SerenityCravings's journey

I recently quit my corporate job due to burnout, and I’m taking some time to recover. This was my first experience in a large corporate environment, having previously worked in consultancy firms and government roles. I found the corporate culture to be quite disheartening. Most of the senior executives I interacted with lacked both technical expertise and basic leadership skills. The environment was heavily politicized, with many executives more focused on managing their image than on contributing meaningfully to the business or leading their teams. I witnessed blatant favoritism, particularly from my executive manager, who would invite other team members for coffee while excluding me. It was frustrating to see low performers being rewarded with better positions and pay simply because they were favorites. Meanwhile, mistakes made by those lower in the hierarchy were met with harsh consequences, while higher-ups seemed untouchable, even in cases of financial misconduct. The disparity in how people were treated based on their status was discouraging. I felt that my skills and work ethic were exploited rather than rewarded, and I often found myself setting boundaries just to cope with the incompetence around me. This led to conflicts, especially with my boss, who was paid significantly more than I was despite adding little value. I confronted him about his poor performance, which was not the best political move, but I was at my breaking point. Overall, my experience in corporate life was marked by high salaries for low competence, a lack of meritocracy, and a focus on image over impact. I’m now contemplating my next steps—whether to return to consulting, move to the public sector, or even consider self-employment. Has anyone else had similar experiences in corporate environments?