Hi there, 

first of all, congrats to your offer! Here my thoughts..

A. How to go about resigning without ruining your relationship?

First of all - I would not worry too much about burning bridges in your case. Generally speaking, people in consulting come and go all the time - everyone is aware of that, so there are typically not hard feelings when a consultant moves on. Now in your case, the offer at hand is from a top player in the industry - i'd expect your superiors to be proud and understanding that it's a fantastic opportunity for you, even if the decision may cause an initially allergic reaction. That will go away.

Having said that, good etiquette to communicate this is to first have a meeting / dinner with your your superior / Partner to…  

1. Let them know informally about your decision
2. Explain WHY you want to pursue the opportunity, despite being happy in your current position; and
3. Show respect and appreciation for the company, its people and recognize efforts taken to bring you in & make you feel comfortable & develop

After you told them, hand in formal resignation. Regarding the visa, would not worry too much - this happens all the time and BCG will take care of any necessary steps on their end - just make sure you trigger it early.

B. Should I be transparent with BCG?

Of course you can let them know, but honestly, it's not critical at all / no one really cares. BCG is typically very flexible with the start date, so you can just let them know about your preferred entry date (they'll give you up to a year, so you could even continue at your current firm for a bit). In the unlikely event that they push back on that, just let them know about notice period from your current employer - HR will accommodate. No need to go deeper into it.

Hope this helps. Wish you the best of luck!

Regards, Andi

(edited)

Hi there,

Congratulations on the BCG offer!

Since you prefer BCG, this is what I would recommend:

1. Align with BCG on the possible starting dates and visa issues. They are usually flexible but you may want to know this in advance
2. Have a meeting with your current manager and be transparent about the situation. Say you were not expecting the offer (I imagine that’s the case since you just started), and that they would be now your preferred choice
3. If you are flexible with the starting day at BCG, explain to your manager you would be happy to accommodate a timeline according to point 1). This will help them to find a replacement / solve immediate needs and will help to leave on good terms

If you follow the previous steps, there should not be issues.

Hope this helps, all the best for a great start at BCG!

Francesco

Hi,

If you are on an H1B visa, you need to be a little careful. Here is the chronology of steps to follow

• First - file for H1B transfer with BCG
• Wait till you get the approval notice once you have filed (I assume BCG does premium processing so this should take <2 weeks
• Work with BCG HR in parallel to align on start date (Give it 2 weeks at least from the day you will tell your boss at the current company.)
• Tell the boss at your current firm - this will not be easy but you will have to do it. Be gentle, explain how this is a huge opportunity for you and that you are really sorry to do this after joining. Ask him the best way to ensure your transition will be a smooth one.
• Ensure you do everything to leave your current project in a good place and be nice to everyone that you are working with

Congratulations on your new role and all the best at BCG!

Udayan

(edited)

Hi there, 

Indeed, a complex situation. 

From what you describe, the visa is the most crucial thing to figure out and for that you might want to get some professional help, i.e., somebody who can help you better navigate this legally. 

In terms of your options with the employer, you could also consider deferring the BCG offer by a few months (e.g., 4-6) to get some additional working experience in the smaller consulting firm you started in and to preserve the relationship. On the other hand, since you're in the probation period you could also be open with you current employer that you received and alternative offer which you prefer. They're not going to like it, but that's that. Life's short so there's not point going about it trying to make everybody happy all the time. 

Hi there,

Congrats on the offer!

I totally agree with Francesco except for one point/clarification:

Make sure you have the BCG offer in hand, signed by both parties, and starting date agreed before you tell your current boss.

You also need to me 100% sure there will not be any visa issues - i.e. make sure you don't leave your current firm only to find out now you have no job!

Ultimately, you will likely be ruining your relationship with your current employer. You haven't had much time to build one, and you are leaving just as you started. This is a price you need to be comfortable paying if you are going to switch!

Yes, it happens all the time and it's fine, even as an immigrant. Especially in the current market. Definitely let your recruiters know and they'll work with you to figure out what may be the best solution for you. One option would be extend your start date with BCG for a few months. On the other hand, since you just joined, it might make more sense to leave asap while you're still learning the ropes/don't have major responsibilities. Ultimately, you need to decide what you want to do, but you'll be ok.