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Hi I’m a current Graduate student, hoping to get my foot in the door for Deloitte Healthcare Consulting, Accenture CDP, or EY specifically within Chicago Offices. Is there anyone open to connecting and speaking on their experience being hired? I have previous experience working prior to my degree so hoping to get insight on how I can best score an interview. If you’re also open to providing a referral that would be a bonus!
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I started a professional career late in life. So my path is atypical, non traditional. I won’t FIRE in the traditional sense. Instead I have been doing a combination of saving and “living” my retirement dreams now. That is I plan and take trips while I’m physically able to enjoy them. I volunteer with organizations I am passionate about. I donate to people and causes when I feel like my financial investments will be a meaningful. I save & invest systematically. Will I be in the workforce longer than typical FIRE participants-absolutely. This works for me. I’ve seen far too many people transition from this side of the earth much too soon.
Yes. I was a career changer in my early 30s. I've been at my public accounting firm for almost 11 years, way more than I expected to, and will quit next year to volunteer, travel, and take on freelance work for 12-18 months. I then plan on taking on a full-time role in industry. I also plan on retiring on the early side to pursue a Ph.D and then teach part time.
I didn’t know pensions were still a thing...
I was planning to fire at 40… mostly to have enough time to volunteer with nonprofits, help out at my kids school, international slow travel in the summers, honestly even to have time to workout.
But I’m 34 now and my salary has been rising so quickly last couple of years (I went from 93k in 2022 to a new firm and now 187k only 3 years later) and I’m scared I won’t want to pull the plug in 6 years because of how much money I’ll be making ☠️ its hard to give up that kind of salary and not do the whole “one more year” thing.
Realistically I will either drop down to seasonal/part time or just keep a few clients on the side at a minimum. Definitely not interested in moving to industry because they don’t seem to have any day to day flexibility and remote work is nearly impossible.
I think a lot of us are quietly questioning whether the 30-year path is the only "right" way. I’m leaning more toward semi-retirement or project-based work later on instead of a hard stop in my 60s.