Should I quit my high stress job and just see what happens?!

[Shallijustgo]

I want to leave my job of 2 years. I've been on/off about it for a year but now think I have to go. I changed from public service to private company and whilst I expected a change in pace, it's actually more the people we work for and the work itself. I am constantly stressed and boss says we can't afford to bring someone else in (which I get in a small business ) Its a good paying role £55k and I am 3rd in charge. When it's good it's good but when it's bad it's awful, I can't sleep, workload is overwhelming. The team are great but I just have had enough I think. My child is also struggling at school and I don't have the mental space to support them as well as I could. We have savings so I could in theory not work for a year, but I think I would like to seek a position that has far less stresses, it might pay less and have some weekend work but just be able to switch off. I know the job market is tough right now, but I feel that the professional sector just grinds people into the ground and I just can't do it. Partner is supporting me , so wondering if I just hand my notice in immediately. I am on 3 months notice. If I find a job in that time, great, if not - I would like to have a proper break , maybe do some temp work etc over summer and have time with my child. Does this sound terrible? Partner earns well and salary due to rise from 52-60 over next 5 years, public sector so fairly safe. I've looked at other public service roles similar to my old role but there's no love for it for me ATM, hence a complete change to something I can be competent and confident in would be best for all of us. Can potentially make savings in a few areas too at home. Am I crazy given the jobs market right now?

I’m afraid I’m also in the don’t do it camp; exhaust all other options/strategies first. Can you start applying for jobs whilst still employed to get a better feel for the job market in your profession?

15 people in my wider team at work were made redundant about 8 months ago and so far only one has secured a new job. I know of quite a few other people that are job hunting and finding the amount of roles that turn out to not actually exist to be quite astounding.

So you might think there are a lot of jobs around in your profession, but until you start applying you may not be getting the full picture.

I would do two things;
one - speak to your employer about your struggles and ask for a reduction in hours or other accommodations.
two - apply for other jobs whilst in work and hopefully get another position doing wha you’re doing now. It’s usually easier to get a job when you’re in a job. The jobs market is absolutely brutal currently. I’m self employed and even if I wanted to go back to what I did before there’s not a lot of options out there.

I also totally understand the child struggling, I have a son who is AuDHD and the stress of getting him sorted and into a specialist school took so much out of me, so much time going to meetings etc and energy.

Lastly, I know you say you’ve got savings, but given the economic shocks hitting the economy left right and centre be prepared for winter when bills will reach even higher heights do to the situation in Iran. Money seriously doesn’t go as far as it used to. I wouldn’t want to be unemployed come Christmas.

Puts a lot of pressure on your other half to make all the money for the family? Would he like a career break too, or does he have to keep at the grind?

Look at temping or events work - CSP is decent for pick your shifts work and ranges from £15-30 an hour.

Do not leave without another job to go to.

No, dont quit but do start looking elsewhere asap

I left a highly emotionally stressful job for an interim role thinking 6 months plenty time to find the next perm role... WRONG! I ended up unemployed for a year save for one short term contract although eventually got back in to a decent job. Quiet quit and job search hard would be my advice.

I think I would apply for other jobs, bring your CV up to scratch, do lots of personal development and think about what you need to do.

I found at the start of Feb I was at risk of redundancy, I'm now due to leave on the 30th of April (with a payout).

The market is tough at the moment, it's taken me 2 months to start breaking in to interviews by targeting local companies (and even challenging one on it's pay). Things are looking a lot more exciting. One interview and two phone calls have changed a lot but I have had a lot of panic. I would highly recommend taking advice on networking and job searching from agencies etc.

For me I would take a pay cut and would do jobs I discounted doing again. I would be flexible and be in the office full time in a lower paid job if I had too.

I think to just leave without researching could backfire on you as it can feel really scary at the start.

Get a new job dont quit now sign off sick if making you ill

Ridiculous comment.

A toxic workplace isn’t “the real world” or how it should be. It’s just that - toxic!

As others have said it's a terrible job market and I suspect it will get worse once the economic impact of the Iran war really hit us.

In these circumstances it would be best to see what are the changes you can make in your current job to make it bearable for a couple of years until things improve.

Try applying for a few roles - just as a test. It will be a reality check no doubt.

Like many PPs I would strongly recommend not quitting without another job lined up because of the current jobs market. I work for a large public sector employer and we have an ongoing recruitment freeze so you may find that even the sorts of public sector role that might have previously been relatively easy to find aren't.
Also, as a manager of a busy service working part time I wouldn't reduce my hours as a solution - working part time can be more stressful than full time in my opinion, especially if your role/you have previously been full time. I imagine workload and expectations on you would stay the same, you'd just be getting paid less.
Take some time off, either signed off sick by your GP or a block of parental leave and use that time to rest and then focus on job hunting. But before doing so, speak to your managers and say you need a plan in place to make this role manageable. Good luck.

It is easier to get a job when in a job
especially at senior levels and I’ve never seen a worse market for job seeking.

I’d stay and apply for new jobs.

3 months?!?!?!

Please dont think that public sector jobs are 'safe'. That gravy train has well and truly ended....

Im in a public sector role and I've never worked so hard in my life! ( i was private sector before). Due to cuts, departments are running on less than optimal staffing aka they don't replace people who leave so existing staff have to pick up more work, in my department at least.

Its possibly less age discriminatory which is good for someone like me but apart from that its no safer.

Just a warning - the job market is brutal at the moment.

I am trying to find a new job because my current, private sector employer has made everyone aware of "cashflow issues". If there is no new income soon, I see redundancies coming. Everyone in senior management is in a flap and theres no clear strategy, making my job extremely difficult.

I apply for around 5-10 jobs per week. Around 1 will get back for a screening call, the rest are automatically rejected by the hiring team (despite meeting the criteria). I have had screening calls and interviews for 5 places now in a month and haven't got an offer. 4 offered to others (and when I did a bit of digging on LinkedIn, found out those that got the job had years and years of experience over me and seemingly have down graded?) and 1 other was going to offer me a job, but the company pulled the role last minute due to other priorities in the business.

I had a screening call today with a recruiter who told me he has 50 applications and needs to wittle down to 4-5 applicants for interview (at a relatively small private business). Thats only 10% getting past screening for an interview.

Back a few years ago when I got my last job, I applied for 3 positions in a month and got an offer within that month. I have been looking properly since November, so 5 months, and have had constant rejection.

The job market is grim.

I was in a similar situation with work load and constantly thinking about my job at the expense of my presence with my kids.
I was lucky to get the chance to apply for voluntary redundancy which gave me the funds for a year off if I wanted it.
I took 3 months off over the summer with my children and I have absolutely no regrets. I walked into a higher paid role in the same sector without difficulty but quickly realised the pressure and pace was the same and I got out of that role very quickly because you only have one life and your children are only young once.
I have now applied for and been successful in an application for the civil service. The salary is much less but so is the responsibility. The overtime pays 1.8 so if I do a few hours at the weekend I'll be able to make up the difference with zero stress. It was heart over head for me, I'm very lucky my husband earns well and supports whatever leaves our family the happiest.

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Hi all, update. Had convo with bosses as actually I had dropped a ball as so busy, one was visibly pissed off, I apologised and it actually opened up conversation about how I am not coping, trying my best etc. I did get a bit emotional (was trying not to) one boss understanding and said maybe we can consider some changes to role , other was "well that's just how the business works" , Had another chat later and upshot is talk after Easter, they will see if they can change role , reduce hours - I think if I change the role the reduction in hours is workable. One manager was more keen and focussed on all the positive things I do, for and with team. I felt the other was less fussed tbh. So there's a chance for more discussion. My OH was pretty disgusted by some of the remarks and said I should have handed notice in then! But having read all your comments I still think I might be able to make it work if the role can adapt. I can handle a pay cut and that might be better than no job! Will see how the next few weeks go as they need to confer and talk to head office. Will update you all. In meantime will actively job hunt , in any role and sector, I have transferable skills and quite fancy a change anyway.

@Shallijustgo well done, this is definite progress and at least one manager was supportive. Hopefully they will find a way to support, make a note of everything said including the nasty bits for yourself.

That will give you a breathing space to find something new.
As lots of pp have said, it’s easier to find a job whilst still having a job.

I might be in the minority but Id say just leave! Well, take whats owed of holiday then maybe work a set time, like 2 months, knowing it'll be the last 2 months (makes it easier!) Then leave. Its a bit more money in your pocket but health and your child in my mind come first and you do have a bit of a financial buffer already.

Id just say be flexible in what you look for, take as short term work, etc. Good luck!

I agree. Life is too short to be crying in work!

If you can afford it just do it you’ll feel like a weight has been lifted. I’m currently half way through my 3 month notice period after being there for 12 years and I can see the light at the end of a very stressful tunnel 🙌