Quitting job with nothing lined up?

LegacyUser

Hi everyone, looking to get my thoughts on paper and see what people think?

I have the intention up hand in my months notice in work tomorrow. I'm nearly 10 years in the job. I've come to the realisation that I'm trading off my happiness to stay in this job. I have a history of anxiety and depression, mostly related to this job and I'm taking antidepressants for a long time now.

My one fear is not having anything else lined up work wise. I don't have any major outgoings, I'm lucky enough to be living at home and paying minimal rent. Many times I've decided to leave this job and I've eventually talked myself out of it. This time is different though, I can't be there anymore. I'm qualified and experienced now in a number of areas and deep down I really don't think I'll struggle to find work.

I know it makes sense not to leave one job until you have another ready but for my own good I really think I have to leave soon. I'll be giving my months notice so there's is good time in that period to find something else and worst case scenario i would easy survive for a few months financially without an income.

As I said above, what are peoples thoughts on this?

Xterminator

Hi OP

Why have you not lined up a job before leaving?

If you want to leave, why don't you channel you energy into that outlet. once you have lined up a position you can leave with head held high.
why do you need to leave 1st? doesn't make sense to me.

sReq | uTeK

Worker123 wrote: »

Hi everyone, looking to get my thoughts on paper and see what people think?

I have the intention up hand in my months notice in work tomorrow. I'm nearly 10 years in the job. I've come to the realisation that I'm trading off my happiness to stay in this job. I have a history of anxiety and depression, mostly related to this job and I'm taking antidepressants for a long time now.

My one fear is not having anything else lined up work wise. I don't have any major outgoings, I'm lucky enough to be living at home and paying minimal rent. Many times I've decided to leave this job and I've eventually talked myself out of it. This time is different though, I can't be there anymore. I'm qualified and experienced now in a number of areas and deep down I really don't think I'll struggle to find work.

I know it makes sense not to leave one job until you have another ready but for my own good I really think I have to leave soon. I'll be giving my months notice so there's is good time in that period to find something else and worst case scenario i would easy survive for a few months financially without an income.

As I said above, what are peoples thoughts on this?

I wouldn't. The simple reason being is that you're significantly more employable coming from employment than not.

The job market is booming, send out a few CV's and with 10 years experience you're likely to get some calls fairly sharpish.

Of course if this job is about to send you over the edge and you absolutely have to hand in your notice then do it, but if you can trek through for a little while longer I'd do that.

silverharp

Depends on the sector and your skills, is there a temp market? if so go for it and at least it will give you time, its a pain in the ass slinking off for interviews, and you might get offers you wouldn't otherwise because you could "start in the morning"

Ursus Horribilis

Seeing as you're so long in the job, why bring hardship onto yourself by quitting before you get another job? I quit a job years ago without having one lined up and I'm certain it came against me in a big way. I didn't even get as far as interviews I feel I should've got. And when I was interviewed, it was always asked about. Interviewers look for gaps in CVs and reasons why they think all may not be as it seems. I hope you thought better of it and didn't hand in your notice.

Pac1Man

OP, it's worth trying to get something set up before you go.

I found the very act of deciding to leave, updating the CV and sending in a few applications acted like a release valve in stressful jobs. It's like mentally cutting the cord.

At least take those steps and wait a week or two. See what happens.

LegacyUser

What happens in a situation where one is already in employment but wishes to give up or leaves jobs and changes and you are required to give some weeks notice to your current employer? Like, what happens if one is successful in requiring new employment and you have to give a month's notice or 5 or 6 weeks notice? A doubt very much a new employer is going to wait around that long. I wish I had the neck and the courage to walk out from my own job.

Airyfairy12

Its not that easy to get a job, it could take you anything from 4 months to a year to get something. Have something lined up before you leave.

Sunny Dayz

I'm kinda going against what most of the other posters have said. Being in a job you are unhappy in is both physically and mentally draining. Going from one job into another won't necessarily solve any of those issues. Taking some time away from the workforce, looking after yourself.


I was in a contract job that I was unhappy in. Normally people stay on for a few months after their contract until they find something else. But I was told the morning my contract was up to clear my desk. The relief walking out the door was immense. Ok I was on social welfare for nearly 6 months but I was happier.

Ursus Horribilis

While I get what the person above me is saying, I'm wondering what difference a few more weeks will make at this stage? The job I left I was only in for a wet week - it was so unbearable I'd not have stuck it 10 weeks, let alone 10 years.

While you definitely should quit and find another job, are you sure you'd not be going from the frying pan into the fire? Can you afford to be unemployed for several months? Have you got a good answer prepared for when interviewers ask you why have you gone from a long stint in one job to nothingness. If I was in the interviewer's chair I'd smell a rat. You've also got to be aware that mentions of mental health issues will cause you problems too. Or saying negative things about your old job. As I said earlier, I had a lot of trouble finding another job after I quit mine. I was out of work for 6 months and getting desperate before I found another job.

nikkibikki

Get someone involved in recruitment or HR in your field to have a look at your CV and improve it. My husband did this and it was only then he got called for interviews after applying for jobs for a few years with very little coming from it. He too was miserable in his old job. Much happier now!

messy tessy

noname.member2 wrote: »

What happens in a situation where one is already in employment but wishes to give up or leaves jobs and changes and you are required to give some weeks notice to your current employer? Like, what happens if one is successful in requiring new employment and you have to give a month's notice or 5 or 6 weeks notice? A doubt very much a new employer is going to wait around that long. I wish I had the neck and the courage to walk out from my own job.

Having one or two months notice period is standard enough, any company I have ever applied to asked how much notice I am required to give my current company at the start of the application process, and there has never been an issue with it.

woodchuck

Worker123 wrote: »

Many times I've decided to leave this job and I've eventually talked myself out of it.

OP if you feel this way, why haven't you applied for other jobs? When most people decide they're not happy in a job, they start applying for others, they don't just hand in their notice.

From a practical point of view I think it would be foolish to hand in your notice without having another job lined up first. So I'd start by looking around and applying elsewhere. It's very true what they say that it's easier to find a job when you're already in a job.

If your mental health is a serious issue atm though, then that should take precedent. You lasted this long though, can you last a few months more? Maybe you should discuss this with your doctor, but personally I'd be afraid of things getting worse rather than better by sitting around at home unemployed.

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miamee

Before you leave, I'd weigh up the anxiety you might feel if you don't get a job right away versus the anxiety of staying in your current job for a couple more months while you job hunt.