Should I quit without a backup?

18 Comments

1. AnonymousAugust 17,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

   I think it comes down to your financial situation. If you can afford to be without that steady stream of income for at least the next 4-6 months, take a leap of faith and try to find out what you want to do. If you can’t, stay and take a few classes of invest in a career coach who should be able to help you discover what you want to do. The job market is still not that great and heading into Q4, companies slow their hiring. Look for something while you still have the check coming in.

2. AnonymousAugust 21,2023 at 3:09PM UTC

   I'd say 12-16 months! The more professional your targeted job search, the fewer opportunities there are and the more competition you'll face.

3. AnonymousAugust 17,2023 at 12:56PM UTC

   I would NOT quit without interviews lined up, let alone a job. I have a friend who was a Director of HR who did this last January and she is still looking. Take some vacation time and apply like crazy and also plot your next moves.

   Good luck!

4. AnonymousAugust 18,2023 at 2:51PM UTC

   Good advice. I quit my job, for very good reasons, without another lined up. I paid dearly for that move. I was thrilled to leave my job, but it took much longer to get a new one than I thought.

5. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 17,2023 at 1:23PM UTC

   big question:

   Do you have enough money set aside that you can afford to live your current lifestyle without a hiccup for 6+ months? If so. do it. use those 6 months to get clear on who you are inside and what would light you up - how you'd contribute to the greater good and where your skills and talents are most appreciated.

   if no, get yourself 6 months money in the bank and then do it.

   so many of my private clients get really irritated when I tell them we're going to dig in and under the surface at first - find out what they really want, what really lights them up and why - before we start talking resumes and linkedin profiles - because otherwise they end up like this - unhappy and unsure what to do next.

   I say you're becoming an adult when you learn you have choices, and they are not always easy but it's within your control. So, be sure to assure your financial coffers and then start finding yourself in the best way ever. (I'll bet if you don't have the money now, when you look at your budget and the ways you're spending to numb the "pain" of the soul-sucking job you'll be able to move those spending habits to savings now that you know the goal is to get free)

6. AnonymousAugust 17,2023 at 2:43PM UTC

   Please send me your information - I too am experiencing this same feelings and way some direction how to go next

7. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 19,2023 at 2:43PM UTC

   which information? you can definitely find all my contact info on my profile!

8. AnonymousAugust 17,2023 at 2:43PM UTC

   Sorry my information to reach me is r412.francis@gmail.com.

9. Erica MitchellAugust 19,2023 at 11:52AM UTC

   My advice is to figure out what you want to do first before making any moves.

10. AnonymousAugust 19,2023 at 9:23PM UTC

    I did this, but not by my own choice. It was not pretty. I went back to school to learn something new using the severance from my job (more than a year's salary because I had worked there for 22 years and was a senior manager (VP), I went through my savings, 401K, and investments in three years getting a master's degree. Unfortunately, the income potential was much less than what I had been making as a senior manager, so I didn't have the time or the desire to adjust my spending according to the new standard of living. The consequences were a ruined credit rating, struggling for several years to keep a roof over my head, and emotional stress.

    I say this as a warning: if you choose to do this, make sure you have a financial plan set up, and be prepared to live by just the necessities for a period of time.

    Take stock of all your transferrable skills to see what you have to offer another profession or career. That will help you to decide what your next move should be. If it is schooling, can you do that while still working? It's not ideal, but something I have done twice since my first master's degree, so it is possible.

11. AnonymousAugust 20,2023 at 1:37PM UTC

    Unless you have significant savings or a monthly allowance from a trust then you must KEEP your job - even though you hate it. You could very well end up in a worse situation as a job search could be longer than you hope. For all we know, it could take a couple of years so you need at least 1.5 years worth of savings before attempting quitting with nothing lined up. And/Or you know that your major living expenses will be reduced - moving in with family, a partner that can easily afford to support you et cetera.

    I stayed at a company that undervalued me and that I came to loathe for years - I should have left after year 2 or 3. I mistakenly thought that because others had grew their career there then I could too. But those others didn’t look like me so that was a foolish assumption on my part. Bias is real. I was in a bad place but I was working on multiple exit opportunities and I figured since I wasted so much time already that I needed to leave for something incredible. I finally left and went back to school on scholarship and completely pivoted.

    You have no clear path forward about what you want to do. Get paid to wait and figure all that out by keeping your current job. Start lowering your expenses in case you decide you need to take a pay cut when you figure it out. This is life and isn’t always easy, put your head down and figure out what you want to do.

12. AnonymousAugust 20,2023 at 4:39PM UTC

    I did it and had my parents as a back up but even to them I had to lie about the situation so as to no make them worry about it.. they only helped for a month and it took me 5 weeks to find a new job it was a lot of pressure which I don't recommend

13. AnonymousAugust 20,2023 at 6:42PM UTC

    Adulting sux… having said that, I do not recommend putting yourself in check. I have always had a job lined up before quitting. Unfortunately, recently, I had to resign abruptly. In this market, it took me 7 months to find a good position that checked all the boxes. CYOA, my friend, as no one else is looking out for you.

14. Eva SteortzAugust 20,2023 at 8:59PM UTC

    Congratulations! You have learned what you don't want to do. Unless you are being mistreated or the job is making you feel unwell mentally or physically, I wouldn't recommend quitting without another role. Try to find motivation in something you could learn OR networking you could achieve while employed there. Be grateful for the money and opportunity AND start looking for something else. If you are stuck sometimes a VALUES test can be helpful to zero in on your strengths and what's most important to you. Google Values in Action Survey it in case this link doesn't post correctly. Good luck to you! I will be cheering you on!

    https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/Register

15. AnonymousAugust 21,2023 at 3:06PM UTC

    Without a clear sense of direction, it doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Most people with 20-year careers aren't in that learning and being excited phase for most of those 20 years. If you need novelty, career-hopping will satisfy that need, but you can fill that need in other ways, like hobbies, volunteer work, or participation in professional organizations,

16. MslheardAugust 22,2023 at 12:26PM UTC

    If you don’t like your job and are contemplating quitting- quit.

    Financial insecurity keeps people handcuffed to relationships, experiences, & environments that are in direct conflict with their values.

    If you are not in a position where you could forego steady income (at your current rate), alternatively you could:

    1) explore temporary leave options. (In the US this is referred to as FMLA or even short-term disability). While on leave explore classes, books, and other immersive experiences in other fields or with other professionals.

    2) you could explicitly ask your manager for tangential job responsibilities. For example maybe you pivot into project management. This will help arm you with more transferable skills.

    3) confer with other HR professionals who’ve pivoted into other roles via informational interviews. An extensive search on LinkedIn should help get the ball rolling in this area.

17. Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 22,2023 at 3:31PM UTC

    It is a horrible feeling going to a job everyday that you feel miserable in.

    Ok, so you know you don’t like HR (or at least the type of HR you’re currently doing) but you don’t know what you DO like, or whether you want to stay in the corporate world.

    The first thing I’d encourage you to do is to figure out what you want to do with your career. Because if you quit before you know this, you run the risk of falling into this same exact situation again and again.

    I help people do exactly that- find their Career Calling then pívot quickly toward it- and there are other coaches out there that do, too.

    While you have the security of a steady income, I encourage you to work with a coach who can help you figure out what you want to do with your career. You can then use the transferable skills you’re developing in your current role to make your pívot without leaving any money on the table.

    Happy to share some strategies with you over a complimentary call if you’d like that. Check out my profile here on FGB to see how you can schedule it.

18. Archana AgarwalAugust 23,2023 at 5:46AM UTC

    Quitting your job should be an option only if you have financial stability to pull you off for at least 6 months. You can see a career counsellor and explore to understand your true calling. I sincerely hope you will find something that you will enjoy doing....All the best!