Better Group but Worse Boss Worth It?

Hi all, longtime lurker first time commenter (or question asker, or topic starter, etc.). I've recently got an offer from another group at a shop that’s much better for my specific area of expertise (which is pretty niche) than where I am now, but where the MD I’d be working for I’m not too upbeat about (have heard not great things about him, briefly crossed paths with him at a previous firm and wasn’t overly impressed). Conversely, I’ve got a great relationship with the MD, who is also a partner in the firm, I work with currently.

The MD I work with recently came here and is basically trying to get this group off the ground, and while he’s great and all I do fear that he won’t be able to and then I’ll be kind of SOL, whereas making this move I’d be in a group with lots of dealflow, but not necessarily as great a relationship with my boss.

I do like all the other people at the other firm that I met a lot, and have always heard good things about them generally. As I said I’m in a pretty niche space, so moving to another group that does what I do isn’t the kind of opportunity that’s just going to fall in my lap down the road if we don’t really get this going over here.

Comp would be generally the same in year one with a marginal uptick at the new shop, but probably more upside in later years there.

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 
Best Response

This is one of those fundamental questions on trade-off.

On the one hand, working for a tough boss is great for your career-- even if it's no step up. You understand your faults a whole lot better.

On the other hand, working for a tough boss is going to hurt your health. Most of the damage will be temporary but there will be a few permanent scars.

Is this some circumstance where you are moving from a boutique to a BB? If this were MO to FO, it would be worth it.

I guess the question is, are you going to double your expected pay over a career? If so, the move is worth it.

 

Moving from a boutique to a better boutique, I'm FO now, doubt this move alone would double comp over my career. I actually spoke to a few people recently who had increasingly negative things to say about that guy, not just in a "tough boss" kind of way more in a "needless asshole boss" kind of way, so am edging towards staying put.

I'm also getting married soon and don't want to look back at the beginning of my marriage and think of some asshole boss who ruined it.

 

Not worth it. Part of why I jumped ship at my old firm was because I was not a fan of my boss and going to work every day was miserable. If you think your relationship will be neutral then I'd say go with the group with more deals, my experience was with a boss I didn't see eye to eye with, which isn't the same as just having a neutral relationship. I have a neutral relationship with someone on my team now and we get along fine, we just aren't buddies, and every now and then the elevator ride with him is awkwardly silent...not the end of the world.

 

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