wibu or stupid to give my notice at work without another job lined up?

[likeaZombie]

Had another thread that's helped me decide I definatly need to leave my job of 6 months ASAP.
I hate it, I dread leaving home every morning and it's making my anxiety worse.
Most of the people are lovely or ok but the boss is a nightmare, constant slagging people off and negativity. The atmosphere is toxic and I feel like I'm being watched micro managed and set up to fail. I've also been called useless.
I don't feel like I can tackle it whilst there even though there are higher up bosses (in different office) and a Hr department.
My plan is to give my 1 month notice on Monday and then apply like crazy for jobs and if nothing happens I can call agencies.
Is that mad? The thought of being there another month feels like too much.
But if nothing comes up I will be fucked money wise, I'm a single parent.
Also agency work doesn't appeal much if I end up working lots over Christmas, the job I'm in gives 2 paid weeks off but the idea of sticking it out for 2 months until then fills me with dread and seems impossible.
Any ideas or advice much appreciated feel quite desperate at the moment.

[ferriswheel]

My friend did this. She's much braver than me and was single at the time. She said it was awful, a very scary time. Personally I think its easier to get a job when you have a job.

[MrsRonBurgundy]

I did the exact thing earlier this year! I had. I work for about 2 weeks and then took a temp job which has now turned permanent and is my perfect perfect job.
I was terrified about doing it, have a mortgage and didn't want to eat into my savings. But I was so desperately unhappy, crying every Sunday at the thought of another week and working minimum 13 hours a day to cope with the unreasonable workload. It was the best decision I've ever made.
What I will say is that I was in a strong position because I have links to lots and lots of temp agencies because of the jobs I've done previously so as soon as they knew I was looking, they really really helped me out. If I were you, I'd register with agencies ASAP and apply for perm stuff too at the same time. Some agencies have to fully reference you before they'll put you out for work which can take a couple of weeks so it's worth getting that lined up.

Good luck. Life is too short to be unhappy

[whoopsadaisy5]

It is mad. I did it though and it worked out for me. I got to the point where I realised my health was much more important than any job. I was anxiety ridden and desperate to get out. It was a big gamble but it was the best decision I ever made.

I wasn't in your position as a single parent though, so with that in mind can you not start applying for jobs crazily now? Your employers do not need to know you are actively job seeking (be careful if using recruitment sites). Just knowing that you are making changes and will be out of there soon can give you the world of strength on very bad days.

[RunRabbitRunRabbit]

I've done it. It worked for me.

[SheldonCRules]

Madness unless you have substantial savings to get you through a good few months. It's not just you but your children who it would affect financially.

[myownprivateidaho]

I don't think anyone can advise on how likely you are to get a job -- really depends where you are, what your skills are, how you come across in interview etc.

Ultimately if you quit without a new job you need to come up with a plan for what you'd do if you DON'T get a new role right away. It might not be an ideal scenario, but you need to know that you would be able to get by for a few months without it being a huge disaster. If you can't plan for this then I think that you should probably try to find a new job before quitting.

A halfway point might be to send off a bunch of applications and see whether you get interviews. I think that if you get invited to interviews then you obviously have a better chance than if you make applications and don't make the shortlist.

[purplefox]

Tbh for me it would depend on a few factors - What's the job market like for the industry you work in? How big/active is it? How flexible can you be with the type of job/salary? How well do you interview? Have you already started applying for jobs?

[likeaZombie]

Thanks all lots to think about.
I actually have an interview on Saturday just hoping I get it and can hand notice on Monday, if they can wait the one months notice.
I've started applying, my main worry is how do you attend interviews when you work full time?
Think I will keep trying and hope something good comes up, then hand my notice so that those 2 paid weeks off at christmas are part of my notice period and go for less than perfect. Life is too short to feel this bad.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

I handed in my notice this summer, with no job to go to.

I spent three months not working, but six weeks of that was the school holidays and I have four children of school age, so I tried to see it as a sort of sabbatical. I spent the time updating my CV and creating templates for cover letters and template paragraphs for application forms.

I applied for four jobs:
Job 1: I was one of two interviewed, but they gave the job to the other person.
Job 2: not shortlisted.
Job 3: interviewed then offered the job.
Job 4: I was invited for interview but had already accepted job 3.

I'm now two weeks into the new job and really enjoying it, so I don't regret the decision.

[HRarehoundingme]

With Jsa you can't claim it for 12 weeks of you leave a job voluntarily.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

If you know that you only have to keep going until Christmas, then at least there's an end in sight.

[ChasedByBees]

I have done this before and it worked out, but I had a strong safety net in my DH if it didn't for a little while. I know I wouldn't do it now we're more reliant on my salary for the mortgage.

I think you should apply like mad for jobs and use annual leave for interviews or ask if the interview can be first thing or last thing and arrange to come in a little later or leave earlier if that's possible.

[ToujeoQueen]

I've done this in the past and got a temp job through an agency in the meantime, it worked out fine. If you're really unhappy then do it

[BewtySkoolDropowt]

I did it as a single parent. I had no choice as I was being bullied by my boss. I ended up signed off sick and tried and tried to make headway - I was looking for mediation etc. My boss refused.

My only other option was to raise a grievance, but I wasn't mentally strong enough to do that, so I left.

One of the two best decisions of my life, the other being to leave my waste-of-space ex a year of so before that.

[whoopsadaisy5]

Great news that you have an interview this weekend. Sending good luck to you. Standard notice period tends to be a month so I shouldn't see that as too much of a problem.

I'm sorry you are in this position, it's an awful feeling and I too remember the dread of Sunday nights.

Wishing you the best. Life is for living

BewtySkool - we share the same two best decisions

[likeaZombie]

Thanks all, today has not been too bad, the thought of being out of there by new year I'd making it more bearable. I've seen some jobs that I would really love and could be good at so fingers crossed.
Day off tomorrow so will be making a few cover letters and applying for more when I get back from my interview.
I've not got a massive amount of skills but I've got years of experience and am good at what I do and some of my skills are transferable, I've got or been shortlisted for every job I've ever applied for up to so feeling positive at the moment.

[ToffeeForEveryone]

What sort of work do you do OP?

I've been in this position and frankly the sooner you leave the better you will feel - you need to make sure you can pay your bills though! If an agency can find you immediate work then perhaps start there first and you can continue to apply for anything that suits better as the jobs come up.

Oh and most people have a series of "doctor appointments", "sick days" and the occasional half day off if they don't want to tip off their current job that they are interviewing.

Good luck!

[ilovesooty]

I assume most people don't make fraudulent statements to attend interviews and the OP hasn't indicated she was planning to do any such thing.

It sounds hopeful for you - good luck.

[ToffeeForEveryone]

I assume most people don't make fraudulent statements to attend interviews

I have literally never known anyone I work with get a new job without doing this. Openly saying to your manager that you are looking for a new job is not always a good move.

[ilovesooty]

I have never worked in an environment where people weren't honest about attending interview. In teaching you don't have a choice anyway and since I moved into the third sector I've thankfully not encountered that sort of practice.

[purplefox]

I have never worked in an environment where people weren't honest about attending interview.

I have never worked in an environment were people were honest about attending interviews, it's just not the done thing in most jobs.

[budgetsbonus]

i left a job without having a job to go to. thought i'd be fine as i had acquired so many skills from the job but no joy. took about 18 months to find a temp job. really depressing. luckily, my income or lack of income has no impact whatsoever on covering household expenses.

it totally depends, i was very over qualified for the level of jobs i was interested in doing and that was probably met with suspicion from hr departments and temp agencies.

dont tell your manager you're looking for a new job. you have no duty or obligation to do this. no one i know would ever do this either. try to get some interviews lined up before you hand your notice in. good luck.