To move or not to move?

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your situation!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, I would highly advise you not to base your decision to remain with your current employer primarily on a potential promotion, especially since I think chances are low that you could get promoted without any proof of your performance.
• Moreover, I would advise you to first reach out to people at your current employer to tell them about your situation and that you are questioning your career decision if you have not already done so.
• If, eventually, you still want to apply elsewhere, I would highly advise you to apply anywhere you think you might be a great fit, even outside of the Big 4 companies. In order to make an informed decision about this, I would advise you to do the following:
  • Weigh the different criteria that are meaningful to you independently of the current options (e.g., prestige, culture, international exposure, compensation, location). After that, score the options based on your criteria and their weighting, resulting in separate scores. This way, you have covered the left-brain perspective.
  • Critically assess your initial reaction to the outcome of the scores. For instance, if you feel the urge to tweak the numbers, this is a solid indicator that you do not want this decision to become reality. This way, you have covered the right-brain perspective.
  • By doing so, you will be able to integrate both parts of the brain into the decision-making, guaranteeing a higher chance that you will still be happy with it years later.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

(editiert)

Hi there,

Q: I’ve been on the bench for essentially 9 months. So I’m obviously not so happy. Should, I attempt a move laterally to my former boss‘ (who hired me), I like them and they’re the only person I’d move laterally. Should I attempt an “upgrade“ MBB, or other Advisory. Or should I just wait while the market is down and keep the stability.

There is nothing wrong with applying to other firms if you have been on the bench for so long and don’t see the opportunity to grow. 

The firms to target depend on your personal preference in terms of the company you want to start, so it is difficult to advise without further information. In most cases, MBB should open more doors though.

To check that in your particular area you can do the following:

1. Look for alumni of the different companies on LinkedIn
2. Check how many moved to your desired exit/industries in your region
3. Normalize for the size of the companies in your region

If you decide to apply to other companies, I would recommend to look for referrals. You can find some tips in the article below:

▶ How to Get Interview Invitations in Consulting

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

time is too valuable to waste it on something you don't like. Granted, some things cannot be improved over night, but it is within your control to drive the change. 

Seems like you strongly dislike the status quo and yet one of the options you consider is to maintain that status quo. Be proactive, look around for other options. Nobody requires you to quit right now and cut off your cashflow, but you are ultimately responsible for shaping your own path and that does not mean having to stay put.

Best of luck

Hi there,

I strongly recommend you apply to other firms.

Here's the thing, what do you have to lose? Nothing!

If you get an offer from MBB or another advisory, you can take it (or negotiate). If you don't, well, now you know.

Since you're on the bench, you have the time available to try.

Update your resume, get networking, and get applying!

Good luck!

I don't see how being on the bench for 9 months will get you promoted.

Honestly, all of the other options sould better than staying. If it is MBB, or follow the partner, or something else, I can't really tell.