn through experience, but I feel that I'm not learning/developing/adding anything so I'm unsure if this is for me; pride comes before a fall they say.

Well, don't worry - it's nothing personal. The company just doesn't have enough work to keep people occupied by the sounds of it.Give it another 3 months then look for a new job. It's not you, it's the company. And even if they do have enough work (which it sounds like they don't), they should be bringing you into the fold - so either way it's them, not you. Think of it as 'the calm before the redundancies'.

What's your company, if you don't mind saying?

Can't say too much, it's a big 4 'full services firm'

I agree with SVP, but it does make you worry about your companies positioning if they have receuited a good person but hten can't place them. You might want to focus in a a skill shortage - do your own investigation to work out which one - then get yourself trained and do some internal marketing with your account managers, most of whom should be pleased to hear from someone who is eager and has gone to the trouble to get themselves qualified.