DXC lost the account I was on (in North America (being deliberately vague)) and now I'm on the bench after many years on this account. I've been told they will look for a new placement but I'm not sure how long that will take and if they will find one. How long can I be expected to be in this situation? They are not telling me much. What usually happens from here? Is there anything I can be doing (aside from training, etc). Thanks!
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@15s You're not alone but as long as you have a WBS code to book to no one cares, and that's how broken DXC is
I'm on a role with practically no work. It suits me - given the 0% pay rises on offer. It can't last - but I've said that many time before. I'm not looking to extend my career, move onto better things. I certainly don't want to have to start travelling. The company can make its own decision about when it decides to swap my welcome but not life changing monthly paycheck for a one off redundancy payment. Mentally I left already!
There are hidden people in the organisation who has immediate jobs to fill that are not advertised
Sounds strange? Trust me I got one
If you’re on the bench, do NOT sit around hoping some work will find you. It won’t. There is no work.
Network and train, find those hidden people and apple for as many internal jobs as you can.
@af take note everyone: this is great advice.
@d6 any tips on doing this given I've been siloed on one contract my entire time with dxc and practically no network in dxc. thank you all for the helpful suggestions!
I've had a mostly pointless role for about 5 months now. The task is to be available for the test team. Just wait for something to be not working. Then go check it. They are very slow at testing. They ask me maybe twice a week for something. It's not always something I can even help with, other than suggest they ask another team. But because I have a WBS and PM's don't like to have to negotiate people's time. That's the job.
Please fill in your timesheet regularly
@bb yes don't imagine DXC or your manager will find you a new role... you gotta do it yourself. Assuming you want to stay!
You get about 2 months off before you appear on a report. Best bet is to get on any project ( new one if possible but not many around at the moment). Just blag and say you can do most roles depending on your background. Then it usually takes a few months for the project to onboard you. As long as you get that golden wbs code, you’re off the radar. Rinse and repeat.
Or the alternative is. You take all the free time and training you can, with no intention of getting a new role in DXC. Don't be bullied into working 100 miles away. You'll have endless hassle trying to get your expenses approved despite the client agreeing to pay them. Eventually they'll offer you a redundancy package to leave. But it could be six months away.
@OP is this the account P? Has the falcon finally landed? if you know what I mean (being deliberately vague).
I agree with the advice, network, get yourself out there. You need to work at it, your manager will not, and the DXC resource management tools are terrible. The resource management tools do not do a good job at matching candidates with skills and availability like they are supposed to. It's mostly because the project managers do not know how to properly define the role and skills needed for a role.
@af
This is excellent advice and applies to wherever you’re located so thanks for this!
If you want to stay with dxc you need to get out and network internally to find another role... And do it fast.
Trawl share point for keywords relating to your skills, find the people there and talk to them.
The one thing you might struggle with is that USA based roles are hard to find. You can't open new ones unless it's ITAR related.
Depending on your stage in your career, maybe get accreditation to back your experience fast and hit the job market.
If you look at job adverts you'll quickly identify the certs that are desirable in your field. Don't be a fool and imagine that your experience counts for more than a cert... It might in the real world but not when it comes to AI or HR reading your resume.
I spent about four months on the bench a few years back. I’d regularly be asked whether I had a particular skillset. I’d say no, but that I could learn it — and I did. I’d go off and complete the online training.
But the opportunities never materialised.
Clients don’t want someone who finished a foundation course last week and has never applied the skill in the real world. They want evidence, not intent.
So based on that experience, this would be my advice — in order of priority:
You and your mental health come first.
Endless training courses with no outcome are genuinely soul-destroying. Don’t let “keeping busy” become a substitute for progress.Get your life in order so you’re ready when the call comes.
Do the boring but necessary stuff: tidy the shed, get your eye test, reimage your laptop, sort paperwork. Remove friction so you’re genuinely ready to move fast when something real appears.Build on the skills you already have.
Accreditation matters. Clients care about exams passed and proven capability. If there’s an exam attached to what you already do well, push hard to get it.Learn things that genuinely interest you — and could open new doors.
Not everything has to be aligned to DXC. Skills that broaden your employability are never wasted.Build a side hustle or look outside entirely.
A side project that demonstrates real, current capability is far more valuable than a dusty course certificate. Alternatively, start looking for new roles and leave on your terms — not by being left dormant as a form of insurance while your skillset quietly rots. I wrote a C# program five years ago. Nobody cares. What matters is: what did you do last month, and what value did it deliver?
That’s what the real world looks at. Meanwhile take the money and keep your head down until the clock expires.