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Big 4 Manager Is Itching to Leave But the Partner Carrot Is Being Dangled

Posted on by Caleb Newquist

Have the busy season blues but too lazy or untalented to write a song about it? Email us at advice@goingconcern.com and someone will tell your story.

Hi GC
 
Long time reader, first time emailer.
 
I am a first year manager at a Big 4 firm. For the past 4 months I have had this itch (worse than the ones you have on certain body parts) to leave. However, I have been quite careful not to let anyone at work know about this annoying itch.
 
I had lunch with a couple partners yesterday and they both basically told me that I will be partner at 34-35 judging by my performance and with the assumption I maintain it. I am one of the highest rated managers in my batch (there's only 2 ahead/equal to me in a total pool of 30).
 
What are your thoughts on my predicament? Considering the fact no one would know that I want to leave, should I take their comments at face value?
 
Thanks
Dear Itchy and Scratchy,
 
I've got two words for you: Gold Bond.
 
Now, this rash of yours. I'm wondering what it is that's chafing you. Is it the money? Are you having a mid-busy season crisis?  Did a sexy recruiter promise to make your career dreams come true? Whatever it is, you best examine the cause of this malady to get an idea of why you want to leave your firm. 
 
And the fact that you recently had lunch with a couple of partners may be an indication that your itch isn't as big of a secret as you think. Someone has probably noticed you squirming in your seat only to run off to a bathroom stall to scratch yourself furiously right up to point before you start bleeding. Since you are a talent, these partners want to keep you and so they are start to dangle the plunders of being a member of their club. They've seen your kind before, so now they're going on a subtle offensive.
 
That said, I think you can probably take their age range fairly seriously. I don't know which office or firm you're in (if you're at KPMG, you'll be at PwC in no time) but that's right in the wheelhouse of when many are admitted to the partnership. For larger offices it might be a little lower but it's more or less in the ballpark.
 
But ultimately, you've got to figure out is why you've got this rash in the first place. If it is money or some other worldly desire, then I wouldn't make any rash decisions. Figure out what you really want to do and go from there.

 

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Dear GC,

This past summer I worked as an intern with a Big 4 firm. Learned a lot, some decent people, long hours. Still felt relatively miserable considering most of the people I worked with were wound pretty tight. Fast forward to now, and I am considering “taking my talents to south beach” by switching to a different Big 4 firm. Yes, there is an immaterial amount of additional money on the table, so my decision comes down to (1) a more interesting client base and (2) a more exciting and open culture among the happier employees at the new firm.

To me “the Decision” has been made. How do I tell the firm I interned with (and accepted an offer with) that I won’t be coming to the party next year? Am I at risk of being “that guy?” Can you put me in contact with a cable network willing to run a one-hour special so I don’t have to tell them directly?

Thank you.

-Raymone James

LeBron Raymone,

First, congratulations on one-upping your entry level status in such a dire market. It sounds as though your decision is a done deal so cutting the cord with your personal version of Cleveland shouldn’t be hard to do.

Being that it’s already November, you need to reach out to the firm you’re breaking away from immediately. They’re in the middle of interview season anyway, and knowing that they have an additional spot in their budget now rather than later is important (and fair to their process). Reach out to the recruiter that was your point of contact within the firm (and probably the one that presented you with the original offer). Leave them a voicemail at work stressing the need to speak about a “time sensitive issue” and follow up with an email stating the same. Should you not hear back from them in 48 hours, follow up with another call. If it’s another empty voicemail, follow up with another email (forward the original) and state then that you will not be starting with them after graduation. Explain the situation (using the “it’s not you, it’s me” angle usually works), and thank them for the positive intern experience.

In fairness to them you should try to speak to them live on the phone; however you’re not obligated to make a dozen attempts to reach them. Everyone has email in their pocket these days and it’s reasonable to expect a response in two business days.

And why are you worried about being ‘that guy?’ If by that you mean ‘the guy who left for better money, clients, and culture,’ I’d bet it’s safe to say many of us wouldn’t mind being that guy (or lady) too.

Good luck.

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