I think I’m becoming disgruntled and need some perspective. I am a 3rd year associate at a litigation firm in the Midwest, LCOL area. I have always loved my firm but in the last month I’m wondering if i should stay. Starting salary for an associate at my firm is $85k. We be raises each year, about $2k. 1,700 hour billable requirement (although not strictly enforced) and annual bonuses are small, also around $2k. At the start of this year, my salary increased to about $90k. Cont’d in comments

Whether the associate (A) would be able to get his bonus when the group head hates him. What should A do? Facts: A had a clash with a partner (P) over an email and now P hates him P became the group head; A is expected to hit his hours because of 400-500 of pro bono (firm allows credit for pro bono hours); A had his 1st annual review mid-year this year; A foolishly told P he was going to hit his hours; P met with A a week later to tell quality of work is poor Nothing documented yet

Just about every major industry in the United States has some form of organized representation. Healthcare, law enforcement, sports, hospitality—you name it. Each of these fields has established organizations or unions that protect workers, advocate fair treatment, and keep management accountable. So why doesn’t this exist for IT? IT Pros drive every modern business. Our expertise powers every project, every initiative, every digital transformation. Yet our field has no unified front. Thoughts?

I need some advice. If you are currently a Consultant at Putnam and you’re offered a job at ZS but as an Associate, would you take it? I really want the ZS role but I have no idea how the change in role would look on my CV, and how future recruiters/hiring managers would perceive it. Also, how does it affect my chances of future promotions (I just don’t want it to look like I ‘went back’). I do understand role names differ per company- simply need to understand how to navigate this. Thank you!

Boss asked me & my two coworkers to come up with a procedure proposal and present it to her and “person A”. Only 2 of us agreed on an idea. But “coworker H” didn’t. So, to get more info, I went to “person A” to get clarification on what the tech specs said bc we were interpreting it differently. I brought back my findings and “coworker H” was very upset that I didn’t include her in the convo and that I added “person A” to the mix. Btw, “person A” and “coworker H” don’t get along. Was I wrong?

In economics or finance, there is nothing truly new; it’s all about how it’s presented. The terminology is crafted to sound sophisticated, allowing for fees to be charged. An IPO is when shares are sold for the first time. A bond is essentially a form of borrowing. Leverage also refers to borrowing. To short is to sell, while to long is to buy. Quantitative Easing involves the Central Bank buying assets. A stimulus is a measure to increase spending. Know something else we should simplify?

New Chapter: Reflections on My Time at Associative I’m thrilled to share that I’ve wrapped up an incredible 4.5-year journey as a Web Developer at Associative (Feb 2021 – Aug 2025). From scaling robust applications to collaborating with a stellar engineering team, this experience has been foundational to my growth. I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship and the complex technical challenges we tackled together. Excited for the next adventure!

Among the biglaw associates here, who has a strong and genuine desire to become an equity partner in either your firm or a firm you consider more demanding or prestigious, and why? And among those who read the question and reflexively thought “hell no,” what’s your main reason? When I was an associate that was the goal of most people I knew and that appears to have changed dramatically.

“We’re like a family here.” The moment I heard that in my third interview this month, I knew it was time to wrap things up. I don’t want a family. I want clear expectations, boundaries, and fair pay. In my experience, “family” means you’ll work extra hours out of guilt and never get paid for it. I wish people would just be honest about the culture upfront. What’s your red flag phrase in interviews that instantly tells you to run?

I helped a friend with a job application today and watched Al turn her CV into three different people. One sounded like a CEO. One sounded like a superhero. One sounded nothing like her. It reminded me of when Al rewrote my cover letter and suddenly I was a "visionary engineering leader." Meanwhile I was eating noodles and trying to attach the right file. Is Al helping us stand out or making all applications sound identical?