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Original poster

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

172 replies

JeanSeberg · 03/02/2014 13:49

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?

OP posts:

tribpot · 06/02/2014 09:54

I have put one of them down on (internal) application forms where you have to account for gaps as 'return to UK' (from a country in Scandinavia). It took 5 months - fortunately I've never been asked if that meant I walked all the way home :)

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 10/02/2014 10:00

Handing my notice in a week tomorrow, can't wait.

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ninah · 10/02/2014 16:28

I'm seriously contemplating this, too.

nannynick · 10/02/2014 16:35

Yes, have done in the past. I did know that I could get some temp work though did not know how much or how often that would happen. Did not like the job I was in so decided it was best to leave and hope for the best, applying for jobs and doing temping meanwhile.

Only time I have had garden leave was when I was made redundant. So not sure how often garden leave happens, may be used by some companies.

nannynick · 10/02/2014 16:37

Good luck JeanSeberg - there comes a time when you feel it is right to move on. It is always a risk but hopefully things turn out fine.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 10/02/2014 16:38

Thanks both.

ninah Feel free to use my thread to share your thoughts.

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ninah · 10/02/2014 17:17

thank you. I know I can survive the summer but it's scary! I've just retrained as a teacher and am currently in a school that's become unbearable. If I don't go, I'll go under. If I do, it looks baaad...

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 10/02/2014 17:24

Are you thinking of staying till the end of this school year?

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ninah · 10/02/2014 17:38

I am thinking of getting out at Easter, before I am carted out in a padded van.

tribpot · 10/02/2014 17:41

Good luck for next week, JeanSeberg. I think you will enjoy that sense of relief (and a bit of terror) and freedom - Mel Gibson painted blue stylee, of course.

ninah, I'm no expert on this but as a newly qualified teacher, aren't you meant to have some support to get through the first few years? Just wondering if there's an alternative to handing in your notice that you ought to explore first, as presumably you'll need to look for another teaching job within the local authority?

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 10/02/2014 18:23

I'm afraid I'm not much help on teaching nina. How much experience do you need as a NQT? What are the specific issues in your current school?

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ninah · 10/02/2014 20:14

I'm not NQT, I'm the next year on from that. I don't want to go into detail on here but put it this way - at 18 months I'm the second longest serving teacher left standing. I've been offered the prospect of a job share in September and supply is a possibility in the meantime.
You know when you just can't do it any more? I dread opening my emails, I drag myself to work, and it's not fair on anyone.
I should get a decent reference as my teaching has always been good, despite the pressures.
I left a job once before with nothing to go to. It was terrifying, and liberating. And I survived.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 10/02/2014 21:35

Sounds like you're in a good position then. What's your notice period?

OP posts:

tribpot · 10/02/2014 21:37

Jeepers ninah that sounds awful. It sounds like you have a viable escape plan - just need to activate it.

Glitterfeet · 10/02/2014 22:55

I did today

I'm only on a very low wage temp contract, even though I've been there for a long time. Expectations didn't correspond with the wage. I had none of the 1 to 1's, objectives, catch ups etc to measure against. You know there's a problem when temps who come in to do things for you get paid more. I feel totally taken advantage of and not crying about my 5 day notice period. That's what they paid for.

My wage hasn't kept the family afloat but I am a bit nervous.

ninah · 10/02/2014 23:57

Half a term's notice. There are 3 set dates in the year and the next one's coming up! It will be a massive relief. Would be nice to keep the thread going and see how we are all getting on with our new found freedom!
Good for you, glitter. The worst bit is standing there on the edge of that diving board, when you know it's too late to go back down the ladder and you have to leap. You've leapt! Congratulations!

ninah · 11/02/2014 00:04

btw 'inertia is a powerful force' - absolutely

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 06:28

Good for you glitter - will you be working a notice period?

Are you next to jump then ninah? Is one of the set dates this Friday with it being half-term?

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ninah · 11/02/2014 08:14

28th
they know I've been looking cos of the situation in teaching re references before interview. I've been contemplating this since before Xmas to be honest - you know when you just KNOW things aren't improving, but you keep hoping ...
one week for you Jean, bet your toes are tingling already!

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 08:45

For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing. You've got the chance of supply work and a possible job share from September. And you've obviously thought about it long and hard.

Yes a week to go for me, it's the next time my boss and I will be in the same country so thought I should do it face to face. Will be drafting my resignation letter this week.

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napoleonsnose · 11/02/2014 08:54

I've done it once, in my early twenties when I didn't have the committments I have now. I was being bullied by a really evil woman boss which my young naive self didn't realise was bullying at the time. I was called in for a meeting with three senior managers and was told that my work was way below what was expected and that I was being given a final written warning. My workload had tripled over the previous two months but I was given no support whatsoever and work I was meant to be carrying out was hidden from me so I couldn't do it and was then discredited as useless when it miraculously turend up in the evil witch boss's office. I told them to 'fuck off' and I walked. Up until then I'd never been so assertive! I did sit at my desk for about 10 minutes cocking up their computer system though, before I packed up and left. I've erased that from my CV though with a bit of fictional 'travelling'! It was nearly 20 years ago now, so I doubt it really matters that much. It was such a toxic working environment to be in that I have never regretted it either. However, its not something I would do now. I have become much more risk averse as I've got older and we have no savings or cushion to fall back on.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 09:12

Sorry you had to go through that napoleonsnose but I bet you still feel emplowered 20 years later when you think of that story.

I hope you're happy (and being treated well) where you are now.

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ninah · 11/02/2014 11:50

it must have felt so liberating to leave that one!
I haven't become any less risk averse as I get older, despite having dc, quite the contrary, what's wrong with me?!
I suppose I don't want them to suffer years of doing a job they dislike in order to 'provide' like my father did.

fascicle · 11/02/2014 12:14

JeanSeberg Just wondering if you've thought about how you boss/company might respond to your resignation. It sounds like your mind is made up, but might they try and tempt you to stay, perhaps by making changes to your role, location, remuneration etc?

I left a job once, without anything else in place. It had run its course and I wanted to try something new. It wasn't a risk from a financial point of view, and I left on good terms. But I would never stay in a job where I was miserable - life's too short. In my opinion, there are always other options and ways of managing.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 12:24

Hi fascicle, yes I think they will probably try and get me to consider my decision but I'm 100% clear that it's time for our ways to part.

I think everyone will be quite shocked and probably not believe I've not got anything else lined up.

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