Living in a city different than the office location (Italy)

If your sector is banking or insurance, it is undoable since most banks and insurers are in Milan. The firm will not pay you for a hotel.

If you work in other industries and/or you will not have to go that much to the office, it is maybe doable.

I would honestly avoid it because it is a terrible toll on your effectiveness. 

Hi there, 

Yes, it's possible, thought it might create difficulties in certain situations. 

I can think of two examples

1. If you happened to be staffed in the same city where the office is. Then you won't have a hotel covered which means that you'll have to return to your home city every day. Transportation to this other city will also not be covered. 

2. If you are doing support work (i.e., not being staffed and working on proposals). Some Partners might want you in the office on those days, which again would mean that you need to account for the time and the cost. 

In short, it's not impossible, but it's also not going to be very comfortable for you. 

Best,

Cristian

Ultimately it depends on how often the firm expects you to be in the office and how willing you are to do the commute. 

Before Covid, it was pretty typical to be in the office at least on Fridays, depending on your staffing situation and whether you would normally travel for your current project. During Covid, everyone worked remotely from wherever they wanted basically and it still worked out.

So many firms have become a lot more lenient in terms of consultants‘ location (as long as it doesn’t interfere with the work output). So for the case you are describing I would say it’s feasible if it makes more sense for your personal life to not live in the same city as the office and if you don’t have to go in more than once or twice per week 

Hi there,

That's 1.5 hours each way, correct? 3 hours per day…

If you're already working 12-15 hour days, that's 3 hours of your remaining 8-10 hours of your “personal” time.

Really that's 3 hours of your sleep time.

Instead of sleeping 8 hours, you'll now be able to sleep 5…every…day.

If I were you I would avoid this (in consulting you want to minimize anything that wastes previous time)

Hi there, 

I live in Italy and I am 90 min from the office door to door :-) Generally speaking it is works well, as you will have to be on the project most of the time Mon-Thu, then the accommodation is paid. If the project is in the city of the office (doesnt happen much) then you will need to be there, but then you can negotiate not come every day. 

Good luck,

Lucie

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It’s absolutely feasible but may mean tang you make specific choices about the types of projects that you do. For example, you’re unlikely to want to do an office based very long hours project as the commuting would make you extremely tired - you may want to do more travel projects do that you don’t have to do that commute. I know people who have made this work but it will come with choices that you have to make.    

That is not a good idea. I second Ian here, that will come out of your sleep time, and will be very tolling to you. Also beware that sometimes you'll leave the office late, meaning that transportation may be even longer (but you may be able to get your taxi paid).

When I started consulting, I did the exact opposite: I paid extra to be 15 mins away from the office. I considered it an investment. In my health and in my career. 

I do, however, understand that you may not want to rent a place if you risk being staffed in international projects or nevertheless have to travel significantly. In that case you have to evaluate what industry you'll be working in, and chose accordingly.