To quit my job

[Fedupofmyjob]

I am so fed up of my job. Client facing role in a big 4. Sick of politics, but also constant deadlines, having to keep up utilisation, client facing, etc.

I not sure how much longer I will be able to remain on this job. Feel like dropping everything tomorrow. It is taking all my will power to stay here.

How do I cope until I find a new job?

I enjoyed the job and the buzz for he first 3 years but I am so done with it.

I’ve been in your shoes same line of work.

Ring in sick tomorrow and all of next week. Go and see your doctor if you need more time off. You sound burnt out. Some time away will give you some perspective. I was off for 18 weeks in the end but really enjoy my work now with much better work/life balance and boundaries.

Don’t quit straight away. Give yourself some breathing space.

Thank you. I am going to have to so this. I feel so bad though about letting people down and having to deal with my clients

Neither - you’ve made it this far. 4 more weeks - apply for a job a day and get yourself in a stable position. Then once you have your new role secured, with your head held high and a smile on your face you hand you resignation in.

Thank you. I need to keep strong and find a new job soon.

I have never have signed myself off since apart from the one or few days.

I have honestly survived this job through lots of meditation. It is a real struggle at the moment though. My heart is not on this anymore

Got 3 months notice though 🥲

I also think once you’ve resigned yourself to the idea that you are leaving it’s liberating. Like what’s the worst that could happen - you leave. Ooops you were planning to anyway. Getting less fucks feels phenomenal

Hits differently when you’re leaving. You learn this new word - ‘no’

The job market is tough currently. I’d speak to a couple of recruiters to see what they say for you and your specific skills. You might easily be able to walk into a new role - or not. But you’ll be able to come up with a plan. Having some next steps mapped out will make you feel better. And take sick leave if you need to. Haven’t you heard that Covid is going around again?! 😜

The only regrets you will have is looking back having continued to burn yourself out. Stop now, call the GP tomorrow and get yourself signed off for 2-4 weeks with menopause symptoms and stress.

Your clients will survive without you, your team will manage, they are a huge company after all and it's NOT worth losing your health and sanity over.

Your GP can then keep extending your sick note as necessary.

Use the time to rest and recuperate and have a good think about what you want to do.

Could I ask if your DH’s firm is still recruiting? My DH was recently made redundant and has some experience in accounts and audit management for a local authority. He’s also ACCA part-qualified (first three exams).

True. I need to look after myself first.

Ex big 4. My shoulders and stress pretty much disappeared when I resigned. Best feeling ever. You'll be snapped up by a smaller medium sized firm and will almost certainly have better work/life balance. They are all crying out for good audit and tax people. Life too short to work your ass off just to get a 3/5 rating just because they can't have too many 4 or 5 rated people.

@Fedupofmyjob I worked for one of the big 4 so I suspect I know what you are experiencing.

As an accountant, you shouldn't have any issues with alternate employment although maybe not at the same salary.

You might also think about setting up on your own. You get to choose your own hours and only have to deal with the people you choose to.

You can usually have a week off without needing a note, I get what you mean as I used to feel the same about letting others down- but I ultimately burnt out and since realise its not healthy. Its okay to put yourself first.

I am going to take a week off to try and recover and think of next steps as I am really not coping

Do that. You will get some perspective. If you need longer your doctor will sign you off with work related stress, which it sounds like you have. Your employer will take that v seriously and get you to speak to occupational health on your return. Please look after yourself.

Thank you.

You say that they want you out because of your age - are you old enough to take a lump sum out of your pension to see you through a career break?
Also, if with a large org, do they have an EAP that you can use? Either stress management /career counselling?

Look for another job then resign when you have another job.

How does it work if I sign myself off sick?

I honestly dreading it going back to work. It is seriously impacting my mental health.

I don’t want to go back to work. I don’t even have the strength to look for another job.

I am 51.

There are lots os benefits and programs; not exactly sure how they work and never have to use them.

Sympathies OP - I've not worked Big 4, but I have worked Top 10 and that was bad enough! It was the endless chain of command and change happening at a snails pace for me. Maddening.

I'm board level now at a small financial services firm and we've just had an awful round of cost cutting which has destabilised everyone - nobody feels safe. But the market is brutal - I've applied for 22 senior management jobs in two months, had 3 interviews and no offers so far. The rest either radio silence or "not shortlisted" rejection emails. Menopause has ensured I can no longer express myself very well in an interview scenario, even with HRT!

Take some time to gather yourself, I understand that burnt out feeling. Start updating your CV and get it out there to recruiters, update your LinkedIn profile and set to show recruiters only that you're open to work. I wouldn't recommend quitting without having somewhere to go to - but that's because I'm one of those hapless people with a mortgage who doesn't have 3 months savings to fall back on haha! Do what you need to do to get back to your old self, if that means walking away whilst being able to survive on one salary, then do it. Your health and wellbeing has to be a priority, no point maintaining two salaries if you end up breaking down.

Thank you. I am a bit worried about the current job market, having to job hunt, prove myself again, meet new people, etc. But staying in this job is not sustainable as is really impacting me. Menopause doesn’t help.

Call in/email that you’re unwell tomorrow (don’t specify reason) and you can self-certify for 5 days. After that you need a fit note, which your surgery will provide.
It’s clear you’re unfit for work and it is your work has done this to you so you need to look after yourself. Good luck.