At a certain point in your career, something shifts.
At the mid-level, you start to understand what you actually enjoy. The type of deals. The clients. The pace. The problems you like solving. And naturally, you want more of it.
We are seeing this more and more. Associates are not actively looking to leave. They are exploring because the mix of work is not quite right. They want a greater share of the work they enjoy, and less of what they don’t.
The reality is, the “perfect” mix is rare. Sometimes it exists, but more often there is a trade-off. A 70/30 split, rather than 100 percent alignment.
Once you have a clear sense of what you want more of, the next step is working out how to get there.
That starts with clarity.
Before making any decisions, take a step back and ask yourself the right questions. Understand what your current situation actually looks like, then assess whether your firm can realistically deliver what you are looking for — or whether you need to find it elsewhere.
Start here:
10 questions to ask yourself
- What is the actual split of work I am doing today?
(Not what I expect — what it really looks like week to week.) - What type of work do I enjoy most, and why?
- What would my ideal split look like?
(50/50? 70/30? 80/20?) - How far away am I from that today?
- What work do I not enjoy, and how much of my time is it taking up?
- Is it realistic to reduce or limit that work within my current team?
- Who is allocating the work I want, and am I front of mind?
- If I stay another 12 months, is that balance likely to improve or stay the same?
- How important is this compared to the other benefits my firm offers?
- Are there firms in the market where this type of work is a bigger priority?
If you are unsure on that last point, that is where we can help.
We can assess the market, break down your options, and give you a clear view of what is realistically achievable.
I have seen people move to platforms that genuinely offer a better mix of work. I have also seen people stay and successfully reposition internally. Some accept offers for more money but end up doing exactly the same work. Others turn down opportunities that would give them the work they want, because they are not ready to leave behind their team or culture.
One point worth being clear on. If you are looking to completely pivot into a new practice area where you have no experience, that is becoming increasingly difficult. Firms are hiring specialists who can add value from day one. In many cases, you are better off making that shift internally first.
There is no single right answer. But the best outcomes come from clarity.
If the type of work you are doing is a priority, we can help you find it and make sure any move you make actually delivers on that.
Hopefully this provides a useful starting point to assess where you are, what you want, and what your next move should look like.
📧 jonathan.taylor@sonderconsultants.com
