Anybody ever quit without something else lined up?

I'm really unhappy at my job. Specifically with the management in my department. The whole thing is making my life miserable, and frankly it is just not good from a mental health point of view. Thing is, it is a HUGE company, and the company on the whole is great. Somehow this department is just the bastard child of the company. I am looking on the job boards internally to get out, and am even willing to take a step down in job level if it were to the right area. The problem with that is that it would (A) take a long time, due to my needing to train someone and the actual interview process and everything, and (B), there isn't much out there right now for someone of my skillset.

Things to consider

On the upside:

• I have a part time job that provides $300 to $1200 a month in pay (average about $500 this time of year)
• I have enough cash to last me about 4 months in food, rent, and other bills
• I have about a years worth of expenses in stocks
• My 401k which is currently worth about 80% of my gross salary. A majority of that is post tax.
• I could re-evaluate my career, and start to study for the Actuarial Exams
• Still on Mommy and Daddy's health insurance

On the downside:

• Retirement contributions would stop for now
• It would look bad on a resume--it is always easier to find a job when you have one (I am looking)
• Voluntarily choosing unemployment seems like a really bad idea for a lot of reasons

Anybody ever let go of one branch before grabbing onto another? Thoughts, experiences, insights? I still need to talk to the fiance about it to see how she would feel, obviously she has the most input into this.

I have done it several times. I wouldn't do it now with the kid depending on me though I have wanted to just walk away many times.

We packed up, moved to a new town a few hundred miles away and rolled the dice. Considering stepping off once again to do something else. If your mindset is long-range/retirement planning in your early 20s - I'm not so sure that's super compatible with significant risk-taking behavior. Then again, what's the real risk - no one on their deathbed ever said "gosh, I really wish I put in a few more hours to make my employer a few bucks more." Doesn't sound like you'd starve. You're educated, willing to work and have a fiance/family safety net. Now would be the time if ever.

btw, it only looks bad on a resume if you put it there

oldtin wrote: btw, it only looks bad on a resume if you put it there

Not sure how I wouldn't--Can't lie and say I still work here, and I kind of need to put a start date on it as this is essentially my first job out of college.

I did it once when I was in a really bad situation. I didn't have kids then and my wife was working full time. It was absolutely the right thing to do at the time, but I couldn't even think of doing it right now with two kids in college.

yep

I quit my job ten years ago and haven't worked since!

bravenrace wrote: I did it once when I was in a really bad situation. I didn't have kids then and my wife was working full time. It was absolutely the right thing to do at the time, but I couldn't even think of doing it right now with two kids in college.

This is the way I did it too. I took a part time job delivering auto parts a month later and 10 months later landed my current gig. I am in a MUCH better place and will probably not switch again for a good long while. In your position, take the chance if you feel it is the right thing to do.

I have but that's when I was a lot younger and didn't have quite as many responsibilities as I do now.

The problem can be that if you do so, when you go in for an interview the employer has the upper hand. You need a job; they need someone to work as cheap as possible. If you are out of work for a while and things start getting tough that can mean accepting something you may not be satisfied with, starting the process all over again.

1988RedT2 wrote: I quit my job ten years ago and haven't worked since!

...and yet you keep going to the office...

I did it once. It was exciting and great and scary and a little awful because I felt like I really had to get something going ASAP. The job I got a few weeks later was better in some ways but just as bad in others. If you know you have the money and don't mind draining your wallet a bit then it might be a really good move.

The big thing I would consider is if you think not working will give you time to focus, get your ego healed up a bit, and create a situation where you find new work you want faster than if you stayed put.

Not suggesting lying. Your resume is your story. You own the narrative not the employer.

FWIW, about every radical change I've made over the years has ultimately improved life. Other than money, what's the reason to not bail?

oldtin wrote: Not suggesting lying. Your resume is your story. You own the narrative not the employer. FWIW, about every radical change I've made over the years has ultimately improved life. Other than money, what's the reason to not bail?

Job prospects, which brings us back to money.

I did that very thing at my first job out of college. The job sucked and my wife and I decided to move back where we were from. This was in 2001, so minimal internet. I looked for a month, then said berkeley it, and quit. We moved home. It took me 6 months living in her grandmothers house to find a near minimum wage job doing landscaping. Did that for 2 years. Worked at a small sign company for over a decade. Two years ago I was finally able to get back into my area of degree. I hope to clear some more debts so I can start retirement savings next year. I'll be 40.

My circumstances are probably different than most. I have Textile Chemistry degree from GA Tech, so a very specific technical degree in a dying industry albeit from a top notch school. That industry evaporated and I was left to fend for myself. It sucked. I also didn't handle finances well for a long time but I'm better at it now. Still never filed bankruptcy or anything, but I'm still paying for some choices I made then. At the time they were seemed like the only thing I could do, but that's neither here nor there.

The more general your degree, the safer you are in rehiring but too general means they can pass you over for a better option. Ordinarily in today's market I would say quitting in that fashion isn't a huge handicap, but being your first job out of college throws a red flag. The perception will likely be that you are a spoiled college kid that can't take the real world so you got mad and quit. The shorter the time you've been there, the stronger that will be.

NOT saying that's the case, but that is the view you will be up against.

If you are a unique enough quantity on paper it probably won't keep you from getting an interview. If you are good enough in the interview, it won't keep you from getting a job. If you have legitimate ethical issues with what's going on then it's good to be honest about that being the reason you left - without being angry or hateful. If they just aren't doing it the way you think it should be done, you might want to come up with a different reason to give.

If you are one of a thousand people with the same degree and experience looking for the same kind of job then you need to suck it up and stick it out until you get an offer elsewhere.

All of this is offset by being in a truly terrible job and the need to get out. When I left the mill I mentioned above I was having chest pains from stress. My stomach hurt each day when I hit the city limit of the town the mill was in. I don't regret getting out at all - it was the smartest thing I ever did. But it DID have consequences.

If you're young and dependent free cash out the 401K and spend a year racing all over the US or something. Incorporate a small LLC and then you can put Company President on your resume. berkeley it, life's too short.

ultraclyde wrote: The more general your degree, the safer you are in rehiring but too general means they can pass you over for a better option. Ordinarily in today's market I would say quitting in that fashion isn't a huge handicap, but being your first job out of college throws a red flag. The perception will likely be that you are a spoiled college kid that can't take the real world so you got mad and quit. The shorter the time you've been there, the stronger that will be. If you are one of a thousand people with the same degree and experience looking for the same kind of job then you need to suck it up and stick it out until you get an offer elsewhere. All of this is offset by being in a truly terrible job and the need to get out. When I left the mill I mentioned above I was having chest pains from stress. My stomach hurt each day when I hit the city limit of the town the mill was in. I don't regret getting out at all - it was the smartest thing I ever did. But it DID have consequences. If you're young and dependent free cash out the 401K and spend a year racing all over the US or something. Incorporate a small LLC and then you can put Company President on your resume. berkeley it, life's too short.

B.S. in Mathematics with minors in Business and Economics. Been here for 2.5 years, with 2 promotions ("intern" to "specialist" to analyst, analyst for 1.5 years).

I am young, I am dependent free, but I will NOT be cashing out my 401k. Incorporating a small LLC to do something wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, if I could just get an idea of what to do.

You have a side job. Your resume won't show you as being unemployed, it will show your stint at entrepreneurship.

That is... if you word it right!

EvanR wrote: You have a side job. Your resume won't show you as being unemployed, it will show your stint at entrepreneurship. That is... if you word it right!

EXCELLENT point!

I have not and would not. There are some very frustrating things happening right now that management won't take care of (that I'm having to and aren't difficult).

I have plenty of savings and my wife has a great full-time job where she takes home about our house payment more than me.

I still wouldn't do it. Then again, I'd rather be exhausted/miserable than broke. Mainly because I've worked enough different places to know there are ups and downs everywhere.

z31maniac wrote: I have not and would not. There are some very frustrating things happening right now that management won't take care of (that I'm having to and aren't difficult). I have plenty of savings and my wife has a great full-time job where she takes home about our house payment more than me. I still wouldn't do it. Then again, I'd rather be exhausted/miserable than broke. Mainly because I've worked enough different places to know there are ups and downs everywhere.

Was hoping you'd chime in. I guess I disagree on the "exhausted/miserable than broke" part of it. I realize there are ups and downs everywhere--I've dealt with them here, I've dealt with them in college and in life.

FWIW, posting this was mostly a thought exercise to see what folks would say. Chances of me doing it are slim to none, but the fact that it even crossed my mind is astounding to me. I've had a full time job of some sort since I was 13 if you count school as a full time job. And yes, I'm including the summers.

I've done it.

I'm about to again. It's a little scarier when you are in your mid 50's with 4 dependent a at the house.

But I'm still gonna do it.

Please tell you're quitting something else to work on our mutual project...

Wait, your supposed to line something up before you storm out in a rage?

I haven't, and never will.

I hate my job with a passion, but still won't give up the paycheck.

The perfect American.

Consider that 401k off limits. You turn 100% of you money into 55%.

Datsun310Guy wrote: Consider that 401k off limits. You turn 100% of you money into 55%.

QFT. Do NOT touch this money. Even to race for a few years.