I’m seriously considering a move to another firm, but I’m torn on what to prioritize. My current job pays well—$90K with decent bonuses—but the culture has been draining, and I feel like I’ve hit a ceiling. One option is a well-known company with big-name clients, which could be great for my resume, but I worry about getting lost in the hierarchy. The other is a smaller firm with a great team culture, but the growth potential isn’t as clear. For those who’ve made a switch, what mattered most to you? Was it the prestige, the work itself, or the people you’d be working with?

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$90k not a lot of money anymore with today’s inflation and cost of living. Career growth is very important to me so I’d go with the first company.

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I’ve been in a similar situation! For me, it came down to the work culture and personal growth, like feeling valued and challenged is huge for me. Prestige is great, but if the work environment drains you, it can wear you down. If you’re happy with the work but not the people, a smaller firm might be worth considering!

It depends on what you want the most. For me, flexibility and work-life balance trump everything else, but that’s also where I’m at in my life right now with young kids at home. If you’re looking to grow, you may want that experience at a big company but be sure to maximize relationships with internal colleagues. If it doesn’t work out, you can always change.

I'll take WLB and good culture over a name any day.

No judgements - be honest with why you started looking and what you’re trying to solve for in a new role/ company. Are you at offer stage for both?
If yes, in my POV, “Ex - “ isn’t a reason to prioritize one role over another. Make a list of pros and cons - including comp/ total comp. If you are at offer stage for the smaller company and still curious what growth looks like, it’s a great time to ask - small companies can be less structured for lateral, linear, and new business unit growth. Be honest with what growth looks like to you - is it learning, stretching, title change, managing more people? I can’t answer these for you but hope this way of things helps you think about things through your unique lens

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