How do you go from manager to senior manager without having to spend years in the manager position?

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Right. Why would even want to? Manager is Senior Manager practice. Unless you’re not interested in being successful as a Senior Manager or anything after that. If you’re thinking about trading the SM title to industry or another job, they’re gonna expect you have SM chops. Impossible to get without the development you get as a Manager.

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3-4 years to nail the role and hit the ground running your 1st SM year. Totally agree with the comments that rushing M time just hurts you in the long run. Skip promotes only make sense for lower ranks

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You only get max three in some groups though.

Agree with P1. Do not rush manager time; that year or two you will “save” could very well hurt you in the long run and also frankly makes no significant impact even if it doesn’t.

I would also caution you about the approach EY1 is suggesting. Most larger firms hire laterally at senior levels. It is very difficult to justify to hire someone at a level higher when the firm they’re at didn’t think they’re ready. I have done that twice out of maybe a hundred or so SMs we have hires; one didn’t work out, one is too early to tell. In addition, as an SM your need partner support and sponsorship - it is hard to come into new organization at that level as it takes at least a year to rebuild your brand and network.

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The easy answer is to switch firms. However, SM is sink or swim so I really wouldn’t advise moving up without really having the M role down.

For example, someone at my firm got promoted to M, and somehow in less than a year got another firm to hire him as a Director (SM equivalent). I learned about this from a friend of mine at his new firm. She was so fortunate to get to work with him and said he really did not know what he was doing at all. Having worked with her and known her for awhile, she tends to be positive about everyone and I trust her judgement completely. So, beware the risk.

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2 to 3 years

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Yes. Rebuilding brand, trust and relationships with higher management is a full time job in its self. I think I'll have to reassess my expectations and short term / long term objectives here... I didn't see the risk aspect to moving on too quickly...

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How long do you think someone should be a manager, on average, in order to have a solid skillset in place?

Check the cohort model. It is laid out for you and I don’t think it is an excessive number of years

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