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Want to make partner? Then learn how to join 'the club'

23rd Sep 2012
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To succeed in any firm, you need to be seen as a member of ‘the club’ and the influential groups within that club. In my experience, accountants who are ‘loners’ greatly reduce their chances of making partner if for no other reason than the fact that they haven’t raised their profile and the partners don’t know who they are. However hard you work, keeping your head down will not help you to make partner. Unfair as it is, it is those people who have invested in being seen as ‘one of us’ who are more likely to make partner, regardless of how hard they have worked or how brilliant they are technically.

It is possible to build your profile for the wrong reasons such as hanging around with the ‘wrong’ people. Spending time with the firm’s ‘problem child’ can often tarnish your reputation by association. In some firms, spending more time with secretaries and support staff, rather than the fee earning staff, will not enhance your career prospects. This is not to say that you should not build and develop your relationship with them, particularly as they can provide you with invaluable support and guidance. However, you need to communicate where you see your career direction by associating with the firm’s ‘stars’ and ‘winners’.

You may not want to go to the firm’s social events, however, but these are a great opportunity to informally mingle with the influential partners and decision makers. Do look for opportunities to become involved in high profile firm wide activities, such as graduate recruitment. These, as well as helping build your profile, provide an ideal opportunity for you meet and work with colleagues from across the firm whom you would not normally meet.

Whenever I am working with potential partners, I always give them one bit of advice.

"Before you will be thought of as partnership material, you already need to be seen as one of them. What can you do to up your game and take on additional responsibility, so you are more in the club than out of the club?"

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By Midlands Accountancy
24th Sep 2012 10:17

The wrong people promoted for the wrong reasons.

Your assessment of “the club” sums up exactly why so many mediocre and even poor quality people are in senior positions today.  Whether its the local accounts practice, or HMRC, or government, or indeed the top positions in the police and many large corporations, the wrong people are getting to the top for the wrong reasons.

 

Being part of “the club” is another phrase for creeping ‘round the boss.  In my opinion there is nothing more sickening that some “yes man” trying to ingratiate himself. I’d sooner promote the maverick, the individual, the one who offers something different.

 

What next?  Promoting those who support the same football team as you?  Hardly a basis to judge someone’s   merits is it?

 

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By justsotax
24th Sep 2012 09:28

hmmm....

on this basis it is no wonder there are many people who make partner and then leave to set up their own practice when they realise they are surrounded by a bunch of ******.

 

The advice also seamingly contradicts most other posts regarding becoming an 'expert'...knowing your stuff, helping your colleagues and delivering the goods.  Instead just play golf and ignore the junior struggling with his work....

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By ShirleyM
24th Sep 2012 09:32

As in many walks of life ...

It is often the 'bully boys' and liars with the cheek of the devil who get to the top. We only have to look at 'The Apprentice' to see how backstabbing works. If someone has a good idea ... steal it as your own .... if you have a bad idea ... blame somebody else. The convincing liars are often promoted ahead of the honest guys, but they occasionally trip up. We also need to look at the people who promote these people! Do they avoid honesty & integrity and go for the quick buck instead?

How many times do we see characters given responsible, high prestige positions when previous posts have shown them to be less than totally honest or fair in their dealings? Their track record seems to give them an advantage over the honest decent people.

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Replying to HalFC:
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By Midlands Accountancy
24th Sep 2012 10:21

Bankers

ShirleyM wrote:

 If someone has a good idea ... steal it as your own .... if you have a bad idea ... blame somebody else. The convincing liars are often promoted ahead of the honest guys, but they occasionally trip up. We also need to look at the people who promote these people! Do they avoid honesty & integrity and go for the quick buck instead?

 

 

Why did the word BANKERS keep coming to mind when I read that ?

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By justsotax
24th Sep 2012 09:46

also be interesting to consider the

'fake it until you make it' article with this.....

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