As you know, I have been seeking a senior-level position with a big-4 firm in accounting or consulting. I have 20-years' experience in finance at the director level. I earned my MBA three years ago, but never got my CPA certification. In the dismal economy, I have moved around in temporary assignments (of one-to-two years) and have tried to get my CPA. Unfortunately, the hours and stress at work are not allowing me to focus on the CPA and I just heard that two of my papers (in the process of earning certification) were not successful. I feel emotionally and physically drained and know that my stress and burnout levels are growing every day. What should I do now?
-Mary Elizabeth R.
Alexandria, VA
Mary Elizabeth,
Good to hear from you. Sorry that you hit a speed bump in your progress toward earning your CPA credential.
Here is some information for you to consider: You have been unhappy in your last few positions -- overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. The key to getting you where you want to be is in earning your CPA credential. The job requirements inherent in these last positions are keeping you from being able to focus on your studies and getting your CPA. You can either continue to work away at these unfulfilling companies and stay frustrated and non-certified or you can take a stand and focus completely on your studies and get the CPA behind you -- making earning your CPA your main job (in a sense). I know that doesn't come without sacrifice. However, what you are doing is miserable for you and you need to position yourself for the improving economy by getting ready to be ready when things finally turn around and get going again. It looks like that time is finally within sight.
I know that you have endured a lot during these past several years. However, you can continue to be miserable and hope for improvement or, as you discovered in your MBA, you can take action, do things differently, and position yourself to be ready when opportunity strikes. The latter is far more difficult than the former. Incremental change has not been working well in your situation, so you may need to utilize revolutionary change in your quest to accomplish your interim goal (becoming certified), which can facilitate your long-term goal (to get back into the big-4 public accounting or
consulting). This is truly what effective leadership is all about -- both recognizing the need for change AND actually operationalizing such change. This may be your best option. You don't need to burnout (and thereby let your body make the decision for you). You need to take positive steps, make positive decisions, and not let anything get in the way of achieving your goals. As you allow yourself to move closer toward burnout, these decisions become more clouded and therefore more difficult. This is time to REALLY re-assess your goals and priorities.
You were an excellent MBA student. You can do this!
