[USER]

I’m feeling very lost in life due to burnout from corporate America but doing well financially. I really want to quit my finance analyst job but I know it’s probably wise to stick it out while I find a better job or build a business.

I am 23, no debt, net worth approx $170k attributable to 401k, Roth IRA, brokerage account, checking account. I have the means to live off of an emergency fund but I know this isn’t a “real” emergency” so it seems wasteful + I am young with more compound interest potential. I would love some encouragement and honesty. I don’t want to be that typical Gen Z person who quits but some of these 2am nights really make me want to quit.

[Anna]

I felt the same way when I was your age trying to navigate corporate life. I ended up building a business and I put my notice in last month. Today was my first official day as an entrepreneur and it was amazing. I encourage you to look into building a business.

Don’t listen all the bay sayers in here. Facebook groups generally have a lack mentality.

Keep your help up and find a way out.

I promise there is one.

[Khandice]

Been there! I suggest taking a FMLA leave if you can. It used that time away to go to therapy and figure out my next steps.

When I came back to work after 3 months I was in a better headspace with a clear game plan for my next move.

[JenniferAndre]

You’re gonna have to navigate the world as it exists unless/until you build the alternative.
Also? A hard look at some poorer locations/peoples will gird up your will.

You’re on your way, financially. Now figure out how to manage your time and your expectations.

[Flo]

Young age is not too young to encounter burnout. Burnout isn’t just work responsibilities. It’s also life. It’s also your young life experiences that formed your current capacity. It’s also work responsibilities you have outside of work that impact your ability to focus. Smh

[Josh]

23 is too young to be burnt out. Consider looking for another job with better work/life balance.

[Ruby]

I see my corporate job as the means to being able to enjoy my passions like travel and hobbies. It’s pretty rare to find a job that is also your passion (don’t come for me, I know it’s possible), so it’s a matter of deciding what is most important.

If you’re unhappy because of the workplace culture, just find a different analyst job at an employer you enjoy more.

[Kelsey]

I take it you’re in I-banking or something similar with the late nights?

Unfortunately, that’s a field where sleeping under your desk is a badge of honor.

Focus on leaving the office / logging off as soon your 8 hours are done and finding a new job. Plenty of companies want folks with 2 years of your experience (assuming my assumption is right) for FP&A, biz ops, chief of staff, etc. roles.

Use your alum network from college and your current company. Usually the burn and churn companies’ alumi networks are strong because the people who left understanding very acutely you wanting to leave.

Don’t let the folks hate on burnout because of your age. I burned out at 18 and 22 because I was going to school full time and working 2-3 jobs, often full time hours or more, plus involvement on campus. I had to cut back to one job and just school and then lean back into my hobbies.

But the concern that you’re burned out so quickly is a sign you’re in the wrong job or environment.

[Alyx]

I took 3 months off work when I turned 24 … I quit my job and then rested. Do I sometimes wish I worked during that time? Sure. But for the most part I don’t regret it, because I commuted for 4 hours every day for 9 months for a company that underpaid me and put me through traumatic situations where I had people offering to be my witnesses if I decided to sue them.

If you’re burnt out, take a month off between jobs. It’s ok.

[Christopher]

Burn out at 23? Come on bro. Find a new job first then go.

[Shirene]

I hope the older generation bosses see this and help make changes. There’s really no reason to work till 2am. We should do better as a society.

[Jackie]

Young age burnout often comes from caring too much. At least in my experience. Learning to care but also know there are things you can’t control and need to just let slide without bothering you helps in corporate America.

The higher you climb, the more you can change things if frustration is your root cause.

Changing jobs every couple years helps both those issues.

[Nicki]

Get better at setting boundaries. If you’re not paid to work at 2am and it’s not in your agreement, stop doing it! They’re taking advantage of you. I would start looking for something else and leave once you find it.

But, also, all of life isn’t about money and you have a lot of time to make more!! Deciding to live life how you want is a conscious choice and in my experience usually leads to great things! Dream big.

Take risks.

[Liana]

Can you make a plan to quit so you have something to look forward to? For example, when I hit 250k NW, I will quit. You’ve worked so hard and have done so well to hit your NW at 23, you don’t want to go backwards however, if you truly feel this is impacting your health, that’s your green light to quit.

[Cheryl]

New job! I had 13 jobs in my first 12 years out of college. Use the ladder approach (job to job) to build your skills and your salary.

Started my own company at 32 and never looked back. And that was 30 years ago.

The word burnout is just a synonym for ‘next’!

Every single time I moved companies I went UP in salary and benefits. Go use your skills!

[Jandk]

23 is NOT too young to feel burnout.

Ignore those comments. If youre like me and feel so much of your life is work, and not enough time for a good life balance as well then that’ll lead to burnout. It was around a few years into my career that I had my first kid and went down to part time and part time I will stay as long as my kids are little. Is part time an option? Even three ten hours days?

Maybe help that balance more. To each their own, I have so many people in their 50/60s that scoff at the work/life balance mindset of the younger generation and in their next breath tell me that their health sucks, they work so much they don’t have time to do things they like like garden or see family, and that they don’t sleep well. That’s not my cup of tea.

Again, to each their own but I recommend prioritizing your health and happiness always.

Part time may be a good option or transition point for you. And ALWAYS keep an open mind for something better. I keep my resume on indeed updated all the time and my bosses know it.

I think that is smart.

[Liam]

The author is likely in investment banking- that career requires incredibly late nights and almost no time off. The upside is a high income at a young age- but the vast majority burn out after 2 years.

Everyone in banking understands the career before going in and that’s how the entire industry worksz

[Lindsay]

As an executive in the finance industry, I’d say to start looking and researching other careers within finance. There are a ton of well paying professions that don’t require working till 2am. That said, also realize the demands that often come with a well paying career/role. They are often not the clock in/ clock out, 9-5 type job.

They often do require a little more effort than you average paying roles.

So, I think part of this is a research on a new role on finance but also a real personal introspection on what is important to you when you do seek a new role.

Is it work life balance? Sometimes that comes with a sacrifice of a lower salary.

If it’s salary you may have to sacrifice some work life balance.

Weighing some of this just comes with age and experience.

[John]

Working till 2 AM is just absolutely ridiculous. What the hell is wrong with a company that does this to their employees and doesn’t give a crap about the effects. I know the management types that own and run these companies.

This is just ‘how it’s always been done’. Well, that doesn’t make it right. I’d tell them to FITFO.

[Heidi]

For those of you that are talking about how burn out isn’t really, what she is talking about is mandatory overtime that has her working until midnight-2 am on a regular basis after arriving at 8/9 am. In this type of position this leaves little to no time for a work/life balance. So, I absolutely understand the burn out at such a young age.

My suggestion is to find another job at a different company or find a contract position. At the very least you would be compensated for the OT in a contract position. I would try to move up in the company.

Have you considered going into HR? They have positions call compensation analysts where you would use your finance skills in the HR department. I wish I would have transferred my skills to this department at your age. The hours aren’t nearly as bad and you can make good money. I have a friend who did this and now she is the Director of Compensation at a large company making really good money.

[Nikhaule]

Y’all can’t possible be this dismissive of someone saying they’re burnout. You may have been working longer with less money, but they doesn’t change someone’s experience.

I’m on the Millennial/Gen Z cusp and I feel you. I quit my job at 24 (as a homeowner) with less money, and I quit because I was also burnt out. I didn’t have anything lined up, and I set the intention to freelance and start my own business. It was me, my savings account, and my goals.

Now, I enjoy my work and the environment I work in. Not only is it work that I love, but I the culture is top tier. Not only am I making more money, but now I work part time for an amazing company. I make a full time salary working less than 30 hours a week. I started my own media production company and started to work on creative projects I had in my mind for years. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Life is too short to keep yourself stuck at a job you hate. Explore what life has to offer. See what works for you.

[Author]

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