Hello everyone, I’m seeking some guidance regarding a career choice. At 29, I’m currently employed at a Tier 2 consulting firm (like Kearney or Oliver Wyman), and I have approximately 5 years of experience, divided evenly between corporate and consulting roles.
I’ve just received a job offer from a Big 4 firm for a Senior Manager position, which represents a significant jump from my current role as a Consultant. Although I manage specific workstreams, I’ve never had the chance to lead a full project.
The new role offers about a 25% increase in salary, and the title upgrade is substantial. While it looks promising, I’m contemplating what this means for my long-term career path, how the culture compares, and if having experience at a Big 4 firm at this level truly carries weight.
Has anyone experienced a similar transition from a mid-tier firm to Big 4? I’d love to hear your experiences and get your advice on whether this move is worthwhile.
honestly, its a no-brainer. senior manager at a big4 will open way more doors than staying put, even with the intense work culture. the salary bump alone makes it worth it. worst case? you get the brand name on your resume and can jump ship if it doesn’t work out.
you’re overthinking this. big4 firms love hiring from tier2 because they get someone who knows consulting but costs way less than poaching from MBB. you’re their “affordable talent with decent training.” the brand looks nice on LinkedIn, but don’t expect miracles - you’ll still grind out PowerPoints, just with fancier templates and more red tape. take the money and bail if it sucks.
Congrats on the offer! That title jump is huge - they clearly see your potential. Big 4 experience is a total game changer. You’ll be shocked at how many doors this opens.
Made the same jump 3 years ago - boutique to Big 4. The learning curve hit harder than expected. Yeah, the brand name helps when networking, but the bureaucracy almost killed me. Had to get approval for everything, even basic client emails. Results speak for themselves though. Their training programs are solid, and you’ll handle way bigger clients. My old firm’s “enterprise” deals were basically medium projects here. Just expect longer hours and zero autonomy at first.
This move offers way more than just better pay and title. You’ll get exposure to massive implementations, cutting-edge methodologies, and global networks that’ll fast-track your growth - stuff you just can’t get at Tier 2 firms.
But heads up on the culture shock. Big 4 is all about standardized processes and scale, which is totally different from the agile, relationship-focused vibe at places like Kearney or Oliver Wyman. You’ll need to adapt to more hierarchy and probably less freedom to do your own thing.
The timing makes sense though - your experience level plus this role bump could set you up perfectly for future exec roles or going independent.
Bottom line: Big 4 credibility + your Tier 2 background = a profile that employers love. The upside outweighs the risks at your career stage.
