Not sure I made the right decision

[Coolcucumbers]

I am leaving my job at a big 4 due to burnout, very corporate environment, high pressure on utilisation, unfair treatment.

I got an offer which I ended accepting; but it is part time and a very small company. I feel I will have autonomy and flexibility and the people are nice, may become full time in the future or not as it is a relatively new business. I am concerned I may get bored, as my previous company before big 4 was very small and slow pace and I was bored to pieces.

I pulled out of the process from another company which is larger, more dynamic; but their recruitment process was a big long included one hour presentation with multiple questions; also long working hours 9am to 6pm.

None of these jobs are what I am looking for, but I guess there is no perfect job and a job is a job.

Hi Op,

Firstly definitely leave big 4 and get yourself in industry. You will be so much happier & more valued.

Big 4 works by taking motivated, high achieving people and treating them like little worker ants and hoping they will desperately compete with each other. They will push you until you break - you are just a number to them.

The first job I had out of similar wasn't great. Team was miserable etc. But after 6 months I moved on somewhere else and everywhere I have worked over the last 8 years has been vastly more rewarding (financially) and had much better perks & hours etc.

If the new job isn't the one just start and keep looking. Hopefully you'll be in a much better head space post big 4 regardless.

Good luck

Jen

Thank you.

And you are right, no job has to be forever, if it doesn’t work I will look for another one.

I am very happy to leave the big 4, it is definitely the right decision. I will miss the people, the buzz and professional environment; but not the politics, constant deadlines, pressure and the partners mind games,

I am glad to got an offer anyway so soon and not loosing my income.

I agree with first poster too.
Big 4 firms crush you. I had that over 20 years ago and they are no better now.
Now you are out- if small firms don’t suit you - as admittedly they didn’t me - then you can look elsewhere.
I am now in the civil service which although not highly paid I absolutely love what I do.

There's a lot to be said for autonomy, flexibility and part time. If it doesn't work out, think again. It sounds like a good move but only time will tell. Good luck.

my situation isn’t the same but I can totally relate to how you’re feeling

I’m leaving the civil service and its incompetent culture. I am going back and forth on whether it’s the right decision. My new job is an upgraded version of the same role with the same hours etc so not as much change as yours/better pay. But like you, I also experienced a poor team dynamic and I wonder whether I should have done more to just suck up the culture as that’s a huge factor in why I’m leaving. In fact, had the dynamic been better I probably would’ve stayed. So it’s a bit of a strange feeling.

Thank you all.

Not sure whether it is because of the burnout or what but none of these two jobs feel right. One: too small. The other one: Too much rigmarole with their recruitment process.

Will see how it goes.

When do you leave / start the new role OP?

I would give the small company a go it might surprise you and at least you have something lined up.

Otherwise if you weren't worried about money you could just have some time out and keep looking (I'm sure recruiters would snap you up).