Advice from consultants please

[Mr Miyagi]

My situation: I've been working for a health insurer for about 3 years. My department is pretty small with a lot of turn over since I've been here. We also use a consulting firm on a regular basis. I will be credentialed within the next 3-4 months at the latest. My employer has hinted that I will be moved into management soon thereafter (although I have no idea who I'd manage). I've been doing pretty much the same thing for the past two years with no real change in site. I'm getting tired of this and don't want to get pigeon holed into doing the same thing (i.e. I'd like to continue learning new things).

I'm considering talking to some of the consultants that we use about a job.
1) Is this a horrible idea?
2) Assuming I'm good at my job, would the consultants risk hiring me away from my employer and possibly lose their business?
3) What are the chances my boss finds out I've talked to the consultants if I ask them to keep it on the down low?
4) Should I be up front with my boss and let him know I'm looking around (or at least considering doing so)?

Thanks for all the help/advise.

[DW Simpson]

Originally Posted by Mr Miyagi

would the consultants risk hiring me away from my employer

Usually, no, they won't.

Originally Posted by Mr Miyagi

Should I be up front with my boss and let him know I'm looking around (or at least considering doing so)?

Usually, no.

[Westley]

1) Mostly yes. Can get you in trouble faster than if you sweep the leg.

2) Maybe. There's not much harm in asking, worst case scenario is that they just tell you that they can't. I've seen clauses that don't allow it under any circumstances, or that have a penalty (a years salary is normal) for recruiting somebody (and that goes in either direction). Seems like the better approach is to just mention to somebody you've been working with that you're looking to expand your horizons, want to learn some reserves, a little financial modeling, maybe some Okinawa history, and see what they say - they might ask if you would consider working for them or they might suggest sending your resume to somebody else that they work with.

3) Possible, but low enough risk that I wouldn't be worried about it. It could get back to your boss if you contact a company directly or through a recruiter or anything else, too. In short, if you worry about this, don't plan on ever switching jobs. Let fear control your life, Daniel-san, no life to live at all.

4) I'd be up front with your boss, but about
"I've been doing pretty much the same thing for the past two years with no real change in site. I'm getting tired of this and don't want to get pigeon holed into doing the same thing (i.e. I'd like to continue learning new things)."
and not about
"I'm considering talking to some of the consultants that we use about a job."

I mean, you want to talk to your boss about something that he can do to make your job better, not something that only has downside (for you). If you're actually going to leave, there's no upside to telling him in advance, really - or more accurately, there's a very small chance of an upside and you're not in a position to accurately evaluate the chances, so don't. If you and your company are parting ways, remember what my old friend Kreese used to say: STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY.

[Westley]

I'm going to be honest, I put a ton of effort into that post, thought it was going to be a great one, but it's just ok. And, that's on the third attempt. I mean, not my worst effort, but not up there with "It's just an exam series".

[tommie frazier]

Originally Posted by Westley

"It's just an exam series".

have I seen that post?

[Westley]

Um, yes. And replied to it. Does the phrase "you tommie frazier, have you even ever kissed a girl?" sound familiar?

[Mr Miyagi]

Thanks for the advice Westley & Claude. The problem with your advice to number 4 (which I still think is good advice) is that I know that my boss intends to move me to other types of work, but because we have staffing issues I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Would your final advice be to not even bring up a job with the consultants but instead ask their advice about becoming stagnant in my work?

My other issue with the whole not hiring employees away from contracted companies is that I don't see myself being employed by this insurer for the rest of my life. I still understand why this "rule" is in place, it just seems to only be in favor of the company and not the employees at all.

Thanks again for the advice.

[Westley]

I would just honestly discuss it with your boss. Tell him what you want. Tell him you don't think moving is feasible and why. Make it clear what the staffing issues are and ask what he thinks is a reasonable timeline. If you like the timeline but don't think it's going to work, tell him that you are glad to hear it because that sounds good, and make it clear that meeting those timelines would make you more excited about staying with the company longer-term. If you don't like the timeline, well, you've got your answer, and you can decide if you want to press for faster transition or look elsewhere.

I'd say if you have an opportunity for a casual lunch or something, a conversation that went something like this would be good:
Consultant: I'm currently working on ____
Mr. M: Really, that sounds pretty interesting, tell me about it
Consultant: blah blah blah
MM: Yeah, that's one advantage of working for consultants, you always get to work on more cool stuff. I worry that I'm stagnating too much in this job, or at least I'm headed in that direction. When you look around at the field, what kind of experience do you see people pursuing that makes them more marketable? What kinds of places do you think are pretty progressive with respect to developing their people?

See what they say, express interest, see where it goes. Don't say you're ready to leave, but don't act like you're dead-set on staying.

And, all of the employers' rules are written in favor of the employer. That's why they wrote them!

[DW Simpson]

Originally Posted by Westley

I would just honestly discuss it with your boss.

I agree.

[vtek]

if you really want to work in consulting then you might try applying to a rival firm, one your current employer does not use, who would be much more willing to hire you.

you're still doing it backwards as it's usually consultants who get picked up by insurance firms once they get sick of the wild schedules and want to settle down.