[texasgal]

HI all,

Just curious what your thoughts are on this: I currently work at a large Big 4 office on the West Coast and just started in September 2013. I want to transfer to a small office in Texas because that is where I’m from and my boyfriend is still there and we are at a point where we want to be serious but he cant leave his current job. Ideally, I’d like to transfer around Sept/Oct of this year, so after about a year at my firm. What are the chances I’ll be able to transfer successfully? Considering that my firm has told us that about 80% of first-years are rated as “meets expectations”, I don’t think I’ll be able to transfer based on my rating alone.

Who should I initially start the request process with? My home office or the one in TX (made a few contacts with the TX people during my undergrad’s recruiting process)?? And when should I do this (considering I’d like the transfer next fall)?? ASAP??

My next question is that if I’m not able to transfer with my current firm this year, what are your thoughts on switching firms to another Big 4?? Would having 1 year experience at my current firm put me at an advantage or disadvantage if applying to other firms? And again, how would I go about it? Through the firm website or direct recruiter contacts??

Thanks for any advice!!!! Hoping and praying I can make this happen somehow!

[whitelilies04]

I don't think it'll be an issue. I'm also in a large west coast office at a big 4 firm. The best thing you can do is talk to your HR rep. Everyone in my office (staff-manager) that has expressed an interest in transferring has done so. They weren't all rock stars so I don't think your performance is tied to it as long as you're meeting expectations (your language use makes me think we work for the same firm ;)) I think you'll be ok. I don't know what service line you work in, but the best thing you could do to ensure an easy transfer is make sure the skills you acquire this first year are applicable to the market you would like to transfer to.

Best of luck to you!

FAR - passed, 11/12
AUD - passed, 5/13

[whitelilies04]

I don't think it'll be an issue. I'm also in a large west coast office at a big 4 firm. The best thing you can do is talk to your HR rep. Everyone in my office (staff-manager) that has expressed an interest in transferring has done so. They weren't all rock stars so I don't think your performance is tied to it as long as you're meeting expectations (your language use makes me think we work for the same firm ;)) I think you'll be ok. I don't know what service line you work in, but the best thing you could do to ensure an easy transfer is make sure the skills you acquire this first year are applicable to the market you would like to transfer to.

Best of luck to you!

FAR - passed, 11/12
AUD - passed, 5/13

[LongTimeComing]

I don't want to discourage you, but the chances of getting a transfer to a smaller office are not always very good. But, you can increase your chances in two ways.

HR is much more willing to approve a transfer for 2 reasons: (1) if you have a business case for moving (such as work experience in real estate for an office serving a large real estate client) and (2) if the other office is hurting for people/requesting you specifically.

Regarding the first point, back when I was in Big 4, there were several smaller offices around my (much larger) office that existed primarily to audit one or two large clients. So, who is the big client in TX? Does your current experience parlay well to joining their team? Of course, if you are in advisory and live out of a suitcase, this point is irrelevant; the most important matter is that the new office is near a large market. I have a former colleague who barely got approved for a transfer to Detroit, and HR's chief complaint was that Detroit was not a large enough market.

Also, get to know the partners and managers in the TX office and have them try to pull you over. If you push from one side and they pull from the other, HR has little to no justification for standing in the way.

Good luck!

[LongTimeComing]

I don't want to discourage you, but the chances of getting a transfer to a smaller office are not always very good. But, you can increase your chances in two ways.

HR is much more willing to approve a transfer for 2 reasons: (1) if you have a business case for moving (such as work experience in real estate for an office serving a large real estate client) and (2) if the other office is hurting for people/requesting you specifically.

Regarding the first point, back when I was in Big 4, there were several smaller offices around my (much larger) office that existed primarily to audit one or two large clients. So, who is the big client in TX? Does your current experience parlay well to joining their team? Of course, if you are in advisory and live out of a suitcase, this point is irrelevant; the most important matter is that the new office is near a large market. I have a former colleague who barely got approved for a transfer to Detroit, and HR's chief complaint was that Detroit was not a large enough market.

Also, get to know the partners and managers in the TX office and have them try to pull you over. If you push from one side and they pull from the other, HR has little to no justification for standing in the way.

Good luck!

[vtdmw]

I was very recently in a similar position as you are. I was in a big office on the east coast, got engaged and wanted to move to my where my fiancé lived, in a smaller town with a small office. I found that the large office I was in was not motivated to transfer low level employees. My performance manager pretty much came out and said that staff were not normally allowed to transfer. I ended up leaving the Big 4 and went to a slightly smaller firm (still nationally known). I would say make sure that they know you are serious and if all else fails, start looking elsewhere.

[vtdmw]

I was very recently in a similar position as you are. I was in a big office on the east coast, got engaged and wanted to move to my where my fiancé lived, in a smaller town with a small office. I found that the large office I was in was not motivated to transfer low level employees. My performance manager pretty much came out and said that staff were not normally allowed to transfer. I ended up leaving the Big 4 and went to a slightly smaller firm (still nationally known). I would say make sure that they know you are serious and if all else fails, start looking elsewhere.

[Author]

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