I recently left a big consulting firm to be an internal consultant for a public sector organisation. I work 8.30-5 and am more productive than ever. I have a life, I get to see my real family and friend (not a work-based pseudo-family from whichever hotel I was in), the work is challenging and rewarding, the pay is only 8% less.I've realised that my 8 years in consulting were the most miserable of my life.Are any of you happy?

Hi Gone,I am hesitant to go in to consulting for the very reasons you mention. But I wonder...isn´t it necessary to go through some of those miserable years in order to find oneself in the happy situation you describe? Surely your years at a big consulting firm were fundamental in getting you your present job?

Most of the people I know who work 9-5 are happy. Most of those I know who work much longer hours aren't happy...Although they may just be unhappy about having to stay in the office to finish other people's work and cover colleagues' behinds who go home early.

Better work life balance, I accept.But 8% lower pay is a factor of recent, unsustainable rises in public sector wages. The private consulting sector in ultra-buoyant, and I'd expect pay within it to start rising significantly faster than public sector pay for the next couple of years, restoring a "fair" advantage.

A requirement for consulting experience? To an extent yes, but consulting isn't the only route - there are plenty of other routes to jobs like mine: if you know what you want it's pretty easy to position yourself to get it. None of my colleagues came from consulting.And my pay is a result of public sector overinflation? Don't be so pompous. Yes, pay scales are less volatile in the public sector, but the organisation I'm with is looking to attract and retain the best people. I'm not naive enough to say I'll keep pace with consulting, but then my pay slip isn't the most important thing in my life - and with my work hours, I get paid significantly more per hour than I ever did in consulting!