One of the industry sectors I have specialised in throughout my recruitment career is professional services, including some of the Big4. Having spoken to hundreds of potential candidates over the years about opportunities in this sector, it has long been clear to me that it is misunderstood (and hence dismissed) by many.
To state the screamingly obvious, for a majority of the general candidate population, the professional services sector is never going to carry the innate attractiveness of, for example, the media sector or the luxury goods market! For many lawyers who are considering a first move in-house from a large law firm, they quite naturally question whether a move from one large international professional services firm to another large international professional services firm is quite the change they are seeking. However, it could well be – for many reasons!
Here, in my view, are some of the key offerings of an in-house position in this sector:
- You are joining a globally recognised household name – aside from what this means in terms of the range and quality of work on offer, it can add real heft and quality to your CV, and hence your long-term career prospects;
- The pervasive influence of AI and other advanced technologies is having a transformative effect on this sector; many of these firms now consider themselves as much a trailblazing technology business as a traditional advisory firm;
- In general terms, the calibre of lawyers and other professionals hired into this sector is extremely high. This means that you are working alongside colleagues who are both bright and very capable – something that I find is particularly important to lawyers when they are weighing up the attractiveness of an opportunity. It also means that you are likely to be working with a sophisticated internal group of stakeholders. This again is not to be underestimated in terms of the impact it can have on overall job satisfaction. In summary, this move can offer many of the upsides of working for a global law firm, without the downsides of extremely long hours, detailed time recording, and the transitory nature of the work;
- The scope of the work will often be international and high profile; you are frequently working on matters that hit the national and international press;
- Whilst it will come as a surprise to some, the Big4 in particular are now amongst the most flexible of employers when it comes to working arrangements. For those who place a high premium on an ability to work from home for a majority of the working week, these employers are an attractive destination;
- Last but not least, money! Industry sector tends to be a key determinant of salary levels within the in-house market. Whilst of necessity this is a generalisation, professional services as a sector tends to sit alongside financial services, heavy industry and technology (amongst others) as a relatively high-paying sector from a base salary perspective.
If you’re interested in learning more about moving in-house to a professional services firm, feel free to contact me at richard.hanks@mrasearch.co.uk
