Laid-off Deloitte employee says ₹76L salary wasn't worth the pressure
What's the story
Cierra Desmaratti (24), a former actuarial analyst at Deloitte's Chicago office, has expressed relief over her termination from the company.
Despite earning an annual salary of $90,000 (approximately ₹76 lakh), Desmaratti described her time at Deloitte as anything but normal.
She told Business Insider that she felt compelled to suppress her personality to blend in with the firm's high-pressure work environment.
Cultural clash
Desmaratti's struggle with Deloitte's culture
Desmaratti, who joined Deloitte in September 2022, often felt alienated due to her modest background.
She recalled feeling "immediately out of place" among her colleagues who sported designer outfits.
"The T.J. Maxx clothes I wore had been a splurge, but I no longer felt like they were adequate," she shared with Business Insider.
This sense of not fitting in added to her challenges at the firm.
Health impact
Long hours led to physical, mental health issues
Desmaratti's job at Deloitte required her to work 11-hour shifts, which took a toll on her physical and mental health.
"My back ached from being glued to my seat all day, and I relied on snacks to power through stressful assignments. I gained 9kg in just a few months and felt the most physically unhealthy I've ever been," she revealed.
Desmaratti was surprised when her manager criticized her performance during her review, as no one had previously raised concerns
Tough phase
'My salary was my means of survival'
When Desmaratti began to focus on improving her performance, she was informed that she was being laid off.
"I didn't love my job, but my $90,000 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," Desmaratti told Business Insider.
"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."
Career transition
Layoff led to job hunt and new opportunity
After her termination, Desmaratti spent two months searching for a new job. She eventually secured a remote position as an actuarial analyst with Transamerica.
This role offered her the work-life balance she had been seeking.
"My actuarial work at Transamerica is similar to that of Deloitte, but the company culture couldn't be more different," she said.