No job is 100% merit based.  If your boss doesn't like working with you then they have little motivation to keep you around.  Remember that they're social beings just like the rest of us.

tarheelfan4ever wrote: senbi575 wrote: My question is, however, how small of a salary are we talking about if I choose to work at a smaller firm? Admittedly, I have a pretty money hungry/prestige-whore attitude, but for me, its a certain salary threshold I want to cross and after I reach it, I really don't give a damn about earning more. For me, that threshold is around 150k and after I reach that (if I ever do), I'd rather do something I enjoy in an environment I like and be recognized as a significant contributor to a firm than chase after more money. Now before you blast me about wanting "only" 150k, I realize that its not easy and will take a lot of work, but you also have to realize that its not nearly as bad as 99% of the people on wall street. Yeah, most people will never make that much, but I am a hard worker, infinitely more motivated than the average, more intelligent than a good number of people (not ivy league, but you know what I mean), and I know how to impress my superiors (although I really hate this part, hence why I want to avoid the Big 4, especially since thats all "softs based" and not merit based). Furthermore, I know how to live below my means and am not stupid with money/spend irresistibly like many people I know. You can call me cocky, but I'm very confident that I can reach 150k at some point in my career even if it takes longer than most. I just want to know if the opportunity to reach this threshold is even possible for partners/senior managers at smaller firms/large regionals. I've gotten mixed responses (hell, on another forum 2 people PMed me saying that they make MORE than their Big 4 counterparts at smaller firms since they were able to advance quicker), so if anyone has details about this, let me know.

I think you have the first step down, confidence and goals. But why would you want to stick around to make that kind of money in a big firm if you are not in it for the type of work? Sure a big firm maybe one of the fastest ways to get to a high paying job, but it is not by any means the only way nor a lock into that salary level.  

Then what happens after you make $150k, will you quit? Dont get me wrong, money is a powerful motivator, but once you get some experiemce under your belt, hopefully it becomes less and less important. If money is your only motivation, you are going to be in for some dissapointment. You can never have enough money; I remember thinking I would be happy with an $80k job, then it moved to $120k, and then again to $200k, bottom line is you will alwayws want more.

You should figure out what job makes you not dread getting up in the morning. I would rather make $70k, go home at 4:00 pm everday, be appreciated, know that I contribute to the company and not have to think about work once I leave the office (unless it is by my choice to want to better the company).