After some years working in professional services, there might be telling signs that you have been a consultant for too long. Here are 15 signs that it’s maybe time for you to consider a job change! Scroll down for even more signs, added by our readers.

YOU KNOW YOU’VE BEEN A CONSULTANT FOR TOO LONG WHEN…

… someone asks you what you actually do in your job, and you fall deafly silent.

… someone asks for a meeting at 10.00 and you say am or pm?

… you refer to your child’s arts and crafts project as a deliverable.

… you use any of the following words in a social context: consensus, buy-in, robust and ‘let’s step back’, deep-dive, stress-test, stakeholder.

… you refer to getting sign-off for a night out.

… you problem solve for a plan for ‘date night’.

… you say to your partner ‘I’m coming home early tonight’ and the clock’s already hit 8pm.

… you use colour coded Excel for your shopping list.

… you discuss new Excel functions with your (geeky) friends.

… you explain to the hotel staff what their room policy is.

… you’ve seen more films on a plane than in a cinema.

… you show new employees of the client how to get the best coffee from the machine.

… you perform a SWOT analysis on any major life decisions.

… someone refers to ‘being on the beach’ or ‘on the bench’ and you ask them about their annual billable hours.

… you use PowerPoint to design absolutely everything.

EXTENSION: 29 MORE WAYS OUR READERS KNOW THEY’VE BEEN CONSULTANTS FOR TOO LONG 

• You receiving a birthday card signed by all front desk staff from the Marriott Renaissance in Rutherford, NJ.
• Heading out for dinner one weekend with your partner, you recommend “going back to that awesome restaurant…” and they say – that wasn’t me and there isn’t one of those in this city.
• You know the names of all three flight attendants on the Monday AM flight to NYC but not of your neighbour across the street.
• Lifetime status at a hotel or airline becomes a positive achievement.
• The rental car or hotel staff says “It’s been a while since we’ve seen you, everything OK?”
• Arriving back to your home airport customs ask ”where are you coming from sir….” and it’s a complete blank!
• You introduce yourself by starting with, “Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening”!
• You get to the airport, stop by your favourite diner, and the waitress already has your standard order ready.
• You start referring to the Marriott as home.
• You can unpack/repack in 15 minutes.
• You really geek out on posts like this. 
• You wear a Marlins hat to a Bruins hockey game.
• You speak the wrong language to the postman.
• You have so many passwords, you can’t get into any device.
• You have to think twice before writing country of residence on the Customs re-entry form.
• You pull out the wrong currency at a local MacDonalds.
• Your neighbour asks “what did you think of Sunday’s game?” and you have no idea which sport, when or where it occurred.
• You have more friends abroad than in the United States.
• Your company thinks you are more loyal to it than to your community of practice.
• You are in an argument with your significant other and say “May I ask a clarifying question?”
• You get a leaving present from the receptionists at the hotel.
• You dread the thought of going to a restaurant (5 times already this week) on a weekend.
• You’re invited to the hotel staff’s Christmas night out because you’ve stayed in that hotel some many times!
• You get a 12:00 meeting request and are relieved that it’s midnight and doesn’t mess up your lunch plans.
• You know flight attendants in person.
• You teach newly on-boarded car rental staff how to process additional equipment and services.
• Locals ask you for dining advice.
• You calculate the opportunity costs of the time you spend for pleasure.
• You’ve woken up in the middle of the night and, for a few moments, not known whether you are home or not.

Something still missing? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

At Movemeon, we connect (ex) consultants and freelancers with job opportunities, advice & events. Register now to view and apply to jobs, for insider advice & networking / industry events.