What’s the best level to leave the Big4? SC/SA , Manager, Director? And when I say best, in regards to finding equal or better comp and title in industry. Not trying to have it be a loaded question, but would like to hear anecdotes.

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I would say a several year M is the sweet spot.

For the companies that just care about the brand name and level on your resume, you can usually get a pretty decent title and comp boost by going to industry.

For the companies that care about relevant YOE vs just pedigree and title, by that point you're usually ~10 years into your career and can swing a lateral or mild title boost while generally scoring a pretty significant comp boost.

Below M the move to industry often isn't as drastic, and SM+ runs the risk of pricing yourself out of the market for companies that look at relevant YOE, as at those levels you're*generally* more of a generalist than a specialist, and those roles are harder to come by in industry at that level than at lower levels.

Speaking anecdotally, I've seen plenty of M level exits to SM/D/SD level in industry. At SM, though, I've seen fewer exits to D/SD+ levels in industry.

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Very helpful response TM1 - thank you!

A few years of being Manager or a newly minted Senior Manager. By then you’ve learned the ropes and can hold your own

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I second C1. It also gets much harder to gain marketable skills commensurate with your pay level at SM. So if you’re planning on exiting, first year or two of SM is the latest.

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Agree with this. It is very hard to exit at this point without taking a pay cut. I'm basically looking at FANG and PE.

Director

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SA1 gets it

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For instance, did you wish you left earlier at SA instead of Manager, because of more opportunities to grow in the company you exited to?

I’m M1 and working on exit strategy. To add to above responses, it also depends on how you feel about your current work, pay, culture etc. I wouldn’t just stay because it’s advisable to leave at a certain milestone. I would look at it holistically. Career is one part of life not the whole life itself.

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