Quitting job without another offer

Just curious about people's experiences of leaving a job before lining up a new one. Did you regret it? How long did it take you to find a new job?

I have been in my role for seven years now, and following a restructuring last year the workplace has become quite toxic. Most of the staff are unhappy, and it's particularly hard for me as my boss is impossible; controlling, aggressive and completely unreasonable. She is making my life a misery and my health is starting to suffer. I did raise the issue before with her manager but nothing was done, if anything I was seen in a bad light.

For the sake of my sanity I need to get out. My colleagues have seen the way she behaves and they're amazed I haven't walked by now. I have tried coping strategies, adapting my approach to her, trying not to let it get to me, but it's really wearing me down. I'm applying for other jobs but with no responses so far. There's no chance of a transfer in my current company. I have enough savings to keep me going for several months and I don't have a mortgage or kids.

My gut feeling is that I need to quit before I have a nervous breakdown, but I keep hearing that it's hard to get a job when you're not in one. Is this true or just a myth? What if there's a valid reason, e.g. travelling or caring for a sick relative?

I have a masters and over ten years experience. Ideally I'd like to quit and have a month or two to recover and take stock before returning to work. My worry is that I could have problems getting back into work - just how bad is it out there?

Am I crazy to consider quitting?

Stheno

What industry do you work in?

whiskeyman

Get on linkedin and start looking harder / making calls / sending mails.
Are you adapting your CV and cover letter to each role?
What area are you in?
It'll take your mind off it and give you focus.
Don't leave your job before you get an offer. It looks bad and you risk falling into a rut.
If you leave, you may hold out for a better job... You're as well to get in somewhere else even if it doesn't seem ideal just for a fresh start and take things from there.

You could still just ask new employers for a later start date if you need a holiday or break before starting.

Aim to be out by the summer. Keep focused and vest of luck. And don't burn any bridges either no matter what.

Islander13

Also whats your personal circumstances, if have kids and a mortgage different to someone whose single with savings.

Thanks for the replies. I'm single with savings. I'd be ok financially for a little while, it's more the effect on my employability that worries me. I don't really understand why being out of work for a couple of months would be frowned on so much, though obviously I understand why it would be an issue for a longer period.

I am on linkedin, applying for jobs, tailoring CVs and cover letters, etc. My industry is quite a niche one (arts related) but I'm in a business role and would have transferable skills. I'm happy to move into another industry.

spaceHopper

Don't quit now in case you are doing something wrong in your CV... visit a recruitment consultant get them to do mock interview, pointers on how to answer questions. For example you'll always be asked to take us through your cv, that gives you two or three minutest to talk and sell your self. If you have to spend some of those savings and on a carrier coach.

but if it's really getting to you, set a limit say give your self thee months and if you haven't found a job then hand in your notice but maybe give them three months notice so you have more time to find a job, stick two weeks holidays into the mix and you'll be in much better shape. Also if you line up interviews while still working there you'll probably get a better reference, as soon as you leave she's going to give you a terrible reference, if she's miss behaving keep a diary, you may need to take a case for constructive dismissal. Or if / when you hand in your notice with no job to go to they may ask questions and see what can be done to make you happier.

Mrs OBumble

If it's affecting your health, visit your GP. Some sick leave may be called for. Aka job hunting time.

bonyn

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If it's affecting your health, visit your GP. Some sick leave may be called for. Aka job hunting time.

I'd agree. My last job was making me sick.

I took a month off sick and made the stupid mistake of using the time to get my head sorted and preparing myself to go back to work. I should have taken a 2 week holiday and then moved on to fulltime job hunting.

After a month i went back feeling pretty good and went back to work. It's then i realised it was the workplace that was toxic - and i shouldn't have gone back. My employer certainly didn't want me back, or at least not on my (reasonable) terms, so i left anyway

So op.. sick leave, and job hunt.

Polo_Mint

I did what you did before.

I was getting a performance review ( Which was good ) and when they asked did I have any questions, I said I didnt. I Quit.

I felt that the job as taking days off my life.

Staying up late for the only reason that when I open my eyes I have to go back to work.

IF you have the financials, You should ( In my Opinion ) Quit, Clear the head, and Apply for new jobs.

Before you quit, Get a taste for the market

bonyn

Just to add... if you've been in the job 7 years i really wouldnt worry about having nothing lined up. In fact, if you have the funds it could be extremely positive to do some travelling!

My personal experience of leaving a toxic job was feeling quite drained and getting into a bit of a rut. I am planning on travelling, but i know how easy a few weeks could turn in to a few months if i had no plans.

My advice if you leave work is to go on a relaxing holiday for 2 weeks. Then come back, sign up for 6-8 weeks of counselling, and sign up with a personal trainer for 2 sessions a week. Daily walks of 1hr+ are also very beneficial. These good habits keep your routine and jobhunting on track.

Bandana boy

Re the sick leave and job hunt approach , you are seven years there you will need a reference so I don’t think that is the best approach.

You are expending at lot of energy just surviving in there and that is taking away from the energy you can put into job hunting , You can go sick which solves this or you can refocus your energy.
While that is easier said than done , it is possible . Your job over the next 6 months is to find a job , any time trying to figure out your boss is a waste , trying to change their mind , also a waste.
Find the courage to push him/her from your mind , when they attack , be Zen , agree and move on ,even if this is personal. Your boss will punch herself out having a go at somebody who does not fight back. Get the minimum done in Work and get back to looking for a job.

posturingpat

Flying Fox wrote: »

Just curious about people's experiences of leaving a job before lining up a new one. Did you regret it? How long did it take you to find a new job?

I have been in my role for seven years now, and following a restructuring last year the workplace has become quite toxic. Most of the staff are unhappy, and it's particularly hard for me as my boss is impossible; controlling, aggressive and completely unreasonable. She is making my life a misery and my health is starting to suffer. I did raise the issue before with her manager but nothing was done, if anything I was seen in a bad light.

For the sake of my sanity I need to get out. My colleagues have seen the way she behaves and they're amazed I haven't walked by now. I have tried coping strategies, adapting my approach to her, trying not to let it get to me, but it's really wearing me down. I'm applying for other jobs but with no responses so far. There's no chance of a transfer in my current company. I have enough savings to keep me going for several months and I don't have a mortgage or kids.

My gut feeling is that I need to quit before I have a nervous breakdown, but I keep hearing that it's hard to get a job when you're not in one. Is this true or just a myth? What if there's a valid reason, e.g. travelling or caring for a sick relative?

I have a masters and over ten years experience. Ideally I'd like to quit and have a month or two to recover and take stock before returning to work. My worry is that I could have problems getting back into work - just how bad is it out there?

Am I crazy to consider quitting?

In a very similar situation since about a year back when a new boss arrived up until recently when i had enough. I went in every day hating my job and counting down the minutes until i got out,spent months telling myself the next time something happens i'm gone and eventually i did in January. Very hard to find work(been turning down work for the past 5-6 years when i have been employed) but i don't regret it for a minute, i was really getting very low in work and no money's worth it.
I suppose it all depends just how unhappy you are and by the sounds of your original post it's likely to cause you a lot of issues and i'd be inclined to tell you to get out. Life's too short.

Good luck

Thanks for all the input and suggestions, much appreciated.

I had considered taking some sick leave but I do want to try to stay on good terms with the company. One of my colleagues was out for a month due to anxiety issues (which were definitely genuine) and she was hounded about when she'd be coming back and was made to go to the company doctor, which only added to the stress as it was obvious her manager doubted her.

It's good to see some encouragement to quit as this is what I really want to do. I agree that life is too short and my health has to be my top priority. I've had a very difficult time in my personal life over the last couple of years on top of the work issues, so I just feel worn out and I need to build myself back up again. I suppose my fear is that I could end up unemployed for months on end, after all the job market has changed a lot since I joined my current company. My plan would be to temp while I look for something more permanent but I don't even know if that's difficult to get into these days.

I'm so bad at making decisions!

BabySlam

Flying Fox wrote: »

Thanks for all the input and suggestions, much appreciated.
I'm so bad at making decisions!

You are probably not bad at decisions - it is just you are making the same decision again and again - you are going to leave, you are going to stay, you are going to leave - remember few decisions are irreversible, and even if you leave , you may work for that company in future; nobody can see the future, so just give yourself a deadline, make the decision and take action on it. good Luck:)

Caroline_ie

In a very similar situation. I'm finding extremely hard where I'm working at the moment. Management just eliminated the staff's paid breaks too just yesterday.

If I need to quit, I would have enough to keep my head above water with savings. I have a few companies interested in my profile but, no offers yet. I'm getting impatient and all this is also taking its toll on my physical and mental health.

I only took that job after having been made redundant so I could find something else while in employment but the market has become such a bitch these days ...

Keep strong and focus on your next move!

aine92

I left my job in December with nothing to go to due to mental health issues brought on by the job in question (PTSD, experienced a horrible thing whilst working), left work on great terms and I am still looking now. To be honest, up to this point I haven't been giving it my all, and I am being far more selective in terms of what I apply for, and I have the time to write a cover letter and CV specifically for each role.

A friend of mine recently brought to my attention that this is the first "break" from life I have had in 6 years; I worked through all college breaks, summers, midterms, and then straight into work with no break after my final exams. Not going to lie, I'm really enjoying my time off. I've had time to work with my PTSD and anxiety and think about what I really want to do, and while the thought of finding a job is daunting, I feel ready. I did an interview in January, got the job and decided to turn it down, that's how strongly I feel about finding the right position.

Others might disagree, but if it's making your life hell, then quit. Be reasonable with your finances, put your head down with the job search and enjoy the down time.

Mitzy

I was in this situation at the beginning of last year. I left my job at the end of January but I was lucky in that I had a small amount of savings behind me. My job was incredible stressful with excessive working hours so I felt that I had no option but to leave.
I was afraid how it would look on my CV but I simply told employers my honest reasons for leaving and they all seemed to accept it.

Looking for a job is a full time job. I spent my first few weeks visiting all agencies and was on all jobs boards everyday applying for all roles.

I got a job within 2 months but in that time I turned down a number of jobs as I was extremely picky as to which company I was going to work for. In the end all worked out great and I found a job with a great company that really looks after their staff.

So essentially I would say go for it. I never thought I would ever leave a job with nothing to go but I have no regrets.

Another thing I would mention, I went to social welfare & explained why I had to leave my job and I was able to sign on. I had never signed on a day before in my life but this certainly helped with day to day expenses. It's worth a try if your job is extremely stressful and they can see that you have a long work record.

aine92

Mitzy wrote: »

I was afraid how it would look on my CV but I simply told employers my honest reasons for leaving and they all seemed to accept it.

It's worth noting here that before I left and my employer met with me and we had a great big chat, he was amazing about everything, and I told him my biggest concern was having a gap on my CV, and he told me that he wouldn't blink at a gap on someones CV unless it was a year or more; he said if he discounted all the people who had unexplained gaps from travelling etc that he would have missed out on great people.

As Mitzy said, as long as you have a good reference behind you and a genuine reason to leave, a gap isn't an issue.

Burkie7

Just handed in my notice today after a horrible time in my job. I was on the admin team and we had a meeting two weeks ago where the whole team shared their grievances with the way everything is running and how people in other departments are basically not doing their job as they know they have the admin team to clean up their mess in the end.

Their was 7 of us on the team and only 2 were qualified in Insurance so the team leader had to spend the day correcting mine and the other persons work which meant he couldn't do any himself and with a huge amount of work coming in it kept building up. All we asked for was another qualified staff member to help us. He said in the meeting to take are time from now on so no mistakes are done and if the work builds up he will get someone else in to help us.

My friend who was there 4 years told me coming out of the meeting give it 2 weeks and he will go back on every single thing he said and sure enough nearly 2 weeks to the day the manager sent a email stating that we are going too slow and will be timed from now on and that they won't be hiring a new staff member.

Me and my friend handed in are notice today as their is only so much you can take of being under valued and not getting any respect from anyone.

Insurance wasn't something I had my heart on I kinda just fell into it but now that I'm leaving I'm going to follow my dream and try and get back into Graphic Design. I have a job part time lined up already from a old client that I done work for that will most likely go into full time and I feel excited for the first time in a long time.

If I made the right decision or not remains to be seeing but to quote one of my favorite Rocky quotes "If you know what your worth, then go out and get what your worth"

Sorry for the long message but anyway best of luck to the OP and anyone who feels in this situation. In the end what advice people give you on here or friends and family while it is helpful, in the end you just got to do what YOU feel is right to do.

aine92

Burkie7 wrote: »

Just handed in my notice today after a horrible time in my job. I was on the admin team and we had a meeting two weeks ago where the whole team shared their grievances with the way everything is running and how people in other departments are basically not doing their job as they know they have the admin team to clean up their mess in the end.

Their was 7 of us on the team and only 2 were qualified in Insurance so the team leader had to spend the day correcting mine and the other persons work which meant he couldn't do any himself and with a huge amount of work coming in it kept building up. All we asked for was another qualified staff member to help us. He said in the meeting to take are time from now on so no mistakes are done and if the work builds up he will get someone else in to help us.

My friend who was there 4 years told me coming out of the meeting give it 2 weeks and he will go back on every single thing he said and sure enough nearly 2 weeks to the day the manager sent a email stating that we are going too slow and will be timed from now on and that they won't be hiring a new staff member.

Me and my friend handed in are notice today as their is only so much you can take of being under valued and not getting any respect from anyone.

Insurance wasn't something I had my heart on I kinda just fell into it but now that I'm leaving I'm going to follow my dream and try and get back into Graphic Design. I have a job part time lined up already from a old client that I done work for that will most likely go into full time and I feel excited for the first time in a long time.

If I made the right decision or not remains to be seeing but to quote one of my favorite Rocky quotes "If you know what your worth, then go out and get what your worth"

Sorry for the long message but anyway best of luck to the OP and anyone who feels in this situation. In the end what advice people give you on here or friends and family while it is helpful, in the end you just got to do what YOU feel is right to do.

Good for you!! Blessing in disguise, I hope you follow your dream and are much happier!

SATSUMA

For what it's worth I quit a really good job without having another-it was just so toxic. I couldn't find another job but I knew I couldn't stay. Anyway, there's nothing quite like being unemployed to make you find a job! It was a leap of faith and it was scary but I don't regret it for a second. I was unemployed for about 2 months and really enjoyed the rest I was so exhausted. I had the time to think and put in the effort and I got the same sort of job with a pay increase of 20k and it's a non toxic environment! I would recommend if your gut is telling you to go, then do so! You deserve a "sabatical" after seven years. There's plenty of work out there you wont starve you just need the time to remember who you are!

Best wishes!

Xxx

It's nice to read all these positive messages. My friends and family think I'd be mad to quit a "perfectly good job" but I just can't stick it anymore, I need to get away for the sake of my sanity. I feel that I'll be in a better position to get a new job if I have the opportunity to have a rest and get my head straight.

Burkie7 - well done and best of luck!

aine92

Flying Fox wrote: »

It's nice to read all these positive messages. My friends and family think I'd be mad to quit a "perfectly good job" but I just can't stick it anymore, I need to get away for the sake of my sanity. I feel that I'll be in a better position to get a new job if I have the opportunity to have a rest and get my head straight.

Burkie7 - well done and best of luck!

Let us know, and enjoy the time off! Spend a day in your PJs, have lie ins, because you'll miss them when you start working again. Good luck!!!