To feel my big 4 experience doesn’t count

[Bonbonete]

I have worked for a big 4 for the last 5 years and have resigned; job hunting for two months and fortunate to have got an offer and I that will continue to bring an income; however the job I got is part time, a very small company and similar to what I did before my big 4 experience so I am not too excited about it; it doesn’t feel like it is what I am looking for.

I was very bored in my previous job before big 4 ad it was s very small company and slow pace.

I was hoping I could use my big 4 experiences to step up in industry, but it seems it doesn’t count.

I know I need a reality check and count my lucky stars and be grateful to have got a job in the current market.

Keep your chin up OP.

I mean this in an optimistic rather than gloating way, but I've had no trouble getting job offers in the last 6 months from very few applications (FP&A roles). I'm actually pretty bored in my current job so am still fishing, I've turned a couple down as I don't think worth the move - I don't think it's a problem to move so long as you know the next job you take you need to stick at. One short employment on the cv is fine, two next to each-other less so. So just keep plugging away an application a week and it won't take long.

You might like public sector- work/life balance is good and pay is not shit once you take into account the jammy pension.

The job market is shit right now. I know so many people who are looking in a variety of sectors and just not getting a sniff and are therefore waiting it out in jobs they hate. I’m not sure that is actually any better (other than brining in money) as they all are bloody miserable and across the country there must be so many people just getting through the day because they can’t move.

Realistically, 5 years ago you’d have expected to be in high demand but I think it’s testament to the current state of the economics that people like the OP are struggling. No-one seems to be talking about stagnation and tighter recruitment but it does feel like a real problem at the moment.

These jobs are not what they were . He should really think about whether this is for him. The longer tail rewards aren’t there so if it’s not for him he’s better packing it in and trying something new. He’s young enough

It's not that well known. I couldn't have told you which companies they were although I knew it was the financial sector. I would say most people on Mumsnet wouldn't know and it's a bit patronising to assume people ought to know.

Part time might be beneficial for your mental health, and equally you might find low stress/slightly boring exactly what you need after feeling burnt out at whichever of the big 4 you are working at. I wouldn't knock it before you start and in another year the job market might have changed.

What’s your industry and level?

It depends what you left as from the big 4. Did you leave qualified as a chartered accountant or high level auditor? Did you specialise at all? Or did you just leave with minimum required experience. In my experience anyone’s who’s left the big 4 without holding a slightly higher position/qualification have struggled to find decent paid positions elsewhere.

You think most people on Mumsnet don’t know? I’m not so sure. It’s pretty standard knowledge in my circles.

listen, I open threads on mumsnet that contain terms I’m not familiar with all the time. It’s ok, no one knows everything. I generally either utilise google, or acknowledge it’s not the thread for me and move on. No need for snarky comments.

I’m sure they do, but for posters that have never heard of the big 4, I doubt that ‘professional services’ is going to mean anything to them!

It doesn’t mean much in any circumstance. That one has to know what it means to know what it means rather implies it’s a fucking crap way of referring to an entire industry sector.

To be honest having worked for big 4 means nothing, have worked in consultancy for 30 years, working for and hiring consultants, it doesn't have any bearing, like everywhere there are very good and very bad consultants.

Nothing wrong with giving the job a chance, whilst looking something more long term.

This was my experience too. Turns out a huge amount of people burn out after 2 years. I joined at manager level in PWC (specialist in tech rather than manager though) ended up having a total breakdown after 3 months of 7 day weeks working 11 hours or more a day. All because I turned a global project round and the better I made it to the more work they piled on too my plate! Never again.

What area did you work in? I also went to big 4 and hated it. Top 10 is far nicer environment where there is much more appreciation and job satisfaction.

I once worked in a toxic environment and it caused me severe stress and sleeplessness.
I desperately wanted to leave but I was a single parent and no other income or savings.
Thankfully, I got another job without a break in employment.
It's difficult for some people to understand how toxic and corrupt some workplaces are unless you have had this experience.
And everything always seems rosy to the outside world

I agree ‘professional services’ is very vague, and it’s not a term specific to the services provided by the big 4 companies that have been mentioned. Out of context it’s a bit meaningless.

They will consume you. Managers especially. It’s Darwinian. They want to see who survives. If the first two years don’t kill you, you will either make Director or will be a major managerial cog forever. If you can’t hack it, they’re delighted to have got a project or two out of you before you collapsed, tearful, trembling and spent.

Wow, nice double-down on the patronising there.

It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that everyone should and does know this. Venture outside of your circles once in a while.

I thought it was something to do with safaris. Lion, zebra, giraffe, um...

I didn’t say everyone. But I think many would. Maybe you should venture outside of your circles?

I don’t think it’s fair to troll on OPs thread just because you reckon she’s used a niche term (that really isn’t that niche). I reiterate - google is at your disposal. Or just walk on by?

Have you looked at public sector? We’re really struggling for recruitment to both accountancy and audit roles in local government, decent pay, good pension, and yes, politics but finance is generally fairly immune from it.

That’s the Big 5

It is actually a pretty well-known phrase

It's a really shit job market. We are mid tier and not recruiting at junior level. Will recruit partners to grow the firm and staff around them if specific business need but you'd have to be specialist for that.

We usually recruit from the big 4 but we got fed up of the high salary expectations and have found we were getting those who couldn't hack it (whereas at the senior levels we get ambitious capable people who were frustrated in their ambitions at big 4)

It's a shame you put up with 4 years of shit without getting a good next role. Hopefully long term being ex big 4 will have a bit of resonance on your CV. I have to confess to being unimpressed both by your leaving when you had no job (but i totally get that burn out is real) but also because I did 12 years at PwC.

I’m really surprised by all the horror stories of Big 4 here. I was there from grad to Senior Manager on partner track before being poached by a client. So around for around 10 years I think and I thought it was great. The hours were long for sure but I always found it to be very supportive.

But that was about 15 years ago so it must have changed massively.

We also always used to tell our staff, particularly newly qualified and above that if they are not happy, come and tell us. We can either help them move departments or help them move into industry by trying to place them into clients. We always wanted to part on very good terms. As at the end of the day, the staff we trained were the future FD’s/CFO’s of companies who would be hiring the Big 4 to do their audit, tax, M&A etc.

No, the big law firms are known as the Magic Circle and nothing to do with Paul Daniels!