Anybody ever quit without something else lined up?

SVreX wrote: I had those too, with a horribly abusive boss. But I also had a flexible schedule, and occasional short days. Now, I have all the same things, plus a 60-70 hour work week with no more pay. Turns out I saw my family a lot more before.

No flexible schedule here, due to the department (grrr), what amounts to 60 hours a week from when I leave the house to when I return (yes, that is my choice--my only family here is my fiance, and our jobs are an hour apart. Seeing as she works in a hospital with no set hours, I took on the commute), no occasional short days...

If I did have that, it would be better. Was your boss at least competent? Mine isn't really abusive, but I wouldn't call her helpful and certainly not competent.

I once read an opinion on the topic of job hopping that not only were job hoppers unreliable employees who would cost a company money, but job hoppers cannot use the excuse of "not being the right fit" for a job. It was the opinion of this HR guy that as a potential new candidate for a job, you should be able to determine if the culture and duties of that new job will fit your personality.

My thought was "I hope people in that industry don't agree with this BS."

Despite disagreeing with his premise, it made me think that maybe in the future I should cast a wider job search net, and maybe not quit looking, even once I've accepted an offer.

PHeller wrote: I once read an opinion on the topic of job hopping that not only were job hoppers unreliable employees who would cost a company money, but job hoppers cannot use the excuse of "not being the right fit" for a job. It was the opinion of this HR guy that as a potential new candidate for a job, you should be able to determine if the culture and duties of that new job will fit your personality. My thought was "I hope people in that industry don't agree with this BS." Despite disagreeing with his premise, it made me think that maybe in the future I should cast a wider job search net, and maybe not quit looking, even once I've accepted an offer.

Depends on the situation. Certain industries, job hopping is the norm. At young ages, job hopping is not the worst thing in the world--you're still trying to find out what culture and duties will be a good fit for you. As a general statement, not all encompassing, I wouldn't disagree with that idea though.

There is also the fact that job hopping will get you the quickest raises, at least early in your career.

In reply to mtn:

No. He was most certainly not competent. He was pathetic. In fact, I am convinced his abuse was due to his incompetence. He had to boss people around so they would think he was important, and maybe they wouldn't notice he was just a poser/ fraud.

But that wasn't my point.

My point was, even in the worst of conditions, there is SOMETHING good. Make sure you know what it is, and that you don't sacrifice it when you change positions.

You are vulnerable because you are a little desperate. Don't let the desperation make decisions for you.

If relocation is an option personally for you, I could get you in front of a hiring manager pretty quickly. We are hiring for 3 positions on my team, and that skill set is right up our alley.

szeis4cookie wrote: If relocation is an option personally for you, I could get you in front of a hiring manager pretty quickly. We are hiring for 3 positions on my team, and that skill set is right up our alley.

Richmond VA? Hmmm. Probably not, but let me check with the fiance.

I'm always in the other end, I wait until the whole thing had crumbled and keep thinking I can save it. I hate going down with the ship!

Easier being single and able to jump.

SVreX wrote: My point was, even in the worst of conditions, there is SOMETHING good. Make sure you know what it is, and that you don't sacrifice it when you change positions. You are vulnerable because you are a little desperate. Don't let the desperation make decisions for you.

I bitched for probably two years about my current position (now 4 years into it). The biggest issue was such little pay for the work I did.

Now things are much better, and I am extremely happy with the job. I just had to keep working at it. My boss is not abusive, but sometimes incompetent (as a manager, he is great technically).

SVreX wrote: You are vulnerable because you are a little desperate. Don't let the desperation make decisions for you.

Repeated because it's a very important point. If you're doing an "anything is better than this" job search, you'll be hopping from frying pan to frying pan. All that's changing is going to be a different set of people in a different building, but the same E36 M3. Try to figure where you want to be and then search for that job rather than searching for a job because you don't want to be where you are.

Another suggestion - I'd be careful mentioning the radically changed role. Most job descriptions these days read "blah, blah blah and any other crap your manager will throw you at" so mentioning this as a reason outside this virtual bar can and will be interpreted as you lacking flexibility and not being a good worker bee. Make sure to put a positive spin on this if asked.

BoxheadTim wrote:

SVreX wrote: You are vulnerable because you are a little desperate. Don't let the desperation make decisions for you.

Repeated because it's a very important point. If you're doing an "anything is better than this" job search, you'll be hopping from frying pan to frying pan. All that's changing is going to be a different set of people in a different building, but the same E36 M3. Try to figure where you want to be and then search for that job rather than searching for a job because you don't want to be where you are. Another suggestion - I'd be careful mentioning the radically changed role. Most job descriptions these days read "blah, blah blah and any other crap your manager will throw you at" so mentioning this as a reason outside this virtual bar can and will be interpreted as you lacking flexibility and not being a good worker bee. Make sure to put a positive spin on this if asked.

I do, I spin it as one of my top three strengths--agility and adaptability.

Update for those keeping score at home: I have two interviews on Thursday. Had the one scheduled in the morning about a week ago, then last night another company asked to schedule one for next week. Well, seeing as I currently live 3 hours away from both these places (which are about 45 minutes apart), I asked if it would be possible to do the interview this Thursday, realizing it was a long-shot. To my surprise, they agreed--so now I only have to take 1 vacation day for the two interviews instead of 1.5 or more vacation days.

Adding to this, when contacting a former professor to ask if I could list him as a reference again (my company doesn't provide references), he said "sure, BTW, I have a guy at [Company everyone here has heard of] in Chicagoland that is asking for folks with your background and skillset, can I pass your name along?" So now this guy has told me to apply to 3 positions in particular, and we'll see what happens. Seeing as my cousin is also a senior manager there, I probably have a good chance at an interview soon at this company as well.