Hi, I’m a new hire at a big4. But the current team makes me feel I’m not needed and I am being left out several times in team events. I don’t take it personally but apparently the team culture doesn’t fit me quite well. I am already thinking about transferring to another team and that’s where my interest is anyways. My question is: when should I bring it up? After one year or after this upcoming busy season, or soon? Honestly this is hurting my mental health a Deloitte" class="linkified" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >bit.Deloitte PwC KPMG EY
Honestly, leaving the group to join another probably isn’t a “solution” to the problem. As others have said, you will probably need to speak up more - and this is going to stay true the rest of your PA career. As a seasoned veteran, I can’t stress this enough - speak up more. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you want something, you need to ask for it. And if you don’t get it, ask again next time. Good things will happen.
Talk to people. They will help you through this. And then after a year, if you really want to leave, give it a shot. But don’t “run away” from this. For your own sake.
This is the reality of D in general. You should have a conversation with your counselor without keeping your hopes up cause they may not care at all, while also keeping in mind people on teams that get dropped hold a grudge.
Big 4 have sorority/Frat house mentality. If you don't belong to one of the clicques, you are never going to succeed
I am so sorry to hear this. Do you mean your project team or people form your practice/business group?
Thanks for your response! Currently I’m at Uncle D. I mean transfer to another practice group. So is it better if I bring it up to my coach soon?
Very good advice thanks!
Hello Manager 1, I understand what you mean. I don’t think they did this on purpose. I guess they just don’t care. I did my best and reached out to people. I was pretty proactive but not too eager. Sometimes there is just no response and maybe they are just too busy. But fortunately the partner has been nice to me. Actually he is one of the two people who have been nice and helpful to me. I wonder if I should bring up to him soon that I want to transfer. Do you think he will help me make this career move?
Thanks guys. I really appreciate all your advice. This is why I came here for help. I know I can always get honest and good advice. Thanks a lot!
Good luck!
Which firm are you at? Which firm it is will determine how you go about it. At KPMG and Deloitte, you work with your career advocate equivalent. At PwC, your only option is to stick it out until the project ends or go to a different employer. No take on EY.
There’s a lot to unpack but if you’re new you need to step out of your comfort zone and do things you’re not used to doing. If you’re already doing everything you can and being left out intentionally then you need to speak up or be left to be resentful on your own.
Could there be any other reason you are not included? I’m not blaming anybody in particular, just looking to get some context.
I don’t know what the end of the story is going to be but please stay solution oriented and don’t play the blame game. When you’re laying out the situation, frame it in the way you perceived it and try to acknowledge the possibility of a misunderstanding.
If you leave the team without any closure you may find yourself wanting to do this in future engagements as an out.
All hypothetical at this point but I’ve managed a lot of new hires and I’ve seen similar situations play out. They all ended up being a combination of miscommunication or mismatched expectations.
Thanks D1. I was worried about that.
Thanks M1. I think you are right. I really appreciate your advice. I’m not blaming on anyone. Another reason I want to change the team is because I think the other team fits my career path better. I guess my biggest concern is when I should bring this up. The D company rule is I can only transfer after one year. I wonder if I can make is happen earlier than that if I am being honest and sincere at the same time I finish my work well.
Thanks M1! I really appreciate your words. I think I ll follow your advice and still try to be a high performer at the same time trying to find my other path.
Take the simple tasks given to you and work 10 times as hard on them as you should. Make sure your output is client ready. These may be notes, cleaning up the deck, or other menial tasks. You need to build trust because everyone on this team can do what you can faster than it takes to train you.
Hello K2, I think the main reason I want to leave is because I’m more interested in other area. This situation makes me want to leave earlier. I don’t want to explain myself too much but I already sent out multiple emails from the beginning. Asking for work, asking for help on Corptax, asking for guidance on my source. All I got is no response and “sorry I’m busy”. Now I don’t want to reach out much any more. Well I would rather work in a team with the practice area I like even they will treat me the same way. But I already asked the other new hires and seems like they don’t have this issue.
Thanks for the advice! I might try to keep asking again and again because I want to get more work and be a high performer. Then I ll have a better chance to be able to switch teams.
Hello M1, thanks for the advice! I’m still new and not sure if my output can be client ready. But I have been trying my best even I haven’t been assigned much work yet.
So sorry to hear this. I am sure it is only temporary. You got this.