Quitting a job when you don't have another lined up?

SinaWil

Is it ever advisable?

I started a new job a while back.
From day 1 i knew it wasn't for me, yet i felt that I needed to give it a chance.

It's been a few months and the job has taken it's toll on my physical and mental well being.

I found out this week that the work situation is about to get much more stressful.
(Management have aleviated themselves of all responsibility, which is being put on the shoulders of all the new staff.)

I'm already on the look out for new opportunities but they seem thin on the ground.

It's quite difficult to find a new job when you are working in a bad one imho - you get sucked in, have to take annual leave to attend interviews etc.

I would love to split but couldn't justify it to family etc. (A family member is acquainted with the head boss which makes matters worse.)

Yet i'm sick in my stomach every sunday?
I've lost weight, have mysterious aches and pains and am just numb overall.

I have already mentally checked out of the job now just need my body to follow.

Is it in my best interest to tough it out ?
(I can just about handle it at the mo, however it's about to get 10 times worse soon)

Or should i just up and leave?

Rubberchikken

How long more do you think you could last? You could job hunt while staying there but if its really something you can't stick with them maybe it's time to leave.
At the end of the day you have to look after yourself.

SinaWil

This week will tell a lot.
As i said - it's all about to get a whole lot worse..

There is no system in place and we are being 'trained in' by staff who's jobs we are replacing.
Needless to say they are not co-operating and management have their heads in the sand.

The role that i was told i was doing has being changed also.

I was talking to my friend and he said that we were all hoodwinked.

I'm dreading monday but feel like i have no choice

seamus

Yeesh.

As someone who recently came from the opposite side of that (being the one training in replacements), I can tell you that if the old staff are actually checking out, then the job will get more stressful,but it's likely to be easier because you won't have blurred lines between who should and shouldn't be doing stuff.

And as bad as it sounds, you can legitimately blame dropped balls on the outgoing staff since they don't care anymore. Position yourself as the person cleaning up the crash left behind, not the poor sap who's been left holding the wheel of the crashing vehicle.

You'll have a lot of stuff to do, but a lot more freedom to do it. It can be a personality thing. Some people thrive in green field environments. Others wither.

In your case, is it a bad idea to quit? Only if you can't afford to. Otherwise it sounds like you have hundreds of excellent reasons for not sticking out that sh1tshow.

deseil

I wouldnt leave until you have a new job, Id be worried about explaining the leave to a new employer for a start.
Make a plan get your c.v up to scratch and send it out to everything you see.

nikkibikki

Get someone professional to look at your C.V. My hubby did this recently and it made a huge difference. He's actually getting called for interviews now! He took redundancy from a sh!t job recently and now technically has 3 jobs to choose from! You can also find someone to give you career advice about how to get where you want to be. A fresh look at these things can't hurt esp when you are so unhappy in your current role.

Good luck!

Can you afford to live without a job? If you want to get social welfare then you need to be unemployed for 6 - 9 weeks until you can claim benefits. However if you want to apply before this time, you'll need to write a letter included with your documentation, detailing why you quit your job. Could you afford to live during this time without an income? Could you afford to live on the dole while you look?

If the answer to all of the above is yes, then quit your job.

People often say, stay in your job because it's better to work, but I personally say that's bullsh*t. No job is worth the physical and mental stress and strain that a job you hate can cause to your body and overall well-being. Jobs will come along in time, but you can't get those things back.

It's too entwined into our culture that you have to work, even if it's ultimately damaging to you, but I think no job and no amount of money is worth your happiness.

Look at your financial situation and if the answer to all the above is yes, hand in your notice.

SinaWil

Thanks for the replies folks!

I can't really go into too much detail but let's just say that what will be asked of me soon is above and beyond the call of duty.
I'm sick at the thought of it.

I have a small bit of cash put away and am actually looking for any kind of casual work to keep me tipping over.

I may have to avail of social welfare for a while (which is not a pleasant thought) but i hope to be doing some sort of work asap.

The main issue i have is family - they thought this job was the answer to everything? i'm going to let everyone down if i walk...

OP, in some ways I can relate to your predicament. What I will say to you is think long and hard before leaving your current job. You need to weigh up your situation against the reality of being unemployed. Yes you may get a different job soon or you may not. Obviously I don't know your lifestyle but living on social welfare is no joke.

Choices that were never an issue become very real. For example having to choose between petrol in the car or food. Can you see yourself living like that? Do you believe the sacrifices will be worth not being somewhere that makes you so unhappy?

I walked away from a really good secure job a number of years ago. Now my circumstances were very different but I agonised for months over it. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Although not without having to make some big changes, which I am still experiencing to this day.

We all want different things from life and are motivated by different things. Ask yourself what it is that you want, really want. Try not to let others influence you. Living your life for others will lead to unhappiness.

Best of luck with whichever path you choose.

Sun in Capri

No job is worth damaging your health for. If it suited the employer they would let people go in the blink of an eye after you having damaged your health. I am sure your family don't want you to become ill and if you explain as you have done here I am sure they will understand. I would give my notice to leave and I would be totally honest about the reasons. Life is short.

Can your family afford to survive if you were to go on social welfare? It's not nice, but I'd always rather have have no job over one that caused me that much stress. I've been there, very recently, so I can empathize so much.

SinaWil

By family i mean - the mother, sister, aunts and uncles.
(I'm not married, have no kids)

All of these people are of the 'suck it up' mindset.
(The fact that i was out of work prior to this 'big break' doesn't help my case)

There's no point in my even trying to explain what's going on, people only hear what they want to hear.

I can't go into detail here, but if people knew what was on the cards their jaws would drop.

To be honest - i already have my feet pointed towards the door, it's how i go about the exit is the question.

Currently i am waking some nights with panic attacks, i've gotten into the habit of a drink, or 2 when i come home, I've lost and gained weight, i have mystery aches and pains, i'm constantly going to the bathroom in work...

First world problems and all that, but is this really worth it?

SinaWil

SinaWil wrote: »

By family i mean - the mother, sister, aunts and uncles.
(I'm not married, have no kids)

All of these people are of the 'suck it up' mindset.
(The fact that i was out of work prior to this 'big break' doesn't help my case)

There's no point in my even trying to explain what's going on, people only hear what they want to hear.

I can't go into detail here, but if people knew what was on the cards their jaws would drop.

To be honest - i already have my feet pointed towards the door, it's how i go about the exit is the question.

Currently i am waking some nights with panic attacks, i've gotten into the habit of a drink, or 2 when i come home, I've lost and gained weight, i have mystery aches and pains, i'm constantly going to the bathroom in work...

First world problems and all that, but is this really worth it?

No, it's not worth it. Never is and never should be.

Hand in your month's notice. But bare in mind that four weeks feels like forever when you're working out a notice. If you feel like you can't work out the full notice, your management and you could come to an agreement with working a shorter one, but you should talk to your HR rep before this.

JTL

My advice, for what it is worth, is to walk straight out and don't look back.

If it is causing you such stress you will not regret the decision.

Sign on for social welfare straight away and advise the reasons why you left (give detail). They then decide if you are eligible for payment or if you 'lose' nine weeks.

Put all your effort into finding a new job ASAP.

I speak here from experience.

BrookieD

be very careful in what you do. I ws in that situation a couple years back - the firm i was working for had me in knots every morning going in, got so bad that the doc signed me out for stress as i wsa losing sleep and weight, my confidence was shot to pieces and it was a toxic place.

Spoke to my wife and decided to walk, i knew ihad the skill set to find another job quite quickly but still leaving without somewhere to go to was scary. Still better than staying and waiting it out.

While is worked out in the end it was not without some downsides. The finances took a major hit until i was working again and just about sorted now but we worked together and am much better of where i am today.

Best of luck in your decision but life is too short to waste it somewhere that makes you so unhappy.

Ursus Horribilis

I would recommend you be careful as well. It happened to me many moons ago. I had a job that I really hated - even now I can't think of a single good thing to say about the place. I could take no more and I quit. I don't regret leaving but I've got to warn you that you're likely going to be making a rod for your own back.

I found it hard to get another job because I wasn't working. I am sure it stopped me even getting interviews and it didn't escape any interviewers either. In the end I had to pretend I was working in a family business to take the bad look off my CV. Thankfully I finally got another job but it took longer than I would have liked. It also took a big bite out of what savings I had. I still had a car loan - try paying a car loan and living on the dole. Money gets veeeerrrrry tight!

Jimmy Bottlehead

Nothing new to add to the above OP, but I've worked in a job that made me miserable and ended up leaving with nothing else lined up for the first time in my life. In their defence, they offered extended probation and I declined, but they said if Social Welfare asked they'd say I'd been let go to ensure I got payment.

No job is worth the stress and misery and how it affects the loved ones in your life. If you can afford a short-term dip in money, then resign and move on as soon as you can.

LegacyUser

Hi,

I hate my job, I'm v good at the work, great skills and potential but its a very toxic environment. I am being strangled and im now at breaking point. Ive only 5\6 weeks left in contract but don't know if i all make it that long.

I had a chat with my manager to discuss issues I was having with supervisor making me do an unsuitable course. Asking her advice on what I should do. She told her about it. Maybe I shouldnt have said anything...but I was worried sick.

Met with Sup today, she was in foul humour and completely obliterated me. I eventually burst into tears towards the end. She was most sympathetic and helpful then I can tell you!!!
Shes twisted everything to make me look bad. She is a master manipulator and does not have a good reputation from the other staff. She often twists things and "forgets" things then when it suits her.

She has also found a loophole to take away my holidays. I will now have to work overtime so I can go on my weeks holiday in 3 weeks time.

I have gone above and beyond for this place....often picking up after others and doing twice if not three times the work others have(taking on more projects). How foolish I've been! They will notice when I'm gone!!


I tried to assert myself and stand up for myself. In return I was squashed like an ant. My career plans were laughed at and dismissed today. The Sup does not work in our building so really doesnt have a clue, but is trying to control me.

Praying for this to end

Red dress