I've received an offer for $230k base + $20k sign on for an SM role at Deloitte Consulting (commercial). I have 12YOE in the specific industry they're looking to hire for with a BS and MS in engineering. How does this offer rate and what's a reasonable target for nego? I'd appreciate it if any current SMs could give me insights into WLB, day to day work, travel, etc. Is being an SM at Deloitte worth it to get to partner or do folks leave before that happens due to stress and wlb?
Deloitte
Comp aside, be very sure before you move. Experienced hire SM here and it’s quite rough. I have same amount of consulting experience as anybody here and basically ran my old firm, but it’s quite an adjustment challenge. Leadership will say they want the best for you but withhold opportunities, long timers and peers are basically downright rude and look down at you for no reason and make snide comments. Despite that there’s definitely avenues to get recognized but just know it’s not for the weak.. takes time to find your place and find others like you that are trying to swim upstream.
WLB doesn’t exist - I travel almost every week but depends on project. I would be ok with putting the work in, but just not ok with people thinking I’m second tier just because I haven’t been at Deloitte all my life. I’m hoping it gets better 🤞🏽
All. Of. This.
To D8's point, you need to invest time in the first two months building your network... especially with PPMDs and fellow SMs in your sector, account(s), and offering portfolio. As an experienced hire, there's a lot of "corporate knowledge" that you don't have that folks that "grew up in the firm" have learned through OJT/ experience.
Ask your coach and your onboarding peer (or whatever they can it) who you should reach out to. And schedule half hour (25 minute actually) meetings with them to give them a 5 minute overview of your background, where your strengths are, and what differentiators you bring to the firm. Ask them about recommendations they have for a new SM joining the firm, and before ending the call, ask for another 2-3 people (PPMDs or SMs) that you should reach out to to get additional insight and to get more perspective on the firm. Rinse and repeat until you've had at least a dozen of these calls. For people that you really"click" with or that provide good sage advise, ask to do a check-in once a quarter.
SM is one of the most demanding and most critical positions in the firm.
Good luck.
Thanks for the practical advice, I'm going to add this to my planner.
Do you agree with the prior commenters that experienced hires have less respect and less support than home grown consultants? Is it to the extent where it would be difficult for me to be successful?
Also, how does a typical project/engagement work?
Here's what I'm thinking:
1. I'm given a scope of work from a partner and need to create a project timeline with specific deliverables.
2. I need to staff the project (find A, C, SC, M levels to help with deliverables)
3. I track progress and communicate progress to partners, client, etc.
4. In the meantime, try to look for more opportunities to sell work to client and start new projects
Am I way off or ballpark?
Manager base is not 215k. There are very few managers at the firm making 215k. 230k is a solid starting salary for an SM. Especially for 12 YOE.
Manager here. I make $205k base. With that said, if the SM base is only $230k, I’m out. My coach wants me to go up for SM and I’m thinking to bail.
Yeah, so recruiter won't budge from 230k since I have no consulting background. He did tell me I have a "high upside potential".
What sort of raises do SMs see after their first year? Could I get to 250+ after a year?
$230-$250 k base is solid for SM in my opinion. Definitely negotiate higher. A lot will be expected of you.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. So far the general consensus is that I should negotiate higher.
What's the best way to do this and what should I ask for? 240, 250, 260?
Given that TC for a top performing SM is easily over 300k, that's nothing to sneeze about. 230 sounds on the low end for commercial but not insane. SM is also a terrible level but not until year 2+. (I'm GPS at y5/250 base, and I hate my Deloitte life right now but in general have had a great experience...SM blues are real).
GPS = govt and public services
Yes. Not nearly as much as before, but it is picking back up.
Can you set boundaries on travel, say if you have young kids?
Or would any resistance to travel screw you over in your career/reputation at Deloitte?
It is difficult to become Principal if you are experienced hire SM. Most get directed to MD. Year 1 will be tough. Difficult to reach target utilization since you wont have network. It gets better by year 1 end though.
Yeah, didnt mean firm pushes to MD path, just been observing most Principals are home grown or joined early in their career. I have seen so many great MDs who joined at SM level can be Principal easily( some may have preferred MD path too)
Update:
Yeah, so recruiter won't budge from 230k since I have no consulting background. He did tell me I have a "high upside potential".
What sort of raises do SMs see after their first year? Could I get to 250+ after a year?
Wow, really? The 2022 Deloitte salary survey on Fishbowl had the average SM base at 230ish. Surprised to hear managers can make that much.
Does anyone have a link to the survey?
Engineering Degree - is it Oil&Gas?
No.
It's electrical/electronics engineering.
Do SMs have to travel often?
It would depend on staffing - good chances to get on an account that wouldn't require it if you're GPS Federal, but in this environment, we can't really turn down projects and sit on the bench bc we don't want to travel.