Is it weird that I don’t really put too much emphasis on having a job in public accounting? It scares me a little that I wake up and not care that I get let go by the firm. In fact, maybe a little relieved if it does happen. But the old college me would have been terrified just thinking about getting fired. Maybe I’m just not feeling happy with the work I do and wfh definitely is not helping? I don’t know what I’m trying to get out of this post but it’s been weighing on me a little CONT

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Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

I’ve felt this way for a few years and I’m only 5 years in. Last busy season when they were firing people, every Monday I’d hope I was next. I’m much better in that regard outside of busy season, but now I’m 2 weeks into it again and want nothing more than to get fired so I can use it as time/motivation to get into something I enjoy. Not sure how long you’ve been doing this, but keep your head up and don’t stay as long as I did because it just gets worse.

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Same & agree

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every time I think about the future. But it’s not like I have anywhere else to go right now 😔 and to think I’ve worked so hard in college to get the job everyone wants just to be “meh” about it now. Everyone tells me how proud they are of me being able to achieve what I have, but I’m not sharing that same sentiment. Why am I like this ? 😭

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I feel you OP! Everyone is proud of me working at big4. I put in my time - finally a senior now but I’m not really feeling it. I’ve decided to leave in a couple weeks and steer my career in a different direction

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Kpmg1, DM me.

I feel the same way ... And I'm a manager. I would never let my teams down or anything and put the client in a bad spot, but I'm just less likely and likely to get ahead on things or try to spend more time going above and beyond.

I need my own life back.

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Wow this is so relatable. I left for industry after 4 years at B4. I wanted to leave since I was A2. But I was so scared to leave because I had worked so hard in college to get this job. It’s like reality didn’t really fit with the goals I had set for myself at B4 (wanted to at least make manager). Take time to think about what you want. It’s ok to not be at B4 long term.

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Don’t worry OP, you’re not alone. I felt the same way, coming from a non-target school and being one of the very few people in my class to get a job at a Big 4, but I went from being proud of it and seeing it as an achievement to just feeling meh about work and wanting to leave. The way that I see it though, it’s just about shifting priorities. College me dreamed of being a partner in PA someday, but now Senior 1 me is just hoping to one day be in a position where I can have a great work/life balance.

The point is, priorities change, and your definition of “success” also changes. It’s okay to realize that being in Big 4 isn’t for you, it’s just the way life goes. At the very least, I would consider taking some time off and use it to assess this more. And like other people were saying, don’t push the move out off until later in your career, otherwise you’ll look back in life and regret not pursuing other opportunities. Best of luck with everything OP!

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Thanks for your comment! This really hit close because my background is very similar to yours. Non target school, thoughts of making it to partner etc. I will definitely give some deep thought into what I want to do moving forward! Good luck to you too!

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Sounds like burn out OP. Take some time off and think about where you want to be long term. Go to industry if you want (assuming you’ve been in Big 4 for at least 2 - 3 years).

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@EY7 - know the feeling! It’s almost like I go back to work and it literally feels like I didn’t even have a break.

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I felt the same way as you. Still do event after i switched to consulting and was promoted. What did i end up doing?

In school to get another bachelors to become a software engineer 😎

likesmart

I did an internship at EY and absolutely dreaded coming to work every single day yet I put in 5 years into this and got into the BiG fOuR which was considered by my peers and family to be uber successful. When you come into work and this life is not it, theres no end to this career unless you make the choice to end it. You definitely smart for getting this far and hopefully you have the financial means to take the time off and find something that actually makes you happy whether its private or a new career in general. I chose to do a bootcamp and pursue software engineering and have a job one year later. Once you make that conscious choice in your head to quit, you will feel that amazing feeling of freedom.

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Honestly the best value that comes at working at big 4 is the “perceived” value that other people have of you who are not in the big 4. You can do more complex work at other places and make much more money at other places.

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I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that as long as you are doing your job well. I call that “taking your job seriously but not giving a shit.” It’s a weird kind of corporate zen to achieve. However, your situation sounds a little more emotional than what I am describing

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Hmm. I get great reviews and my team really makes that clear when they discuss my performance. But other people’s validation to me don’t really carry much weight. I don’t need external validation. I might need to work on myself though and acknowledge that the emotions may be coming from deep within.

Not weird. You probably feel very confident of your potential and you don’t worry too much on finding another opportunity if you were to be let go.

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Haha idk about potential but I know I will land on my feet just fine if worst case scenario happens. I feel like its just a matter of who pulls the rigger first. Honestly don’t wish it would come to be like this but it’s happening and idk how to deal with the feeling.

Being fired is not bad. I can use the push. Had ideas in mind for a while but I have been too comfortable working to execute them

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