“Body Shopping”
I see somebody has commented on one of my recent posting, and mentioned “body shopping”.
It’s funny how people view contracting/consultancy/permanent employment. From an permanent employees perspective contractors are sometimes viewed as hired gun, with no elegancy to the project, with only an interest in their own pockets ($). Consultants often view their consultancy as “body shopping” them onto projects – I’ve come across ThoughtWorkers who’ve had this view.
Permanent employees often view contractors and consultants as doing the same job as them on the project, but getting paid substantially better, thus cause a rift to develop on the project.
In reality you can be unhappy as a contractor, consultant or permanent employee of a financial institution. Your job is what you make it. If you don’t like your job, then move on. The grass may well appear to be greener on the other side, but in reality it’s often the same just dressed up differently. People would be far better off in their lives if they decided to stop complaining, and took responsibility for their lives, instead of expecting others to do this for them. There is no such thing as a free lunch, if you want to generate $, and want the title, then to quote a old colleague, “it’s time to step up to the plate”.
That’s interesting. At my hedge fund, there is a starkly different view of contractors/consultants. Generally they cost less than full-time employees (i.e. no 200k bonuses), are easier to fire if things don’t work out, and have such a desire to play in the “big leagues” that they’re willing to do pure monkey work if you can convince them it’s strategic.