[Anonymous]

Hey community, I’ve been working for a Big 4 firm for about 1.5 yrs now and wasn’t seeing myself making senior in this fall’s promotion line so I started interviewing elsewhere (both in and out of public). I got an offer from another Big 4, but I’d be going in as an experienced staff (essentially redoing that year).

On the one hand, it would be nice to have gotten that promotion, but obviously I’m not in much of a position to demand it from my current or even potential public firm. At the same time, I’m also not sure that I would want to stay in public for the medium-term (5 yrs). Any thoughts on staying in my current firm, making the jump to another Big 4 for a change of scenery and new client roster, or taking the plunge into corporate life now? Any advice on what I should be thinking about or how I may consider my possible moves from here?

[mrcpa]

Why don't you see yourself making the promotions? Did you get a low rating?

Licensed - 2012

[LoveEventing]

If you don't think you'll be in public very much longer, you might as well stay at your current firm. It doesn't look good to job jump on your resume, plus I can tell you that the “experienced hires” at my old firm typically struggled to pick up on the firm's methodology but we held to the same standards as the rest of us. They usually were not at the top of the class and many of them ended up leaving anyway. You're better off trying to make it work at this job for another year or two, get the senior title and then start looking at industry if that's what you want to do. JMO.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[Mayo]

To be honest, moving to,another firm without a good reason just looks plain weird. Also, don't think people at your old firm won't talk to people at your new firm about you.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[thegrinch]

If you're not going to get the senior role in the new firm, then there might not be a point in switching. As long as you can get along with the people at your current firm, stay. I only say that because you plan on leaving public anyway. Now, if public were something that you would want to pursue in the long-run, and you have an itch to jump firms …. well, explore that. It may just be your best move.

As for the people saying that it looks suspicious … it might. It depends. Will you be staying in the same city? Does Firm B specialize in an industry that you're interested that your current Firm A does not serve? Do you have more friends in Firm B? Etc etc.

At the end of the day, what matters is your happiness. I am slowly but surely starting to embrace the “Don't give a rat's butt what others think and do what is best for you.” Without stepping on anyone or throwing anyone under the bus, of course. Just proceed with caution if you plan to remain in the same city, especially if that city is anything smaller than a city like Chicago or Atlanta.

[Author]

Replies