I realized I had to change my priorities if I’m serious about leaving, and trust me, I’m very determined. I’ve decided to stop focusing solely on pay. Now, the culture, atmosphere, and job security are at the top of my list. Pay still matters, but if I need to take a cut to leave for a role where everything else lines up, I’m happy to make that trade-off.
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Unless if you own your own business, seeking personal validation from your career is a mistake. Trying to impress those around you at work is soul crushing and when you realize it’s a useless pursuit, it’s usually too late. When you work in finance/banking, it has to just be a job, nothing more nothing less. I have met so many who retired from our line of work who got far up the ladder, and all come to the same conclusion (some sooner than others) - it didn’t matter. It didn’t make any difference. All it did was steal precious time away from them that could have been spent on family, friends, hobbies, and so on. At 5:00pm, shut it off and walk away. It’ll be there tomorrow, and it will be no different than yesterday. Seen your validation and sense of worth from people and places that will still want you in their orbit when you’re done being Mr or Ms SVP of Blah Blah Blah…
I left 6 weeks ago and started my new job. Funny enough, one of my new coworkers used to work at BofA as well! We are both have the same YOE but he left the bank one year ago. Told me he learned so much more than the Bank and glad he left that shithole. Hopefully I can leave the trauma and anxiety I had at the bank behind.
At this point I would gladly take a pay decrease if it means going to a company with a much more healthy culture. Based on everyone I talk to at different financial institutions, and even different sectors, though, I'm not sure that exists.
At this point we need to focus on finding fulfillment in life outside of work and prioritizing family, friends and our own mental health first as making work top priority is not rewarded at this company (the majority of people who I see promoted these days contribute and sacrifice very little).
Everything starts with and flows down from the majority shareholders of that company.
They set the tone.
Sigh, unfortunately there is very little diversity up there.
And if they don't "own" a company, it probably means that company is small and can easily be pushed around or bullied financially, legally, ...