Ex-Deloitte Employee Says ‘I’m Happy I Got Laid Off’ Despite Rs 76 Lakh Salary; Here's Why

After two months of job hunting, she secured a remote position as an actuarial analyst with Transamerica. This role offered the work-life balance she had been craving for

Just as she was starting to focus on improving her performance, HR called to inform her that she was being laid off

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A year after being laid off from Deloitte, 24-year-old Cierra Desmaratti feels that the layoff was one of the best things that could have happened to her. Desmaratti recollected the incident when she was informed by HR at Deloitte in Chicago that she was being laid off; she cried herself to sleep that day. Although the job, which paid $90,000 (around Rs 76 lakh), wasn’t her dream role, losing it felt like losing her livelihood, but now she thinks it was a blessing in disguise.

"I felt anything but normal at Deloitte. I felt like I had to dim my personality to fit in with my peers and struggled to hit my stride in the consulting firm's fast-paced hustle culture. Then I got laid off. It was a dark time, but it ultimately made me realise what I deserve from my career,” she told Business Insider.

Desmaratti shared that she always felt out of place at the company. Coming from a low-income background, she joined Deloitte in September 2022 with 80 to 90 other new hires. Surrounded by peers in tailored suits and designer attire, she felt "immediately out of place. She also shared that her T.J. Maxx clothes had been a splurge for her, but she no longer felt adequate at the workplace. 

The situation worsened with burnout. Desmaratti began working 11-hour days, which took a toll on her mental and physical health. "My back ached from being glued to my seat all day, and I relied on snacks to power through stressful assignments. I gained 9 kg in just a few months and felt the most physically unhealthy I've ever been," she said.

When her performance review came around, her coach informed her that she had performed poorly during the busy periods. This feedback surprised Desmaratti, as no one had previously expressed concerns about her performance. "I felt frustrated knowing I could've made changes sooner if given that feedback," she said.

Just as she was starting to focus on improving her performance, HR called to inform her that she was being laid off.

"When the call ended, my mind immediately went to the financial blow this would be. I didn't love my job, but my $90,000 (Rs 76 lakh) salary was my means of survival. I had two weeks' severance and a bit of money in savings, but I had no other job prospects. I cried myself to sleep that night and spent the next day frantically trying to log out of all the programs on my work computer,” Desmaratti said.

After two months of job hunting, she secured a remote position as an actuarial analyst with Transamerica. This role offered the work-life balance she had been craving for. "I feel like I've finally come alive,” she said.

She said her work at Transamerica is similar to that at Deloitte, but the company culture is entirely different. Her supervisors encourage her to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and he finally have time to pursue hobbies and nurture relationships.