Quitting Job Without a Backup Offer
> Work at investor / developer in HCOL area
> 4 years re experience as analyst focusing on AM and project manager
> extremely stressful job
> shitty comp (not even going to post it is laughable)
> Hate my life and have no time to apply for more interesting opportunity or upskill because I am so burned out at work. I guess I am being lazy but honestly I am just burned out, feel like shit all the time, constantly sick, tired, bored. Wake up go to work watch myself get closer to death.
> have about 8 months of living expenses saved
> I feel like I need some time off if I am going to get to a place where I can be my best in interviews and push for a more interesting position or at least better comp.
> Dream about putting in my 2 weeks every day
> Am I retarded for thinking about just quitting? Am I shooting myself in the foot career wise or would I be able to take a few months and get back in the game?
Appreciate any advice.
Comments ( 31 )
Dumb question, but genuinely curious. Market seems still pretty hot, why haven't you left sooner / what has kind of impeded recruitment besides hours
Stuck it out because i genuinely used to like the people that I worked with and projects that I worked on, Just kept telling myself wait another 6 months, it will get better comp will go up.
I've responded to a few recruiters that reached out and done interviews but no offers.
I'm honestly lost, not sure if I want another job in the industry but don't know what another option would look like. Quarter life crisis type shit
You can quit and find another job. It won't be an easy road and it could take 6-12 months to find something. It's a risk for sure and there's no way of knowing until you get that next job how long it'll take or where you'll land. I know people who've done it. It's possible. It's a hard road. However, sometimes you need to get out and just quit. Only you know this answer. Don't take the decision lightly and make any rash moves. Think each scenario through.
Look bro, I'm not gonna say you should have stayed or quit earlier, I understand the stress of the job. What I am gonna say is that eventually that money will run out and the sooner you start recruiting for another job the more secure (financially) you will be.
I wish you the best and hope you land a better job and most importantly, a job you LIKE/ENJOY !!
Quite, you fucking idiot. Try and wait 6 months to two years until you find another job.
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Learn moreAll honesty, don't be an idiot. I get the stress of your job and comp, but you can't predict tomorrow. You could quit and out of nowhere have a financial emergency come up or your car need work or something and there goes your 8 months savings.
You could get a job a few months or 2 years from now, nobody knows how long it takes. If you can stick it out, stick it out and force yourself to make time to apply for jobs. Late night after work, while you're taking a walk or getting coffee during the day, jump on LinkedIn or companies websites. It can be done, I did it and it took me a while but it was worth it. Just think through your decision before you quit or do anything, yes it's frustrating but you don't want to make a decision out of passion or the heat of the moment. Only then, after you make that decision out of frustration or stress, will you regret it later.
Best of luck dude, you got this.
Don't quit. Companies are notorious for dragging their feet. I once interviewed for a company for 6 months with literally 12 separate interviews before I secured an offer.
That's a tough spot to be in but I generally agree with what is being said. But one thing that hasn't been mentioned is start networking! That will help you find something much quicker with a much better chance of securing an offer. I decided to move into development last November and just recently accepted an offer. I had accumulated 6 offers before deciding on one. It's much easier to look for a job when you have a job. It's also much easier to network with others in the industry when you have a job as well. Your going to have to put in the time just like anything else. If you secured interviews but no offers then you have been on the right track you just need to sharpen up your interviewing and negotiation skills. Keep the course but I would say if you know you want to quit devote more time to yourself and marketing yourself for new positions and ride out your last few months there on coast mode.
Don't quit. Instead, take a week long vacation ASAP and go travel to clear your head and regain perspective. Then, when back - devote more time at work to job searching (even if it impacts performance a bit).
If you quit, I don't think you'd enjoy your time off with a looming deadline and no job.
As someone who left a job without one lined and was out of work for over six months afterward, do not quit until you have something lined up.
While my circumstances were unique for leaving without a role, even that did not preclude the lull between roles. I would agree with others that you should be networking, looking on LinkedIn and Indeed as well for new roles. It may also sound like you could use some time away from work to clear your mind and recalibrate.
In a similar place at a developer with shitty comp and no time to interview. Half our team wants to quit.
A lot of what had been posted above is good advice, to find time for interviews take half sick days if needed if you're in the office and can't get away. Say hey I have a doctors appointment at 3pm I need to leave at 2pm and will work from home the rest of the day.
Some income is better than nothing. You'll get interviews and land somewhere.
to add on this - COVID was probably the best thing to happen to conduct interviews under the radar. Block time as busy in the calendar, and, voila. No one knows. If anyone can schedule it on Friday's, even better.
Unfortunately my firm expects us in the office everyday and questions where you are if you're gone from the office for 30 minutes.
Do not quit .
Hold the line as hard/frustrating/boring as it is until you secure something else definitively (as in "Mr. X your start date is in two weeks, specifically xx/xx/xx"). This is tried and true wisdom for a very good reason.
You have time after work each weekday night and time on the weekends. You now officially have a second job: go get it; get after it.
Eh. If you are miserable and aren't even paid that well I would consider quitting with nothing lined up. You've got a pretty solid emergency fund , and if you don't secure a "real" job before then you can always find a job to keep you afloat until you find something. Sandwich shops are literally paying over $16/hour now. This forum tends to focus on work to the detriment of everything else, but mental health is more important in the long run.
On one hand, it is almost certainly easier to find a job when you already have one. That said, if you just don't have the time, or are extremely burnt out, it could be harder for YOU to find a job right now given your current circumstances. Either way, you should be doing everything you can to get the hell out of there.
Good luck, I understand what it is like when work makes your life miserable.
Don't quit without having a prospect for another job. It's called an emergency savings fund for a reason, and IMO this isn't an emergency. You can start to put in the minimum amt of work and not stress yourself out during this process, too. But of course not so lax you get fired (you don't know if you'll get any interview in the near term regardless how "hot" the market is).8 months of savings can turn into 2 or 3 very quick from extraordinary costs - and depending on your age, you lose health, dental, vision coverage, etc. What's your rent like? Other bills? What are you willing to give up? Are you wiling to not go out on weekends? If you're young & want to build your nest egg , you should try to get something lined up. If it's months and you're getting no bites maybe reconsider - but if you go that route you should save as much as possible and live frugally.
Been in this situation (didn't quit though, fund went under), unemployment gave little to nothing and I ate into my accounts. Didn't get an interview until about 1-2.5 months after.
Going through the same situation right now. Made me feel better knowing I'm not the only one going through this.
Go for it. In case the job search takes more than 8 months I think you're smart enough to find how to finance your lifestyle. All the other comments should be read from a position of fear and comfort.
OP - Been there, done that but with a larger "savings fund". Leaving without anything lined up worked out for me in a big way, but I won't say every day was easy. Some weeks were just as mentally stressful as working because of the unknowns. However, I knew what I was getting into. If you go this route, I recommend "disconnecting" from the news, LinkedIn, etc. (except for networking) and a lot of communication with friends/family.
Hope that helps.
What would happen if you set some boundaries? Work 9-6. Take the time in the middle of the day to go interview. What happens then?
- The firm will start saying where are you, etc. - Make up reasons for why you're out middle of the day - various appointments, sick family member, need to go to bank, etc.
- Are you worried you're going to get fired if you set some boundaries? They might be cruel but are they that stupid to (i) get rid of you before backfilling, (ii) think that someone will take a shitty job with such crap pay and (iii) forgo the 4 years of experience you have? That 4 years is super valuable. You have goodwill and you have corporate knowledge of how they do things.
- Take more of your vacation time. Don't worry about how people perceive you. It doesn't matter. All that matters is how you feel
Are you able to take time off and unplug? I'd suggest trying to take two weeks off, or at least one to give yourself space to regroup and recharge yourself. I think we forget to create boundaries just like the above user is saying. If you don't create boundaries the work stress will only continue and hinder you at being able to look for another job.
Don't quit without anything lined up. Just like with what everyone is saying, its easier to look for a job when you already have one.
What are you going to do with the time you have after quitting? Applying for jobs on a daily basis could be extremely boring. This will make you frustrated max in a month. If you comp is so low that you can make the same amount by working as a consultant or remote worker- then quit it. If this is not the case - then take a short vacations and rejoin unless you have another offer.
Im going to suggest an controversial option, and that is continue with your current job, but do the bare minimum. Literally the least amount of work that you have to do, and if the company fires you, who cares you can collect unemployment while you look for a new role. You have to prioritize your mental health here, feel free to push back on when you feel that you have too much work, and make your first priority trying to land a new role. Start using those vacation and sick days, hell take off every friday for the next 10 weeks and make that a day that you apply for new roles.
Just wanted to add a comment here as OP. Posted this a year ago, one of the shittiest times in my life. I decided to stick it out and jumped into learning case studies and networking for a new job basically all the time, nights and weekends, taking interviews between meetings. Thought of myself like a soldier and just pushed through it.
Pretty soon after landed a great gig. Using a little hyperbole here but almost 2x my previous comp. Put in my two weeks an hour after signing the offer. One of the best feelings in the world packing up my shit on the spot and walking out of the office and i'll remember that day forever. Like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders, it's tough to describe. All this torture I was putting myself through for years and just like that it was gone. Had some time off and was traveling abroad all summer just loving life. New job has been great so far and I think it was a great move professionally and personally.
Really appreciate everyones advice. Glad I didn't quit without an offer because my savings were mostly invested in tech stocks and took a MAJOR hit last year lmao. That 8 months of runway would have turned in 3 real quick.
Anyone else reading this going through it - just keep pushing you got this.
This was awesome to read. Thanks for sharing. And now you're Associate 1, not Analyst 3+!
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