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Hi,
What will be the in hand salary for this?
Anyone ready for NYC gathering?
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Disclaimer: I’m an operations person rather than a consultant, so not sure if you’ll find this perspective helpful. But yes, I did this once in my 20s and I’m doing it again now in my late 40s.
The first time, I quit a job on good terms but after a very toxic period at work (the board fired my boss, and the subsequent transition period was rough). A partner company offered me a role that would have been a promotion, but I felt a need to detox from all the drama. I looked at my finances and set a threshold where once my savings dipped below a certain level my sabbatical was going to be over and I needed to find a new job. I treated that period as time to explore and see all potential paths. When I offered to volunteer at a non-profit whose cause I felt passionate about, they asked me to coordinate their 9/11 recovery grant applications, and that eventually became a full-time paid development role.
A couple decades later, I’m taking a somewhat similar sabbatical, after a stressful few years and a major medical issue. I’m volunteering and taking on freelance work, but mostly I’m trying to reconnect with myself and what drives me. And once again, one of those freelance projects is possibly on its way to becoming a new full-time job that feels exciting and energizing.
I’ve been lucky to have lived frugally enough that I can afford to give myself these breaks. They’re a money loss but also an investment in my own health and happiness.
I’ve found it’s difficult to envision a new direction when you’re still in your old job, your old day to day. Giving yourself a clean slate can open your eyes to other possibilities out there.
Wishing you luck!
Thank you for sharing your perspective, BCG1. And hope you are doing well health wise now. All the best to you as well.
I was exhausted by the grind and toxic environment and left for a tech firm. It was the best decision for me. Working with smart, motivated teams is exciting and I feel my physical and mental health is much better. I did a lot of networking to determine the right position for me and I took about 4 months off between roles to travel and focus on personal well being. Good luck!
I accepted a senior, client facing role in an area where I had a lot of experience. It's a consulting role within a tech firm. I spoke to recruiters but the best opportunities came through my network.
Wait did I write this in my sleep?! Seriously though have the same thoughts daily and hope someone who has done this will share insights!
Just look out for another job I went from Big 4 MD to IBM AP to IBM Executive Consultant with much less pressure and lower utilization target l, working from home, no traveling and with acceptable free time and better paid than AP.
Following too
Yep, I left my Big 4 firm at the end of 2020 it's been a bit of a roller coaster.
I needed about 3 months to mentally recover enough to start working on "what's next," but some days, it feels like I'm still trying to figure it out.
My biggest lesson is that I'm a good consultant but a terrible employee. I spent 15 years in the Big 4 and should have left sooner.
Be prepared to have an identity crisis - I based too much of my identity on the firm I worked for and the clients I worked with. That's hard to loose overnight.
Would I do it again? Yep. And sooner than I did. Don't wait until you're 50 to make that move. It's so much easier to do in your 30s or 40s.
2 years ago I got laid off and was expecting it. I was planning a trip when it happened. I was going to travel South America. I figured what the heck, updated my resume, updated profiles to looking for work. Emergency call came in a few days later need an architect immediately, ours quit mid engagement. I respond I’m heading to South America for a few months. Will that work? They said that’s fine. The owner of the company calls from vacation in Brazil. I took a pay cut, just to keep income flowing and lived in Colombia for 6 months. With the pay cut vs living expenses there it was a wash. Same time zone. It was the best 6 months of my adult life. Loved it, no hit to emergency fund or savings. Currently trying to figure out a way to go back. Turns out those aren’t easy arrangements to make long term.
Happened with me twice
First time : it was a long grind with no tangible results. Took two weeks off in Hawaii - and that completely reset my mind and I quit a month after coming back. I had a job lined up before I quit and that made it a simple decision. I probably had enough savings to keep up my standard of living for 3-4 months at that time
Second time : same sinking feeling and couldn't work a day for my boss at that time. After a heated argument with him - I quit on the spot with no job lined up. Thankfully I found a job within a month or so and it all worked out. I won't do that kind of quitting ever again :) . It was totally reckless and I thank my stars I didn't pay a big price for it
I changed industries and type of job both times - but didn't retire or start something on my own
Rising Star
same here. took burnt out sick leave.
3rd month now.
very happy.
in the 1st day of sick leave, I met my current potential bf :)
Do it - I did
It was burn out, kids growing up and driving wife nuts
I was thinking of leaving consulting a decade ago
My leadership offered a time off so I could see how my life would be outside consulting
I was out for 9 months but was too hooked, I was still connected and involved but I did get a decent break, worked for a startup, helped a friend start another one
Came back and since then the career took off and now it's close to a decade
This was my learning
- I missed my colleagues, consulting may not have the smartest people but they definitely are at the top of the intellectual pecking order - I missed that
- for all the non sense of our industry, profession exists on integrity and that was important for me. Even if u dont like someone Atleast in consulting you can trust their word (I know there are exceptions)
- it also allowed me to see what I was missing
- my workplace was not toxic so I didn't hate where I was working, actually I was having good fun
My learnings are mine and not universal. I enjoy people - colleagues and clients so that was imp for me to come back and stay
I have never stopped anyone in my practice from taking a long break - I encourage it
I did this walked away. Took several months to live like I wanted. Started talking to LinkedIn connections just asking what they were doing. Was pursued for a new role. Had five opportunities to choose from. Stepped down in money but good work and less stress. Plus I am confident I can walk away again. If you only see the path you are on and hate it, walking away can help.
Interview and talkk to people the process will help- you identify and sort out your priorities
That's great advice. Thank you!
I’m currently on my unpaid sabbatical doing this soul searching. I’m healing from a toxic workplace, so it may take awhile longer. Words of advice would be to strap in for a long job search because it’s not going fast for most anybody right now.
Thank you, A2. And wish you the best.
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