Quitting a job without another to go to
Discussion
Is this still seen as a bad thing to do by recruiters and prospective employers?
I hate the idea of quitting, I never quit at anything, but I’ve been in my role for 3 years now and while not perfect it’s been pretty good. The past couple of months has seen massive changes, including some of us having to take a pay cut of £4500.
It’s been two months of new processes, and less pay and it's sapped all of my motivation and drive. I quite literally can not be bothered, and I’m not proud of that.
I’ve got a year's NET income saved, no mortgage, and no debt, and I have plenty of things to do to keep me occupied, but I can’t shake the stigma of taking the easy option out and being unemployed.
I haven’t had more than two weeks off work since I left university over a decade ago, so the concept of having extended time seems alien to me, although I’ve got plenty of things I could fill the time with.
But I guess the biggest doubt in my mind is not being able to find a job that pays as well. I’m not quite on six figures, but it’s up there, and I think I would be foolish to think I could walk into a similar paying job elsewhere.
I could benefit from the collective wisdom of PH, even if it is a cold hard slap in the face.
I hate the idea of quitting, I never quit at anything, but I’ve been in my role for 3 years now and while not perfect it’s been pretty good. The past couple of months has seen massive changes, including some of us having to take a pay cut of £4500.
It’s been two months of new processes, and less pay and it's sapped all of my motivation and drive. I quite literally can not be bothered, and I’m not proud of that.
I’ve got a year's NET income saved, no mortgage, and no debt, and I have plenty of things to do to keep me occupied, but I can’t shake the stigma of taking the easy option out and being unemployed.
I haven’t had more than two weeks off work since I left university over a decade ago, so the concept of having extended time seems alien to me, although I’ve got plenty of things I could fill the time with.
But I guess the biggest doubt in my mind is not being able to find a job that pays as well. I’m not quite on six figures, but it’s up there, and I think I would be foolish to think I could walk into a similar paying job elsewhere.
I could benefit from the collective wisdom of PH, even if it is a cold hard slap in the face.
Quiet quit! As satisfying as actually quitting but you still get paid.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62638908
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62638908
frisbee said:
Quiet quit! As satisfying as actually quitting but you still get paid.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62638908
Or work to rule as it used to be called!https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62638908
TX.
I don't think anyone cares much. Done it a couple of times to coincide with childcare, took a summer off by resigning from my job, spent it with my son while he was young. No concerns , no lingering worry about what I would be going back to. Some of my favourite memories.
I got another job and I explained it as it was, leaving the gap in my CV.
I got another job and I explained it as it was, leaving the gap in my CV.
I don't think it's seen as a bad thing by recruiters/employers, and more that it might give them a sense of advantage.
If you do quit, and there's a reasonable gap before finding something suitable, just make sure you find something worthwhile to tell them that you were doing in the interim; like taking a course, taking time off to do renovations, or even to go travelling, rather than just give the impression you were kicking your heels.
Personally I'd stay put and just take my foot off the gas, whilst looking around.
Funny thing is, some years ago I did just that, because I was getting fed up, in the hope that I'd be made redundant. Instead I got promoted into a completely different role , which not only saw my pay shoot up dramatically, but was by far the best job I ever had.
If you do quit, and there's a reasonable gap before finding something suitable, just make sure you find something worthwhile to tell them that you were doing in the interim; like taking a course, taking time off to do renovations, or even to go travelling, rather than just give the impression you were kicking your heels.
Personally I'd stay put and just take my foot off the gas, whilst looking around.
Funny thing is, some years ago I did just that, because I was getting fed up, in the hope that I'd be made redundant. Instead I got promoted into a completely different role , which not only saw my pay shoot up dramatically, but was by far the best job I ever had.
IME there is still prejudice with this; I left my job end of 2016 and although I had an open offer from a competitor (a “we’d like to have you but no worries if not” kinda deal) I decided to take a year out as I had the means to do some travelling and just wanted a change of pace for a while.
A year later I was on the job hunt (prev manager had gone so my open offer was no more) and despite being able to talk positively about my year out and the benefits it brought me, some recruiters just flat out refused to put me forward for roles I was good fit for. One even had the balls to say to my face that “males only take time out of their career if they went to prison or court for something, that’s what all my clients think”.
I managed to land a role after a fair bit of effort but that struggle to make interviewers understand why I decided to take a year out of my career sticks with me. Some (usually those who had done it themselves) were really into why I took time out, but the old adage of it being easier to get a job when you are in a job rings true.
Wouldn’t change my decision if I had the option; that year (well 18 months by the time I got something) was the best time I’ve had in ages.
ETA for context I was in professional services, 12 years into my career and in London.
A year later I was on the job hunt (prev manager had gone so my open offer was no more) and despite being able to talk positively about my year out and the benefits it brought me, some recruiters just flat out refused to put me forward for roles I was good fit for. One even had the balls to say to my face that “males only take time out of their career if they went to prison or court for something, that’s what all my clients think”.
I managed to land a role after a fair bit of effort but that struggle to make interviewers understand why I decided to take a year out of my career sticks with me. Some (usually those who had done it themselves) were really into why I took time out, but the old adage of it being easier to get a job when you are in a job rings true.
Wouldn’t change my decision if I had the option; that year (well 18 months by the time I got something) was the best time I’ve had in ages.
ETA for context I was in professional services, 12 years into my career and in London.
Edited by parabolica on Thursday 8th December 17:47
parabolica said:
the old adage of it being easier to get a job when you are in a job rings true.
As above.Twice I've been in a positon to walk and very tempted to do so but sticking it out for a month or so until an alternative is in place has proven far easier than the one occasion I did/could not, that took 6+ months.
parabolica said:
IME there is still prejudice with this; I left my job end of 2016 and although I had an open offer from a competitor (a “we’d like to have you but no worries if not” kinda deal) I decided to take a year out as I had the means to do some travelling and just wanted a change of pace for a while.
A year later I was on the job hunt (prev manager had gone so my open offer was no more) and despite being able to talk positively about my year out and the benefits it brought me, some recruiters just flat out refused to put me forward for roles I was good fit for. One even had the balls to say to my face that “males only take time out of their career if they went to prison or court for something, that’s what all my clients think”.
I managed to land a role after a fair bit of effort but that struggle to make interviewers understand why I decided to take a year out of my career sticks with me. Some (usually those who had done it themselves) were really into why I took time out, but the old adage of it being easier to get a job when you are in a job rings true.
Wouldn’t change my decision if I had the option; that year (well 18 months by the time I got something) was the best time I’ve had in ages.
ETA for context I was in professional services, 12 years into my career and in London.
As someone above said, if you're going to do this don't let them know you were sat around doing nothing. Don't leave gaps in your CV. BullsA year later I was on the job hunt (prev manager had gone so my open offer was no more) and despite being able to talk positively about my year out and the benefits it brought me, some recruiters just flat out refused to put me forward for roles I was good fit for. One even had the balls to say to my face that “males only take time out of their career if they went to prison or court for something, that’s what all my clients think”.
I managed to land a role after a fair bit of effort but that struggle to make interviewers understand why I decided to take a year out of my career sticks with me. Some (usually those who had done it themselves) were really into why I took time out, but the old adage of it being easier to get a job when you are in a job rings true.
Wouldn’t change my decision if I had the option; that year (well 18 months by the time I got something) was the best time I’ve had in ages.
ETA for context I was in professional services, 12 years into my career and in London.
t if you must. goldar said:
As someone above said, if you're going to do this don't let them know you were sat around doing nothing. Don't leave gaps in your CV. Bullst if you must.
Agreed; attend seminars during your time off if you can - I went to a few to keep my foot in on my profession; I also set up my own company and did a few small projects for ex-colleagues as well, but still I was met with animosity for daring to take some time off. t if you must. Did make me think about how hard it is for people who are off long term beyond their control - whether it be health, care-giver etc. it only happened in a few discussions, but some recruiters attitude to people who have taken time away from their career was shocking. Others totally got it; luck of the draw i guess.
If it was this year you 100% could have done it and got another job pretty much straight away with the amount of vacancies out there....however it all sounds like it might be doom and gloom next year so it might just be wiser to stay in your job and keep looking for a job whilst you are in this one.
Edit - I've just reread your post. You haven't had time off since uni, you have no mortgage and debt, you have a year salary saved....what industry do you work in? If there are still plenty of jobs going in that industry then if I was you I quit and go travelling for a few months round Asia or somewhere assuming you have no children.
Edit - I've just reread your post. You haven't had time off since uni, you have no mortgage and debt, you have a year salary saved....what industry do you work in? If there are still plenty of jobs going in that industry then if I was you I quit and go travelling for a few months round Asia or somewhere assuming you have no children.
Edited by simons123 on Friday 9th December 09:12
I've just moved to a new firm and tasked with building a new team. I would not blink if I was presented with a CV that showed someone had taken 12 months out. It shows that an individual has the stones to take time out, recharge/ look after family/ etc. I would just want to see it had been used constructively.
They are probably more lilkely to have something interesting to say, better at engaging with clients and colleagues and not the type to play at presenteeism.
As for recruiters, there seems to be 2 types., The professional ones, who have a decent amount of life experience and can see a candidate in the round, and the ones who probably spend a lot of time on Insta, see themselves as an Apprentice candidate and are bit w
ky - like that Yuppie on the old Audi advert. To be honest, if I can't find sufficient candidates, it will be me going to the nuthouse. A year (a fecking week would be nice) off to ride my mountain bike, finish the Alfa rebuild and climb some mountains sounds very attractive right now.
triplecrownjockey said:
I’ve got a year's NET income saved, no mortgage, and no debt,
I took this to mean that you don't have a mortgage because you don't have a house, not that you have a mortgage free house?In which case, at the age you are, I'd be thinking that the year's NET income while it feels like a large amount, it's actually not if you think about it.......As at some point, you will still need a house which will require a lot more than that to get... If this is the case, I'd be trying to not count the cash in the bank as suitale for the purpose you have in mind.
Having been in a similar position of being without a job for nearly 6 months just as COVID hit, I'd also echo the "it's easier to get a job from a job" comments, not just from the new employer's perspective but also from your own mental health position - We too had a decent wedge of cash in the bank but don't underestimate the background stress level that not having a job gives you when you know that ultimately you do need one (even if you are confident that you will get a good one at some point).
Some great replies thank you.
My conclusion is, it depends on whos recruiting/interviewing you as to whether or not they care. Thinking about it, I'm not sure I'd want to work for someone who thinks it's an issue.
As per my original post, I have a lot of productive things/personal projects and some travel I could be getting on with. I'm even tempted to sign up as a reservist, something I've always wanted to do but could never justify the time when working 45-hour weeks.
I'm going to see what sort of a response I get from the job market over the next few weeks, but there may come a point soon where I have to throw in the towel, for the sake of my sanity.
I have a low-consumption lifestyle, so my savings would probably last longer than some people would think.
My conclusion is, it depends on whos recruiting/interviewing you as to whether or not they care. Thinking about it, I'm not sure I'd want to work for someone who thinks it's an issue.
As per my original post, I have a lot of productive things/personal projects and some travel I could be getting on with. I'm even tempted to sign up as a reservist, something I've always wanted to do but could never justify the time when working 45-hour weeks.
I'm going to see what sort of a response I get from the job market over the next few weeks, but there may come a point soon where I have to throw in the towel, for the sake of my sanity.
fat80b said:
I took this to mean that you don't have a mortgage because you don't have a house, not that you have a mortgage free house?
In which case, at the age you are, I'd be thinking that the year's NET income while it feels like a large amount, it's actually not if you think about it.......As at some point, you will still need a house which will require a lot more than that to get... If this is the case, I'd be trying to not count the cash in the bank as suitale for the purpose you have in mind.
Having been in a similar position of being without a job for nearly 6 months just as COVID hit, I'd also echo the "it's easier to get a job from a job" comments, not just from the new employer's perspective but also from your own mental health position - We too had a decent wedge of cash in the bank but don't underestimate the background stress level that not having a job gives you when you know that ultimately you do need one (even if you are confident that you will get a good one at some point).
For clarity, I own a house, and I have paid off the mortgage. In which case, at the age you are, I'd be thinking that the year's NET income while it feels like a large amount, it's actually not if you think about it.......As at some point, you will still need a house which will require a lot more than that to get... If this is the case, I'd be trying to not count the cash in the bank as suitale for the purpose you have in mind.
Having been in a similar position of being without a job for nearly 6 months just as COVID hit, I'd also echo the "it's easier to get a job from a job" comments, not just from the new employer's perspective but also from your own mental health position - We too had a decent wedge of cash in the bank but don't underestimate the background stress level that not having a job gives you when you know that ultimately you do need one (even if you are confident that you will get a good one at some point).
I have a low-consumption lifestyle, so my savings would probably last longer than some people would think.
I had nearly 12 months off work a few years ago. Was one of the best things I have ever done. When I decided I couldn’t be a bum for the rest of my life and to get a job no one batted an eye lid.
I think “I can always earn more money but you can’t get time back”
So if you want time off and you sound in a good position just do it.
I think “I can always earn more money but you can’t get time back”
So if you want time off and you sound in a good position just do it.
100% quit and take time out, i can't imagine you'll regret it.
In terms of recruiters, they will believe what you tell them and if you have any meaningful of even charitable projects that you have a burning ambition to spend time on then if anything, you should be able to spin that as making you a more rounded person and as such, employable and refreshed!!
In terms of recruiters, they will believe what you tell them and if you have any meaningful of even charitable projects that you have a burning ambition to spend time on then if anything, you should be able to spin that as making you a more rounded person and as such, employable and refreshed!!
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