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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hand in my notice?

60 replies

Sleeplessinsouthampton · 03/04/2018 14:58

I don't particularly enjoy my job. I like a few small aspects of it but most of it I find dull, boring, and indeed fairly futile. Moving to another job in my company is near on impossible. However I also dislike the firm itself, structure, completely failure to stick to a policy so we're constantly chopping and changing, lack of confidentiality etc.

I feel burnt out. I would like to have the summer off to catch up on life basically, do some decorating, sort out my garden. Read a book. Just do stuff without cramming it into a weekend and then feeling depressed when it's Sunday night again.

I have about £20k in savings so could support myself and family for s few months, and no mortgage.

In my position would you do it?

Just to add, I have looked for pther jobs but as my job was created specially for me and is very specific, I can't find another job doing the same. I may be able to persuade a firm to employ me doing the aspects I enjoy as part of a wider role if I can convince them to give me a chance. I'm not doing that now because I want a few months off. I have go give 3 months notice so the earliest I will be able to go anyway is July now.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 03/04/2018 15:02

What will you do if you can't get another job when your money runs out?

Could you ask for a sabbatical and job hunt while you're off?

retirednow · 03/04/2018 15:04

Id be gone like a shot, you could ask for unpaid leave if you want to go back there. If you take 6 months off then you will be off at Christmas too. Good luck.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 03/04/2018 15:06

I am too risk averse to resign from a job without having something else lined up

I suppose it depends how confident you feel about finding a new job to start after the summer but personally the fear of not finding work would spoil the enjoyment of having the summer off so it's not something I would consider doing

StealthPolarBear · 03/04/2018 15:08

That's not right surely unless she has a long notice period

TinDogTavern · 03/04/2018 15:11

With no mortgage and therefore no risk of losing your home I’d be out of there like a rat up a drainpipe. You can live on £20k for ages with no mortgage to pay.

GirlsBlouse17 · 03/04/2018 15:16

I was going to say go for it but then read you have family. Probably a good idea to discuss with your family. If the job is affecting your mental or physical health then maybe you could see your doctor and get signed off sick for a while. That would give you time aswell to decide about your future. If you have a very specific job, you need to look at your transferable skills and what other jobs suit those skills

SandyY2K · 03/04/2018 15:20

Could you possibly reduce your hours... say to 3 days a week? That would give you more time to yourself...to do stuff around the house.

I'm quite cautious and as you've been unsuccessful in securing another job...that would make me more worried.

If you don't actually like enough of the job ...you need to look at a different role altogether.

Passportto · 03/04/2018 15:22

Yes, as few months off with a specific purpose in mind would be great.

My only word of caution would be that the break might make it even harder to find something when you're ready to go back so you should try and use some of the time to strengthen your CV. Employers are sometimes suspicious of people who resign without something to go to (i.e. why is it that they couldn't stick at the job long enough to find another one?) so you at least need to have a strong reason for why you took the break.

EweDoEwe · 03/04/2018 15:26

20k savings and no mortgage? I’d be out of there like a shot. I could live for ages on 20k.

SmallBlondeMama · 03/04/2018 15:27

If you can afford it, why not!! A summer off would be amazing. You might want to have a honest conversation with your employer first, maybe there is something that can be done - a job change? an unpaid leave of absence or sabbatical?

Takeaweeseat · 03/04/2018 15:31

Do it, sounds great.

Original poster

Sleeplessinsouthampton · 03/04/2018 15:34

I spend about £1000 a month on general living expenses so I think I could easily survive for a year or more but I'm only planning on 3 months.

It's not the kind of firm that gives sabbatical. I know someone who got one and why (see lack of confidentiality referred above) but they basically had to beg and it was only given due to extenuating circumstances, basically they were next of kin to a seriously ill relative on another continent and wanted 6-12 months off to put their affairs in order. I don't think wanting to landscape my garden is going to be viewed favourably!

As to dropping to 3 days a week, well I'd still be here. Plus the only requests to reduce hours that get granted are those where people have childcare issues or a disabled relative. That doesn't apply to me. I would have to give a reason and not liking my job enough to be here 5 days won't really cut it.

The fact nothing is confidential means I can't discuss it with HR either.

OP posts:

cjt110 · 03/04/2018 15:34

What you want to do sounds like my dream. Go for it

Schnauzermum2 · 03/04/2018 15:35

No mortgage and £20k savings is be gone like a shot! Life is too short. This is why I’m desperate to pay off mortgage ASAP so i can get a job that doesn’t drain the life out of me

PasswordDoesNotMatch · 03/04/2018 15:36

You sound a bit like me 9/10 years ago. I too had a 3 month notice so I bit the bullet without another job to go to. Took the summer off and then found part time work in a related field. Much better work-life balance. Never looked back! I didn't have kids to consider though...

Geoff1969 · 03/04/2018 15:36

For me it would depend on your age, I've find it much more difficult job hunting the older I've become.

Do you have any professional qualifications? How long have you been at your current company?

Spase · 03/04/2018 15:37

www.careershifters.org - they have some great real life story's from people who hated their jobs or were feeling burnt out, or who just wanted to change to something more fulfilling as they felt life was just too short to be miserable 9-5! Have a search through the site, it gives some good practice advice, as well as inspiring story's, to help people looking to change their career/lifestyle.

RainyApril · 03/04/2018 15:37

What will you do when the money runs out, given that you can't find another suitable job now?

If it were me, I'd be looking for a new job and negotiating some garden leave between them.

EatSleepRantRepeat · 03/04/2018 15:38

Only you really know if your finances are up to this, but I'd second the suggestion to take a career break or sabbatical rather than flat out resign. To be honest when I was a recruiter, I'd have been looking for evidence you were doing something concrete with that time off rather than faffing around the house - even if it was just part-time study or a genuine caring need (elderly parent, sick child etc) that had to be gotten under control before coming back to work. (I know that sounds a bit rigid but just trying to be realistic from my experience...)

Geoff1969 · 03/04/2018 15:38

For all those saying you can live for ages on £20K, yes maybe but don't forget it will be a period when the OP's not adding to her pension, savings etc, all of which have an impact on the future. She should take into account the impact on her retirement plans too.

TomRavenscroft · 03/04/2018 15:38

You sound really down. Generally I'd suggest caution about running out of money etc, but if you're confident you can live on your savings for a bit and then get another job, go for it.

Perhaps once you're out of there and have relaxed and recovered a bit you'll have the energy and time to put together a good plan for finding another job involving the 'good' bits of your current job, as you mention.

Good luck!

f83mx · 03/04/2018 15:39

DO IT - as long as you're open to the idea that when you do need to work again you might have to be really flexible about the type of work you do/pay etc.

pandarific · 03/04/2018 15:47

I think since you have 3 months notice then that’s quite a long time to find a new job. See what the rest of your family think but I’d 1) start searching now 2) as a pp says as a first option an honest convo with your current employer just seeing if there is anything they can do to improve things for you 3) if not hand in your notice but don’t burn your bridges and perhaps try to negotiate some freelance work with your old company if they need it while they recruit etc.

Original poster

Sleeplessinsouthampton · 03/04/2018 15:53

I'm mid 40s. Legal qualifications (solicitor) although current job doesn't use those as am in more of a support role. I earn a good but not massive salary currently. I've no airs and graces about what job I do, I'd be happy to do something lower paid with less stress.

I can't see anyway round the sabbatical/ reduced hours problems in my current firm. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

OP posts:

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 03/04/2018 15:54

If there are only aspects of your job you enjoy then could you become a freelancer? Would a series of shorter term contracts suit you or would you find it stressful?

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