"I've only been working for 3 months at a Big 4 accounting firm, and I'm just finding that I'm not liking the work and already can't wait to leave. Is this just a phase that I'll get over or is this a sign that I shouldn't be in this line of work or this particular firm? How did you feel after 3 months? "
Really good question. Obviously, it can be on a case by case basis, but I can tell you how my mindset changed, and what the mindset in general seems to be.
When I started off, I absolutely hated this job. Within two months, I wanted out. But I persisted, and the 2nd year didn't get any better. There were quite a few moments when I updated my resume, ready to get out. The next 2-3 years, it gets better. Sure, you work longer, and you get more responsibility, but you actually use your brains more. The mundane tasks can be pushed downwards, and it does get better. By then, you'll have this thing down pat. You delegate more downward, you get more delegated to you from the powers..the difference being that the work is much more interesting than the ridiculous first-second year work we have to do. Right now, I actually don't mind it. Don't get me wrong..I don't like it, and I don't know if I ever will. I'm just going to have to wait and find out.
Sure, a lot of it might have to do with the economy. With the current economy in tatters, and layoffs being the norm, it's hard to complain. Pyschologically, we're glad we have a job. So that kinda drowns some of our complaints.
I mentioned this in an earlier blog but - the beauty of the auditing model is that the firms rely on people to leave so they can keep hiring and not have issues with layoffs. So they know that people don't like this job.
So..when you initially hate it..is it just a phase? There are a lot of factors that need to be considered...your future clients, your future teams and more importantly...your future goals.
If you know what you want to do, and you can do it now, go for it. If you just don't like it and would rather do something else, hang around until you figure out what you'd like to do.
At some point soon..I'll blog about things you can do to make your audit-life easier.
Really good question. Obviously, it can be on a case by case basis, but I can tell you how my mindset changed, and what the mindset in general seems to be.
When I started off, I absolutely hated this job. Within two months, I wanted out. But I persisted, and the 2nd year didn't get any better. There were quite a few moments when I updated my resume, ready to get out. The next 2-3 years, it gets better. Sure, you work longer, and you get more responsibility, but you actually use your brains more. The mundane tasks can be pushed downwards, and it does get better. By then, you'll have this thing down pat. You delegate more downward, you get more delegated to you from the powers..the difference being that the work is much more interesting than the ridiculous first-second year work we have to do. Right now, I actually don't mind it. Don't get me wrong..I don't like it, and I don't know if I ever will. I'm just going to have to wait and find out.
Sure, a lot of it might have to do with the economy. With the current economy in tatters, and layoffs being the norm, it's hard to complain. Pyschologically, we're glad we have a job. So that kinda drowns some of our complaints.
I mentioned this in an earlier blog but - the beauty of the auditing model is that the firms rely on people to leave so they can keep hiring and not have issues with layoffs. So they know that people don't like this job.
So..when you initially hate it..is it just a phase? There are a lot of factors that need to be considered...your future clients, your future teams and more importantly...your future goals.
If you know what you want to do, and you can do it now, go for it. If you just don't like it and would rather do something else, hang around until you figure out what you'd like to do.
At some point soon..I'll blog about things you can do to make your audit-life easier.
Comments
I've done a good job at auditing, but I'm so tired of it. I'm sick of it and can't take it anymore.
I could wait a couple of months, 6 months, a year, be promoted. I realized that since I've been auditing, my only hope comes from the future, future team, future client, future tasks. I want to LIVE now. So I'm out.
Anonymous on outsourced work...Deloitte created Deloitte India to do a lot of the data interrogation and analysis that I'm sure has cost a few first and second years j-o-bees.
As for government jobs, one of the options I'm considering is that the FBI hires CPAs as special agents. But you have to do the test, 2 years audit experience, etc first to get that.