Hello friend,
I can relate with your experience as I left after 6 months whilst working as a consultant for a big 4 firm (in the Middle East). The answer to your question, itdepends on what you want to do in the future. To give you a bit more context I left for the following reasons:
- The projects I was doing at the Big 4 firm, were implementation based and they involved loads of admin work (setting up meetings, going to ministries for paper work etc). Basically not the responsibilities that I signed up for.
- I was one of the few with a master's degree and more specifically the only one from an elite university. Basically I felt I was wasting my time and potential there (which turned out to be right). Comparing the quality of talent there with other organizations that I have worked, it was very low.
If you decide to leave please bear in mind of the following:
- In case you want to work for another MBB you need to explain why you left the one you are. Simply saying that the lifestyle was not for you will not work. From my undestanding MBB have the same lifestyle in terms of workload and demands.
- Be prepared to spend various months in looking for other jobs if you leave. I spent 5-6 months before being able to land another gig.
NOW, you also need to decide what alternatives you have other than leaving the firm and thus extending your time there. Deciding to quit should be the last of your options, when you have tried EVERTHING else to imporove your situation and it has failed. Some examples are:
- Speak with HR and see what can be done. Dont be afraid to do that, especially when you feel that the only option you have left is to quit.
- Speak to your mentor if you have one, about the issues you are facing etc
- See if you can take unpaid time off to resolve the issues going on in your personal life.
- Consider taking a long sick leave as a break so you can extend the time you are there and apply for other jobs.
There are many options for you to take and they depend on your personal circumstances. I personally tried many things with my previous organization and things simply didnt work out. That is completely normal.
When you leave a firm and especially when you dont have something lined up I know that it can be a very stressful situation. However, its not the end of the world or career suicide. It might feel like that in the beginning.
Current Status: At the moment I am working as a freelance consultat for a startup, helping them define their growth and sales strategy to new markets. Also have another gig lined up to develop a business plan with a set of Professors from an Oxbridge University for a healthcare business idea.
Quitting is not suicide, its simply a choice. With time things do work out. I can tell you from my personal experiece.
Wish you all the best