Hey there,

That is completely normal! 

• How did your first project go?
• What was the feedback like?

What you can do now:

• Reach out to HR
• Reach out to staffing coordinators
• Reach out to your network (partners and EMs you worked with but also peers who might know about opportunities)
• Offer to help your previous partners (they always have a need for a helping hand, mostly with proposal work,…)
• Add yourself to all staffing lists and newsletters
• If you have done all that, wait it out

Sooner than later you will find yourself on a stressful engagement again and miss the beach days :-))

Cheers,

Floria

Hi there, here's what I suggest:

1. Reach out to staffing manager (and previous working team) every week reminding them you are available and eager to work, either on project work, proposals or business development.
2. Using your time to learn is great. Focus on the topics that were relevant in your previous project. At this point, they should be ppt and xls, and that's what you are doing so that is great!
3. You should not go to the office every day, but go there at least 1 day per week. You can do your ppt/xls learning in the office. The idea is to leverage your time there to do a bit of networking. Opportunities arise around the watercooler / coffee machine and during lunch time! Knowing more people at the firm (outside your working teams) will be valuable on the long run.
4. Take real time off. Beach time is for that. You probably had 5 intense weeks, so take the time to recharge. You deserve it, and likely need it as well.

(editiert)

Hi,

#1: Do not stress out about it but enjoy your downtime: Being on unstaffed often happens in between projects. You should embrace the time to focus on your personal life.

#2: Reach out to staffing manager and managers/partners that you worked with: You potentially can assist on some business development topics. Proactiveness will be appreciated + it positions you well to work the project for which you assist with BD.

Best,
Jorn

In consulting it is quite common to have 1-2 weeks of bench time.
It is a quite complex time, so it may be that the project flow is stagnating a bit.
There is no reason to worry. Use this time to build your skills, get to know other people at the firm, and don't stress your staffing manager.

This is a good time to digest the things you have learned in your first project and refine your consulting tool kit. Throughout your career, there will be many times where you wish you could have a week on the beach like this.

Just roll with the punches here and use the time to catch up on whatever you need to do. Be transparent and proactive with the staffing team / your mentor and offer your support where needed. It is then up to them to take you up on it - you will have done whatever is within your control

Hi there,

Please try to enjoy this time! Soon enough you'll be on 5 back-to-back projects over 1 year without a break.

I'm exaggerating but you get the point. Use this time to recharge and rest. Figure out things to make you more efficient for the next project (laptop setup, expensing system, food delivery, flights, clothes, etc.) Get yourself efficient and ready for the next push!

Hi, 

1. Be in touch with staffing and PD: Definitely be on their radar and if any cases pop up that you find interesting, go to them with that. But at the same time do not harass them either

2. Being unstaffed is fine: I have had similar experiences and been unstaffed even longer between projects and before my first projects. It just could be a result of lack of projects for your PD needs. 

OVerall, do not stress about this. Upskill yourself, do trainings. Spend time getting your life admin out of the way and be prepared to be staffed when it comes about. 

As hard as it is, try not to worry and instead enjoy the downtime. When you're in between projects it's a great moment to get all the things done that you don't have time to get done when you're staffed. 

When you're ready and want to do more - do some networking! Reach out to people you want to work with and ask them for a coffee, or if they have anything which they're working on which you can help with. If you start helping out on a proposal it's a great way to get staffed on the project when it comes through - and to build your network to help you get staffed on your next project. 

And failing that, do some training! Use the development resources to build your skills and see if there are any courses that you can take which will help you to get staffed. 

Enjoy the time - you'll be staffed very fast!