To quit my job because I've got 9 interviews lined up?

[SchittttsCreek]

A long convoluted story... so I'll try to condense!

I was in the final stages of my degree in very specific field in 2020 in the midst of lockdown. Following this, I got a job that would give me experience, but was not the career the degree was designed for. For reasons such as simplicity, mental health and stress from lockdown (and stupidly dating someone there and thinking it would work out ) I stayed well over the 6 months I intended to.

I have very little outgoings, and about 15k in savings.

I've applied for every relevant job in my field and up until the end of November have 9 interviews in total.

I am a very overly cautious (and pessimistic) person so part of me is telling myself you don't quit til you have an offer. The other half is exhausted, burnt out, reeling from a breakup with someone I have to work with everyday and downhearted at how I am treated by managers who are less qualified than me (no brag there, I mean in term of the field we're in). I am miserable.

So AIBU to quit in the position I'm in? Is it too risky?

@RachelGreep87

I wouldn't. Just check out mentally, smile and nod to the managers, do the bare minimum until you can get out

Love this expression "check out mentally" I'm a great one for doing this and not just at work. When someone really pushes me and I've just had enough I can feel myself physically glazing over and my mind switching to "I no longer give a fuck" mode and the smiling and nodding begins. Brilliant.

I would look into doing agency work if it exists so you can say that having developed x experience in the field with y employer you wanted to then gain a wider range of experience in different settings by doing some agency work. Still working and occupied but you don't get as sucked into the politics.

@TotallySuper I NEED to learn how to do this.

Nope I wouldn't assume at all, but then I'm not a risk taker 😂

Don't quit. Negotiate a start date once you are offered a job that means you can have a bit of a break before starting.

even if you resign now, won't you have to work notice? presumably that will be a month, so will it make that much difference if the interviews are over the next two weeks?

please dont quit until you sign the new contract

I did in similar circumstances when I was younger, BUT I was in an industry where I could - and did - get agency work the next day after leaving - there is always more agency work on offer than agency staff available so as I was prepared to be flexible on location I knew I could always get work whenever I wanted; also, I had family prepared to have me move back with them temporarily until I got settled somewhere else again, so I didn’t have to worry about commitments for rent and bills.

If you have similar safety nets then yeah go for it…..I wouldn’t do the same now, as now I have a mortgage to pay and couldn’t be as flexible to travel for agency work at short notice.

Last year I had13 interviews and didn't get any! The job market is very different now, but a bird in the hand and all that.

Don’t quit. Won’t you need them to do a reference?
Will be a lot more hassle getting hold of someone to do it if you’ve already

*already left

Agree with PPs. Stick it out, with minimal effort, take annual leave etc to give yourself a break.

Take annual leave but don't take sick leave - it'll show on your record if your new employer asks for the information.

I'd want to sign paperwork for the new job before handing in notice for the old, for security.

You could negotiate a delayed start date if you want some time out.

A small amount of sick leave (eg the odd day) is fine, especially if OP’s sickness record is good with this employer overall.

Do not quit your job.

It’s not ‘overly’ cautious or ‘pessimistic’ not to quit a job before signing a contract with a new employer.

Don’t quit. A gap in employment however short is a bit of a red flag for future employers.

The sensible thing to do is not quit until you get a new job. However I have been in your shoes and - if you have the savings net and to play devils advocate could afford to be without work for a while IF none of these interview pan out - then I would quit. You will likely have a notice period to work anyway. From my experience leaving a bad job significantly improved how I was feeling and put me in a better, more positive head space for looking for a new role. Good luck OP. And if your interviews ask for notice period, you can still tell them four weeks….

I quit my job with burnout in June, with a slightly higher level of savings.

I got an interview for about 85% of applications and am starting a new job in December.

I'd thoroughly recommend taking the time out and starting your next job fresh.

I'd quit.

Being miserable at work is he'll. You're there mist of the day.

You have savings to last you a good, what, 6months?

Fuck it and leave.

I did it once,best decision EVER

@Helenluvsrob

Don’t quit. A gap in employment however short is a bit of a red flag for future employers.

Not one I'd want to work for.

What an unhealthy attitude. Not only do you belong to your current employer like an indentured servant, you belong to future employers too.

Fuck that. If an employer can't understand "I had a buffer of savings so I chose to take a small break between roles" then fuck them.

(And I was upfront about that in all of the jobs I applied for, whether I was judged for it or not. It didn't stop me getting a job.)

Normally I'd say wait, however:

1. It is a candidate driven market
2. If you have already resigned and you are available quicker then you will be more attractive to prospective employees
3. Life is too short to be unhappy at work.

Realistically, how long would you have to continue in your existing job? If you're convinced you'll get one of the nine positions you have interviews for, and the interviews are all across the next month, you'll secure a new job, hand in your notice, and be out of there in what, couple of months.

You won't burn your bridges, and if your sector is as specific as your op suggests it's likely you'll come across someone you're currently working with in your future career.

Don't go off sick - a prospective employer may want a reference and it could come up.

Do you have a/l you could use o take a bit of pressure off.

@Helenluvsrob

Don’t quit. A gap in employment however short is a bit of a red flag for future employers.

Not really.

Multiple gaps, and short employment periods...yes. but one gap? Pffft

@yummypumpkin

Can I ask what sector?

Without being too outing, there’s a massive demand in my field. It’s not reflective of the current job market (although I have to say as well, that seems to be slightly higher than before the pandemic... thousands of jobs on Indeed). The employability rate is very high.

I am signed up to do agency work, and do this alongside my job. Realistically (I have in the past) worked this full time, and made more money than my current job. However most of the work would be in my current workplace, so doesn’t really resolve the burnout problem