In the high-stakes world of consulting, where fortunes can shift with economic winds, Alexander Valen thought his 15 years at Accenture positioned him as a prime candidate for top roles. But after being laid off in late 2023, the former managing director has endured a grueling 21-month job search, repeatedly hearing that his salary expectations—pegged at around $300,000 annually—are simply too steep for today’s cost-conscious employers. Valen’s story, detailed in a recent profile by Business Insider, underscores a broader chill in the job market for seasoned professionals, where experience often collides with tightened corporate budgets.

Valen, who specialized in technology consulting for financial services, applied to over 500 positions, leveraging his network and even cold-calling executives. Yet, recruiters frequently balk at his compensation history, citing client budgets strained by inflation and recession fears. “The first thing they say is, ‘You’re out of our clients’ budgets,'” Valen told the publication, highlighting a mismatch between his proven track record and the prevailing hiring caution.

The Ripple Effects of Accenture’s Restructuring

Accenture’s layoffs, which began in earnest in 2023 with the announcement of 19,000 job cuts worldwide as reported by CNN Business, were part of a strategic pivot amid slowing demand for consulting services. The company, facing scrutiny over U.S. government contracts and a broader economic slowdown, has continued to trim staff into 2025, according to discussions on forums like TheLayoff.com. These moves reflect a sector-wide trend, with tech giants and consultancies alike slashing positions to optimize costs, as tracked in InformationWeek’s ongoing layoffs monitor.

For managers like Valen, the fallout is personal and protracted. Posts on X, formerly Twitter, echo this sentiment, with users noting that high-paid executives, including managing directors, often struggle to rebound, settling for salaries in the $250,000 range or lower after cuts. One post from early 2025 highlighted how careers once deemed secure are now vulnerable, a view shared across professional networks amid reports of over 800,000 U.S. layoffs in 2025 alone, per The Economic Times.

Navigating Salary Expectations in a Downturn

Valen’s predicament is emblematic of a job market where salary expectations for mid-to-senior roles have plummeted. Recruiters advise candidates to lower their asks by 20-30%, but for those with hefty mortgages and family obligations, such concessions feel untenable. As The Economic Times reported in a piece on 2025 job market challenges, mid-career professionals face shrinking opportunities, with artificial intelligence automating tasks and federal budget cuts exacerbating the squeeze in consulting.

Industry insiders point to a “white-collar recession,” as one X user described it in a July 2025 post, with hiring for roles over $125,000 dropping 32% according to LinkedIn data. Valen has adapted by targeting smaller firms and considering relocations, but the competition is fierce, with younger, cheaper talent flooding the market. Accenture itself plans to promote 50,000 staff in June 2025, as noted in ETCIOSEA, signaling internal morale boosts amid external hiring freezes.

Broader Implications for Consulting Careers

The struggles of laid-off managers like Valen reveal deeper fissures in the consulting industry. With CEO departures at record highs and interim appointments surging, as per X discussions in late July 2025, leadership instability adds to the uncertainty. Valen remains optimistic, networking relentlessly and even exploring entrepreneurship, but his experience warns of a new reality: expertise alone no longer guarantees security in an era of relentless cost-cutting.

Experts suggest upskilling in AI and digital transformation to stay relevant, yet for many, the path forward involves painful recalibrations. As the job market evolves, stories like Valen’s, amplified across platforms, serve as cautionary tales for professionals navigating this unforgiving terrain.