Has anyone left a job without a new one to go to?

[JeanSeberg]

I started another thread on this in chat but had no responses...

I have decided it is time to leave my current company after 8 years. I have a 6-month notice period and I'm tempted to hand in my notice without another job to go to. I'm fortunate that I have some financial security and am confident that I could get another job relatively quickly. (I would also be looking to 'downsize' career-wise and can temp in office jobs in the meantime.) I might also be placed on garden leave once I handed in my notice?

Has anybody done this and (a) regretted it (b) it worked out?

Thanks for all that tribpot - my only question now is when to do it! My boss doesn't work in the same country as me, he will be here in 2 weeks' time, if I can wait that long I'll do it face to face.

I have a lot of contacts I can network with, my CV is up to date.

Regarding other resignations, we're a small-ish team and few people have left, a couple moved within the company.

I'm the director of this section which makes me think they won't want me to stay as I have access to a lot of confidential data.

As for my personal situation, I've no partner or parents. But I could pay my mortgage off and still have 3 years' current salary in savings.

The only expense would be replacing my company car.

But I could pay my mortgage off and still have 3 years' current salary in savings.

Well in that case I would think carefully about whether you want to work at all (obv you can't take off round the world travelling, but you could go to uni, do some volunteering, maybe hit the circuits inspiring students and young women in business?). The friend I know with the cushiest 'chucked it all in to see what would happen' story has landed a gig where he only works Oct-March, then gets the whole summer off. Don't ask me how he pulled this one off but virtually everyone I know wants to try and get a similar deal :)

On the other hand, uni expenses loom, but I would seriously be thinking about what you could do that would have the most positive impact on your life right now. Inertia is a very powerful force, and now you're ready to throw it off, the world is your oyster.

I've just done this! I was feeling stuck too and haven't regretted it at all yet. However, it's taking longer to pick up freelance projects than I thought it would, so bear in mind that you might have to live on your savings for a few months.

Agreed, Mooncup - if/when my gig starts there will be quite a long gap before the invoices start getting paid, even if I invoice weekly.

Sounds like we all ought to be networking with each other The Jerry Maguire Club?!

I've just done this! First day out of work today. Felt I didn't have the headspace to look for a new job whilst working or on my notice. Too soon to say if it has worked out or not!

Well in that case I would think carefully about whether you want to work at all

It would be my dream to not work again, actually. I have enough interests to fill my time and already do some volunteering that I'd like to increase. In fact, one of my thoughts is getting some form of paid charity work and/or making money at home from some of my other 'skills'.

The money is a life-changing amount in that I can change job/career and have some thinking space but it's not so much that I can afford to give up and never work again.

On the other hand though, I have two sons at uni, a third still at home and whilst I've no intention of paying their uni fees, I will want to help them in the future with homes, cars, weddings, family holidays etc.

And my mum was in residential care for 5 years so I'm well aware of what that could cost me in the future.

If I stayed put I'd never have to worry about money again and I've no possibility in the future of ever being able to build up this much money again, bar a lottery win.

So I need to make sure I use the money wisely.

But then this isn't really about the money is it.

I'd leave my current job ASAP for 1 of 2 reasons - 1, if I had enough savings to tide me over, or 2, if they laid me off - unfortunately neither looks likely . I too have been in my job for 8 years and can't stand it. If I was in your financial position you wouldn't see me for dust. Someone at my work handed in their notice today and I was so pleased for him. Nearly everyone bar me constantly takes the p*ss out of him and then today it was like "oh, boohoo, we're so sorry you're leaving". They are so two-faced it's unbelievable. I for one am absolutely chuffed for him. You go for it.

Sorry to hear your situation, Geoff. I hope you get the chance to look for a new job soon.

I did it in my last job after 12 years and didnt regret it one bit. I did have savings and otehr income to see me through.

I am about to do it in my current job (almost 6 months) as my employers are refusing to let me reduce my hours due to childcare

Hope it goes well for you too. Do you plan to look for another job or take some time out?

I did it. I had to give 12 weeks notice for my job as I had worked there for so long. DH assured me that we would manage. The day before I left I got a job offer! It was scary but it was honestly the best decision for me. My job had made me miserable and I have really enjoyed my new jobs in the four years since I left.

I'm 100% sure now, I just need to decide when and how as my boss isn't in the same country.

I did it several years ago because I hated my job, even though I'd made it to management, and the company even more. The minute I handed in my notice I felt that I had lost several stone, I felt so light and happy!

I had to give 3 months' notice and saved enough to be able to make the conscious decision to then take the next 3 months off (in summer!), knowing that I would take any temp jobs after that to pay the bills.

I did temp, got regular work and it led to the (very enjoyable) permanent job I eventually got less than 6 months later (after working in some really interesting places). It's a cliche, but, as someone has already said, you only live once and what's have you got to look forward to, career-wise, in the long term if you don't do it?

Glad it worked out for you. I'm also looking forward to some time off followed by some temping and see what kinds of places I end up in.

I think when I mentioned not working above, JeanSeberg, I meant for a period of time, rather than ever. Nice as it would be to retire in one's forties, I'm not sure that is totally practical :)

But time off is invaluable. I've 'only' been off for about 2 months this time (my offer has now materialised, and rather than a six month contract they're offering me a permanent role) but it has been brilliant for decompressing and getting my head on straight. I've managed to get loads done in the house, which has been very neglected in recent years, and I feel a real sense of purpose about getting the rest done now I can see the benefits.

I really wanted to do some short contract work once I left, in order to keep my options open and see what there was out there. So I'm slightly ambivalent about a permanent role being offered to me so quickly (obv v grateful to have options!) - this really does sound like a fantastic job, though, and I also know that if it only suits me for a year or two, that's what I'll do.

I'm completely with you trib. I've been fortunate enough in the past to have been made redundant twice with generous pay-outs and took a few months off each time. As you say, time for getting your head clear, sorting the practical stuff and deciding on the next stage.

Can't wait to do it again.

I did it twice.

I left my first job after Uni after 10 months because I hated it. It was in a part of my industry that I had never been interested and while I learnt some valuable skills, I still did not like it at all. Found another job within the month, but that's not surprising - I was a graduate from a very good Uni at a time where there were lots of jobs around.

Then in 2005 I left my job because the company I was working for, which I absolutely loved when I joined them, had been bought by an evil corporation who then turned the place into living hell. They also had some seriously unethical practices that I just couldn't deal with.

I had savings to last me for a year, and I trained and worked in an entirely different industry. But I knew that to get further in my studies I would have to move to London, so I did and I got a new job within three months because I needed the financial security.

I'm now, again, thinking of packing it all in again. The only reason why I haven't yet is because I have a great manager that has allowed me a flexible work arrangement and I'd hate to disappoint him.

Life is short and clever, skilled people in locations where there are jobs to be taken tend to be ok.

I did. The company I worked for was bought by a big American one and I hated it. I was desperately unhappy and felt really out of place. I found another job about 3 months later just as my money was running out. No point wasting your life being miserable.

I feel de-mob happy already.

I did it in 2012 and never regretted it. I too was extremely unhappy in the job I was in and my then boss made it almost impossible to take time off at short notice (under two weeks, that is), meaning I often couldn't go for interviews. So I lined up a relevant internship and resigned. Towards the end of the internship I started applying for better jobs in my field and scored one at one of the biggest organisations in my industry.

There was a brief period of unemployment and therefore stress and worry, but I always knew I could temp or do some self-employed work to tide me over. I however don't have a mortgage or kids so could move anywhere in the country.

When it came to interviews I told the truth and said the company offered no opportunities for development or training and that I was keen to move up and build on my skills, hence the internship, and they seemed to think that was great. It hasn't held me back and I would do it again if it came to it.

No, because I've been so scared of not getting work for a while and therefore having a gap on my CV, which employers generally dislike, though I know there's ways to 'manage' that part of your CV. I'm very risk-averse anyway and I'm pretty unhappy in my current job so will read this thread later for inspiration.

South I had a gap of almost a year in my CV. When I interviewed for a big corporation and was asked about it, I was totally honest and explained that I'd been exploring an interest of mine and it had been great but a) I was running out of money, and b) I was missing the intellectual stimulation of my previous career.

They gave me a job.

I've not found gaps to be a problem having been made redundant twice previously and chosen to take a few months off each time. That part doesn't concern me.

Let's go for it together south.

Yep, I've got gaps on my CV for which the honest answer would be "I couldn't be arsed working" (just finished a contract, needed some down time). Obviously I don't say that at interview but I've never found it to be an issue.

Ha ha, love it trib.