Where do I go from here? Big4 IT audit -> IB/M&A?
I just started with a Big4 doing IT audit and I already want to quit. My mental health is deteriorating, already working 11-14 hour days and it's not even busy season. I just don't know if I can hold on any longer, but I also need to pay bills for both me and my parents (long story, neither parent can work so I'm supporting them and me)
For background, went to a target but fucked around in school and didn't score any IB SA roles. Moved to west coast and now I'm stuck here being a glorified copy-paste machine in a job I have absolutely no background or interest in. Absolutely no idea how I got this job or what the fuck I'm doing but it's 10x better than no job and I've got mouths to feed
My dream has always been IB/M&A, that's not me saying that because I'm part of the same circlejerk as everybody else here, I genuinely have a passion for M&A (I'd say more but would dox myself). I'd much much rather align logos or build pitchbooks than do whatever the fuck braindead copy paste shit I'm doing right now. I actually find finance interesting and I think all of us would rather do something interesting with our lives than something brainless
My initial thought was to stay a few months here and then try to internally transfer into the M&A / deals / corporate finance team here, then lateral to an EB or boutique. But with the current state of the job market this doesn't seem likely. No new jobs are opening up afaik, only internships (FT seats are getting 100% filled from interns). Plus it's unheard of to go from some random IT audit job to an M&A job
My next thought was to suck it up for another 2+ years, apply to b-school and break in that way. But I'm slowly realizing that I don't think I have it in me to tough it out. It's already been insanely unhealthy for my mental health and it's only been a few months - it'll only get worse from here. Two weeks ago my senior yelled at me for making a mistake even though she told me to do it that way, and my manager overheard and pulled me aside and she said "oh, she's just like that" and completely dismissed everything. What the fuck??
I'm just lost to be honest. Where do I go from here? Almost impossible to lateral into M&A, almost impossible to stay for mental health reasons, impossible to quit since I have mouths to feed. What now?
Thanks everyone for reading. Really grateful for any and all help
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some actionable steps and advice for your situation:
Internal Transfer:
Lateral Move:
MBA Route:
Mental Health:
Networking:
Skill Development:
Remember, while the journey might seem daunting, many have successfully transitioned from non-traditional backgrounds into investment banking. Stay focused, leverage your network, and prioritize your mental health throughout the process.
Sources: Started as homeless and made it into Big4 M&A, where to go from here?, Overwhelmed here, words of wisdom would help, What are the best alternatives of IB (or other high finance)/Consulting if people don't get in?, Big 4 Audit or Mid-Tier M&A Advisory to Break Into Finance, Exiting Big Four (Audit) after 5 years and entering FP&A - Ask me anything
If your long hours at Big 4 are bad for you and your mental health/family situation, what makes you think hours at an EB are going to be any better? I would recommend going into something where the WLB is better, and sacrifice pay until you get your feet better-grounded. Then I would recommend MBA -> IB if that is where your head still is.
I didn't explain my view on hours and WLB too clearly in my post, mb. I think I would much rather do busy work in a field I genuinely find interesting (IB or M&A) than this field. At least if I was aligning logos or spreading comps or modeling until 10pm, I get what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. This work is so obscure, mindless, and thankless. If someone held a gun to my head and told me to tell them what I do, I'd tell them to blow my brains out
And on your advice to find something with better WLB: with the current job market, what jobs in finance do you think are hiring? What even is the state of the market?
Trust me bro the work in Ib is not interesting
You need to get out of this job asap. Do not stay
Agreed but that's exactly my question. Where the fuck do I go from here?
What school did you go to and how were your grades/stats? What city are you in?
if in la I’d try to get strategy or corp dev at Disney, product marketing at one of snap type companies, Or maybe distressed operational restructuring at FTI
Or just go right to banking at a shitco. Think about it as monkey bars, do a boutique, a better boutique, then BB
also a 1 year masters of finance is an option , If someone can help with the parents
PMed you
Honestly I think you’re better to pull this from the resume and just recruit like a new grad without a job
Why not get some exp (5 years+), build some public sector relationships, get hired as a contractor, set up a personal corp and make 3x?
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