Indeed, after I resigned without a plan, I stayed home for three months, worry-free but actively looking for jobs. I had savings to last me a year, but after those three months, worry kicked in. I hadn’t found a job, and it was proving harder than I thought. I read somewhere that it’s easiest to get a job in the field you last worked in, so since I had been in audit, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to try. Within two weeks, I had a job as an audit manager at one of the "Big 10" (if there is such a thing). I went just for the money, and I now know firsthand what it means to be miserable in a job. And - No, I haven’t added this experience to my LinkedIn profile.
The Big 10 Audit Adventure
I struggled there with a lack of passion. To make matters worse, all the senior auditors kept coming to me to complain that the partner wanted to fudge documents for some MSMEs they were auditing. On top of that, we had an upcoming AGM for one of their listed companies. I recall working 48 hours straight; I would leave the office in the morning, go home to shower, and come right back to make everything ready for the AGM. I worked with an inexperienced partner who kept telling me to ask my KPMG colleagues about anything I needed guidance on. One day, after going home two days in a row just to change and head back to the office, I was exhausted. I told myself I could sleep for one hour. Well, that was at 6:00 a.m., and I woke up at 4:00 p.m., feeling as if I’d only slept five minutes. I found around 30 missed calls on my phone from my supervisor and clients. That’s when I knew it wasn’t working out. I went to the office the next day and resigned. I was there for three months, and by then, I was completely over audit. I was ready to be poor but determined to have no more auditing in my life.
The Turning Point: A Call from an Old Colleague
I stopped stressing and searching seriously for work. Instead, I focused on self-care, and two months later, a former colleague called me on a Wednesday evening, asking me to apply for an urgent opening at the sister organization he was working for. He had also left KPMG and knew I was looking for an opportunity, as I had asked a few people to keep me informed. I was excited and said I would apply, but I planned to do it on Friday, since I had gotten into a routine of applying on Fridays "for my sanity." This former colleague called me again after about three hours to ask if I had applied yet. That was enough to make me apply right then and there. I was called for an interview that Friday and was offered the job in grants. Yes, finally! I was to report on Monday, and to this day, I’ve never experienced such a quick turnaround in recruitment. And that’s how I ended up at Pact, Inc.
Lessons Learned
Not All That Glitters Is Gold: A big-name firm and a prestigious title sound great, but if the people and work culture are unsupportive, it’s just not worth it. My “prestigious” partner who avoided helping me was a stark reminder that sometimes a job’s allure can mask the reality underneath.
Passion Matters: Don’t underestimate the importance of loving what you do—or at least not hating it! Money alone won’t sustain you through 48-hour shifts and non-stop phone calls.
Trust Your Gut: Sometimes, quitting with no plan is scary, but it's often the first step toward finding what you’re meant to do.
Network Wisely: Letting people know you're open to opportunities can work wonders. If my colleague hadn’t reached out, I’d probably still be job hunting on "sanity Fridays."
Timing Is Everything: Sometimes, it’s all about being in the right place (or inbox) at the right time.
Good People Are All Around Us If We Dare to Look: Whether it’s a friend calling with a job lead or a colleague pushing you to apply right away, people who genuinely want to help exist everywhere. We just need to be open to finding them.
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