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A "Big 4" partner explained this to me years ago. It's an intentional system designed to extract the most resources from a college graduate as possible. Some are promoted up the ranks, but most leave with the resume line item to do something else.

This has been the way for decades now.

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Agree - I worked at one of the firms on the tech advisory side a decade ago. I do think some of the Big 4 realized they had lack of talent staying and have improved their working conditions. I was on the partner path there - but ultimately decided it wasn't worth staying.

I remember hearing from HR that the reason mandatory retirement was 60 there is that most partners died by 65. That coupled with the senior leaders endless travel, hollow marriages, trails of divorces made it unappealing.

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