[Anonymous]

I have just recently started at a Big Four, in which I was very hestiate to work there. I knew it wasn’t for me but I took the offer anyway due to the resume recognition. However, I am regretting my decision a few months in and feel I would be better off in private doing somehing that I enjoy. I am struggling in devising a exit strategy since I want to leave in a few months rather than sticking it out. Also, I am not sure how to approach my early absence to prospective employers as well.

[Soon2beCPA]

I have been working in Big Four for the past 3 years and I'm not going to lie – I totally hated it when I first started. I was miserable and thought about quitting just about every other day mostly because of the high pressure environment. But I stuck it out and made it to senior. I still have days where I want to quit because it's just so stressful, but I really do think I made the right decision sticking with it this long – and I do plan to stick it out a little longer. Even though I wish I had more time (especially to study for this exam), I really think the crazy work hours, high stress levels, and overall misery is a small price to pay right now for the great payoff in the future. I have learned so much, made so many key relationships, and built my resume to look pretty impressive over these years. I would highly recommend sticking with it till your Senior 1 year at least – it may be stressful and a pain, but the amount of experience you gain is so worth it (in my opinion anyway). Plus, if you stick it out, you'll be more likely to get a job that pays more and that is more of a supervisory role rather than a staff position. I just think of the temporary pain I'm going through as a good investment that is going to pay off in the long run.

AUD - 82
BEC - 80
FAR - 81
REG - 85

Ethics - 100

BEC - 11/2015 - 82
FAR - 10/1/2016
AUD - 6/4/2016 - 80
REG - 12/10/2016

[Soon2beCPA]

I have been working in Big Four for the past 3 years and I'm not going to lie – I totally hated it when I first started. I was miserable and thought about quitting just about every other day mostly because of the high pressure environment. But I stuck it out and made it to senior. I still have days where I want to quit because it's just so stressful, but I really do think I made the right decision sticking with it this long – and I do plan to stick it out a little longer. Even though I wish I had more time (especially to study for this exam), I really think the crazy work hours, high stress levels, and overall misery is a small price to pay right now for the great payoff in the future. I have learned so much, made so many key relationships, and built my resume to look pretty impressive over these years. I would highly recommend sticking with it till your Senior 1 year at least – it may be stressful and a pain, but the amount of experience you gain is so worth it (in my opinion anyway). Plus, if you stick it out, you'll be more likely to get a job that pays more and that is more of a supervisory role rather than a staff position. I just think of the temporary pain I'm going through as a good investment that is going to pay off in the long run.

AUD - 82
BEC - 80
FAR - 81
REG - 85

Ethics - 100

BEC - 11/2015 - 82
FAR - 10/1/2016
AUD - 6/4/2016 - 80
REG - 12/10/2016

[Anonymous]

I would trade places with you in a minute! I work from 8:00-4:30 with 1/2 hour for lunch. Pay is in the mid-30s and with the other benefits tacked on, the position is “paying” me around $55k. I am soooooo bored that I burn through listening to podcasts like nobody's business – I shouldn't be able to listen to *and concentrate on* podcasts at work. My husband likes to “decompress” on the weekends and I told him that if I decompressed any more, I'd be in a coma. It is so boring, my work is more about memorizing than utilizing my mind, and I can't see that it will even look good on a resume. Will start doing tax season work with a local CPA firm today – and looking for an exit strategy from this coma-inducing job.

[Anonymous]

I would trade places with you in a minute! I work from 8:00-4:30 with 1/2 hour for lunch. Pay is in the mid-30s and with the other benefits tacked on, the position is “paying” me around $55k. I am soooooo bored that I burn through listening to podcasts like nobody's business – I shouldn't be able to listen to *and concentrate on* podcasts at work. My husband likes to “decompress” on the weekends and I told him that if I decompressed any more, I'd be in a coma. It is so boring, my work is more about memorizing than utilizing my mind, and I can't see that it will even look good on a resume. Will start doing tax season work with a local CPA firm today – and looking for an exit strategy from this coma-inducing job.

[Whatdidyou]

I am just super stressed all the time, can't get anything done under budget (is everyone's budget as crazy and unrealistic as mine is?), and don't feel like my team is liking half the work that I am doing even though I am working hard and long – but who knows.

I may not be cut out for it from their perspective. Hopefully my class feels as you all do and quit so that I dont get fired anytime soon lol. ARGHH! Fun times.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Whatdidyou]

I am just super stressed all the time, can't get anything done under budget (is everyone's budget as crazy and unrealistic as mine is?), and don't feel like my team is liking half the work that I am doing even though I am working hard and long – but who knows.

I may not be cut out for it from their perspective. Hopefully my class feels as you all do and quit so that I dont get fired anytime soon lol. ARGHH! Fun times.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[splinter1643]

I don't think it's the end of the world if this is your first job and you haven't shown a history of quitting each of your jobs yet. I know someone who did big 4 audit for only 6 months and just went straight to private after that. Heck, in big 4 tax the consensus when we started was that we'd all stay til we made manager (so for 5 years at least) and then leave, but several of my co-workers just didn't enjoy the experience and found another job after 2 years instead. In regards to quitting, have any recruiters talked to you yet? Maybe you could reach out to them. You could explain that you needed more work-life balance, but also stay positive about it.

CPA license in progress....

[splinter1643]

I don't think it's the end of the world if this is your first job and you haven't shown a history of quitting each of your jobs yet. I know someone who did big 4 audit for only 6 months and just went straight to private after that. Heck, in big 4 tax the consensus when we started was that we'd all stay til we made manager (so for 5 years at least) and then leave, but several of my co-workers just didn't enjoy the experience and found another job after 2 years instead. In regards to quitting, have any recruiters talked to you yet? Maybe you could reach out to them. You could explain that you needed more work-life balance, but also stay positive about it.

CPA license in progress....

[Anonymous]

I think most budgets are somewhat unrealistic and you find people working but not charging time to stay under budget. I think that if you are not happy find something else. Don't quit till you find another job. And being honest during the interview process as Splinter1643 noted should not work against you. Most people in the accounting world understand how brutal public accounting can be. We spend way too much time at work to be miserable. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I think most budgets are somewhat unrealistic and you find people working but not charging time to stay under budget. I think that if you are not happy find something else. Don't quit till you find another job. And being honest during the interview process as Splinter1643 noted should not work against you. Most people in the accounting world understand how brutal public accounting can be. We spend way too much time at work to be miserable. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Start your own firm!

[Anonymous]

Start your own firm!

[SeePeeAyy]

Also, maybe try getting on a new client?

A fresh team and client may make the experience more enjoyable. Try to move to an industry/client you would like. During my internship, I was on a small client way outside the city with a team who well lets just say weren't the most personal people. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I actually remember thinking I'd never last if I had to work like that for good. I was only on that client for a week and I was counting down the days.

I got put on another client for 4 weeks and absolutely loved it. I actually worked about 50-60 hour weeks on this client, so I was there for long days. The team was awesome and I had so much fun.

[SeePeeAyy]

Also, maybe try getting on a new client?

A fresh team and client may make the experience more enjoyable. Try to move to an industry/client you would like. During my internship, I was on a small client way outside the city with a team who well lets just say weren't the most personal people. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I actually remember thinking I'd never last if I had to work like that for good. I was only on that client for a week and I was counting down the days.

I got put on another client for 4 weeks and absolutely loved it. I actually worked about 50-60 hour weeks on this client, so I was there for long days. The team was awesome and I had so much fun.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone thanks for all the insight. It is really helping me make a decision about what to do.

Neika822 – Do you have any advice on how to handle interviews after leaving so early?

[Author]

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