Does being on the bench make you anxious?I am on the bench at the moment and really fills me with anxiety. A lot of anxiety.......is this something any of you suffer from? How do you deal with it?Thanks

Not spent a lot of time on the bench. I would deal with it by spending the time working my network to make sure I get on a project that I would like to do rather than being told by HR which project to go on.

Yes, being on the bench used to make me anxious. As somebody who is not senior in the company (I assume), you have little control over whether or not you end up on the bench.In hindsight, I would have used bench time to look for a better job.

Not anxious but very quickly bored, most of the jobs you get assigned when you're on the bench are mind-numbing and don't teach you much.I do remember during my first few years in consulting that the first time I ended up on the bench, it did make me anxious.It depends a bit whether it is a general thing (e.g. during economic downturn or might be a direct result of how your firm works) or whether you are one of the unlucky few.

Thanks a lot for the replies.As you can tell, I am a bit junior (3 years experience) in the grand scheme of things. The anxiety is really getting to me and can overwhelm if I am not careful enough.......I am relatively new to the team so have been networking to establish connections and raise my profile. Networking is a theme I have picked up in your replies in terms of how to get off the bench.What I have been doing is going to all team events, and also emailing seniors and setting up quick 15 minute sessions with them to introduce myself and build a connection.Am I doing it wrong? is there a better way? Tips all hugely appreciated from all of you.Thanks

No, you're not doing anything wrong. When you're on the bench, there will always be people who will want you to do stuff for them "for free" so to speak, but don't fall for it. Be pleasant and help out here and there but don't end up being used as a project resource unless you're actually "on the project" and can clock your time against it. You don't wanna go working long hours only to find out that at appraisal time it was a waste of time and won't be counted.Being on the bench is dreadful. It makes you feel abandoned and you start to wonder how long you can "get away with doing nothing" even though actually you just want to do an honest job and have some security.Use the time to your personal advantage. If you get even the SLIGHTEST whiff of "cuts" possibly being made, and you're on the bench, then get applying for other jobs asap.It's this sort of staffing model in consultancy that's enough to give a trainee IBS.

Worst thing about bench time is getting dragged into urgent sales work when they expect a 20 hour working day with potentially no recognition for your efforts.Best to try to make the best of it with a bit of a lay in, some training if so inclined, and a bit of networking to get a better role next time and before the scheduler gets hold of you.

Yeah, supersoul hit the nail on the head there about the urgent sales proposal. I remember those, they sucked bigtime. You really want to avoid getting dragged into that sort of $hit when you're on the bench. As he says, use the time to have a lie-in and brush up your CV, not to slog away on someone else's proposal which you'll get blamed for if they don't win it.

Thanks everyone. Really helped to calm me down. I can't believe I am getting so worked up about something like this.I'm going to ramp up the networking and just brush up on training to keep things fresh. And also make sure I am visible. The energy for all of this is more than being on an actual project itself sometimes...!

I think the approach to being on the bench depends on the current utilisation among your team. If the average is above 75% there's nothing to worry about - it's just about timing. This close to Christmas none of the senior guys are really trying to sell work and nobody is buying anyway. Of course if your team utilisation is in the 40% range you might want to consider whether there's a better avenue for you to follow...I'm lucky enough to be in a team that's highly in demand at the moment so a week or two on the bench wouldn't be a concern right now.

If you get so anxious on the Bench - why put yourself in that situation? Apply for an in-house consulting position instead. No bench.

Hi KeenB,Don't worry, a Bench is part and parcel of Consulting work. Remember that without a bench (of some kind or size), then Consultancies would struggle to fill new work!It is all off course, about length of time on it and when you join it... people are let go for staying on the bench too long while others join it with no worries, taking a bit of a welcome break and then going to the next big programme.Your networking does become important here, but for me its key that you "smell out" what is going on:Has the work dried up and now the firm is thinking of letting newbies go? What are a couple of the hot programmes coming up and who is the owning Partner / Senior guys on it that you can chat to? and so on...My strategy when our programme was closing - began network chats with the guys running the new big programmes coming up through the pipeline. That way you get to help shape itBest of luck and don't worry, find those programmes and talk to the Leads

You could do what a colleague of mine used to do and say in the office until 1am every night when on the bench, updating and re-writing presentations and reports for clients where the project had ended 12 months ago.I was glad to see the back of her.

Following on from this , I would like to add one thing. When you're networking, speaking to people about future roles then do not make yourself a nuisance. Remember they have their day jobs to do.Try to find the balance between chasing and pestering.

Rennie Deflatine helps.

Thanks, appreciate the replies. Overall, utilisation for the department is high. I try to keep my ears peeled as much as possible, but even then, I can't sniff out any talk of potential redundancies or anyone being managed out.I think I am just a little unlucky as two projects I was supposed to start on got delayed and are probably not happening now. And it's hard to find anything to join for this short period of time leading up to Christmas.I'm hoping another project I have lined up for January will kick off when I am back in the New Year.In the mean time I have been setting up some potential opportunities internally, to give myself something to do, to increase my knowledge/capabilities and also work closely with senior people to build my network and profile.I am very conscious of not pestering people and being a pain! It's definitely a balance, so I make sure I do not chase after the same people repeatedly! I was just getting really anxious about the bench because someone senior made what was (I hope!) an offhand, throwaway comment that I don't seem to be seen around much...which freaked me out about my visibility!

It might just be mind games about visibility... lol

Yeah, this senior guy sounds like a really nice person - not. Put him on your "tw@t" list and move on.

[quote]Does being on the bench make you anxious?I am on the bench at the moment and really fills me with anxiety. A lot of anxiety.......is this something any of you suffer from? How do you deal with it?Thanks[/quote]i have not been on bench for years...but when i do get on bench i love it! there is no need to get anxious, being on bench is part of consulting. take time out, set your objectives, get on training, do things that you couldn't do when on a role.

I think it also depends on the company. At one place where I used to work, being on the bench as a junior consultant was terrifying. You basically just got lost in the system, somehow on the payroll but seemingly forgotten by the company... watching your friends get all of their end-of-project appraisals and clocking up billable hours on their timesheets while you just sat there doing general reading and, basically, nothing of any use. Come appraisal time... BAM, you're in the crosshairs... which is a scary place to be when you're an insecure youngster with a big mortgage...

BEP,Come on its not that bad. You get to relax a bit while looking for the next role.Absolutely can't just sit there, need to sniff out the programmes needing resources and talk to the "movers and shakers" for those programmes.He will be off the bench in no time.By the way Keen, it does help if you are a high performer and your Manager in the previous role thinks highly of you.If you did an ok job and prefer 9-5 hours, then a bench plus managing out may be an issue

Be proactive.Speak to managers, directors and partners.Outline you have some capacity at moment and are keen to do some billable work. If there isn't any, offer to help develop internal training material, thought leadership or contribute to any proposals.If you've exhausted all these options you can explore options inter state and there's always option of taking some leave.

You know that you're on the bench.So..... get your effin ar$e off it and do something about the predicament you find yourself in!Best wishes for 2015.

It's comments like camsters that add to people's anxiety whilst being on the bench...

[quote]It's comments like camsters that add to people's anxiety whilst being on the bench...[/quote]If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the damn kitchen!The OP has 3 years of experience. That's enough time to know what one should do if on the bench.When on a project, if it's coming to an end, any consultant worth his or her salt would already put out feelers to get on a new project. Unless, say, he or she had been working flat out the past 12 months continuously and could use a bit of a break.When one poses a question like this, it is always best to give it context. Are you newly on the bench? Or twiddling thumbs for a few months? What sort of outfit? Big 4? Smaller one? An quick overview of your skills, so ppl can tell you if in demand or not, etc. So there! To answer the OP's original post...... Anxiety? It depends how long I have been warming the bench. I deal with it by getting myself on a project, getting a new job, getting on a training programme, etc.

But if I'm honest, my first thought would be to get laid. That definitely takes care of anxiety.

[quote]But if I'm honest, my first thought would be to get laid. That definitely takes care of anxiety.[/quote]...just so long as 'Peformance Improvement' isn't mentioned..

But what about the nerdy consultants