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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 · 11/02/2014 13:02

The only thing that really bothered my director was the fact I was going with nothing to go to, JeanSeberg. I think he thought this would be negative publicity and reflect poorly on him. And I hope it did - it should have done. It was a big shock to a lot of people, who assumed I had nowhere to go where I could possibly hope to juggle work, childcare and my caring responsibilities (and that therefore I should be prepared to put up with any old shite).

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 13:16

Yes I can imagine.

On the other hand, I've no axe to grind here, my boss has always been supportive, trusted me explicitly and left me to get on with things. He's never questioned my ability to do the job or juggle the office-based responsibilities with the travel and childcare.

Partly why I'm surprised not one person has questioned that I'm making the wrong decision.

OP posts:

ninah · 11/02/2014 13:37

hmm, the well appointed cage
try it out on aibu?

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 13:46

I thought of that but there's nothing anyone could say to make me change my mind now.

OP posts:

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 14:43

How about this as a resignation letter:

"Dear x

I am writing to formally notify you that I am resigning from my position of (job title) with (name of company).

My last day of employment will be 18 August in line with the terms of my employment contract.

I would like to thank you for your support during my time in this role and wish both you and the company success in the future.

Yours sincerely

Jean Seberg"

OP posts:

Softcookie · 11/02/2014 21:11

This is a wonderfully uplifting, hopeful thread! JeanSeberg I salute you, you are so level-headed and confident!

I'm dreaming of quitting my job and "finding myself". The industry I work in has always felt like the wrong place for me and it's only due to a combination of personal circumstances I'm still in it. I quit a job I felt stuck in lat year to take one at another company. I suppose it is a better position but I'm very stressed and it's becoming increasingly clear to me that I will never "blossom". I dream of getting out, but I have no plan -just sleep and spend time with my kids.

Fear keeps me where I am - that at 38 I'm too old and I will never be able to find anything better, and that I'll just end up depressed, struggling financially and full of regrets. I live abroad so chances of radical reinvention are quite slim because of cultural and language barriers. And I have a 6 months notice period, too! That scares me. the day I finally resign I will not want to spend another minute there....

I really look forward to hearing how things unfold for you, good luck!

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 21:27

Aw thanks so much soft. I wish you could see a way out too.

Ps. I'm 46 so you're a spring chicken!

OP posts:

tribpot · 11/02/2014 21:29

Softcookie, I'm 42. I simply don't believe you won't find something better - when you're doing a job you hate! But don't just jump off the ledge, start to look around and see what you think your options might be. I had a feeling that there were other/better opportunities out there in my industry, and it took me resigning to give me the impetus to go and look for them. I feel like I've got a pretty good network and this has helped me immeasurably.

Actually resigning was a great relief. I didn't feel like I needed to be out of there immediately, it was more like a farewell tour where you want to take a last opportunity to share stuff with colleagues, write your handover notes, and finish things off.

I don't believe in 'too old'. Although I do think that, despite my prowess on Just Dance 4, One Direction probably won't be asking me to join them on tour

Sometimes you have to take a leap in the future to see what happens. And "fortune favours the brave" - I hope!

ninah · 11/02/2014 21:29

I'm 46 too! it's not a mid life crisis is it?! have you bought a motorbike recently Jean?

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 11/02/2014 21:33

Ha ha yes and I've started dating my 18 year old son's mate lol.

No it's not a mid-life crisis, it's the confidence that can only come through time and experience.

OP posts:

ninah · 11/02/2014 21:39

I know, just kidding.
Tribpot you have some fab things to say on this subject. Inspiring! I don't believe in 'too old' either.

Softcookie · 11/02/2014 22:03

Thank you all. Food for thought! I love all the confidence and perspective you are bringing to effecting change in your lives!

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 12/02/2014 07:07

I sincerely hope you are in a leadership role trib, completely agree with ninah's comments about your advice.

Much as I'd love to be put on garden leave for 6 months, I also want to do a proper handover and leave things in order before I go.

OP posts:

tribpot · 12/02/2014 07:09

Thanks Jean - I haven't been for some time (hence some of the frustration at my old place) but will be more at the new place. Looking forward to it.

Loriens · 12/02/2014 23:23

Found my way over here JeanSeberg

I have recently handed my notice in after 12 years in my current organisation and I am currently working my notice period. I don't have a job to go to and am unsure if I even want to stay in the same field.
Just popped over for a bit of moral support.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 13/02/2014 06:58

Welcome Loriens. Will you be able to have a bit of thinking time between jobs? Do you have a rough idea of the fields you might possibly like to work in?

OP posts:

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 13/02/2014 09:29

try it out on aibu?

I've just started a thread ninah!

OP posts:

fascicle · 13/02/2014 09:31

Loriens, do you have a 'dream' job that we can help you to pursue?

When I left a job many years ago, I fired off hundreds of letters and got some work experience in my dream job industry. It was all fascinating, although in the end I decided I would have to move hundreds of miles if I wanted to pursue a career (in what was/is a highly competitive field).

tribpot · 13/02/2014 09:53

Welcome Loriens!

If you can afford it, thinking time is the best way - no point lurching into something else that isn't right for you. Although I haven't read it, I have heard good things about What Colour is Your Parachute? - this thread should probably have a group subscription to it :)

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 13/02/2014 11:29

I'm going to order that trib, I know you haven't it read it, but what's the general theme behind it?

PS. I've come back over here as it's scary on my thread on AIBU.

OP posts:

tribpot · 13/02/2014 11:46

As far as I know, it's aimed at making you think quite widely about what skills you've got, what you enjoy doing, and how you might turn those into a career path, JeanSeberg. Alternatively it's a book about choosing parachutes, although colour wouldn't be the first concern I had if I was doing that :)

(I think the name comes from one of those games where you just have to reply without thinking and your answer is revealing in some way, so perhaps your parachute colour choice is relevant after all!)

I've looked at your AIBU thread and you are wildly exaggerating That is a perfectly reasoned and thoughtful discussion which would not be out of place either here or elsewhere on MN, certainly not the stereotypical AIBU discussion - you haven't even been accused of being a troll yet :)

Btw someone over there has made the point about employers preferring people who are currently employed. I was told this as well, and I know of one place where the director was a bit about interviewing people who were out of work. One of the interviewees was someone whose job had fallen through at the last minute, I'm not quite sure what the poor bloke was supposed to do about that!

As I think I've mentioned up thread, I found it hugely beneficial to be openly working my notice whilst job hunting, and it certainly opened doors that wouldn't have been open otherwise. So I would agree with the (reasonable) AIBU poster that it varies tremendously by industry.

Original poster

JeanSeberg · 13/02/2014 12:09

Ha ha yes I know I'm exaggerating but it's making me doubt myself now.

OP posts:

tribpot · 13/02/2014 12:20

Well, the doubt is good because you need to be damn sure this is the right decision for you. It's a lot scarier than just looking for another job whilst still employed (which is still an option open to you) or sticking where you are (ditto).

You want to make sure, as well, that you don't want your employer to persuade you to stay when you had your notice in. That's a card you can only play once, and if you wanted to make the point that you were so unhappy with the role you wanted to leave it, I'd suggest avoiding actually handing in your resignation as a way of opening that discussion. So you'll need to be resolute during the discussion with your boss.

Therefore, YABU to think AIBU IBU :) My view is that you are taking a pretty small financial risk given your circumstances, with the potential for significant personal gain from having the clarity about what you want to do next, without the clutter of trying to do the old thing at the same time.

However, we are die hards on this thread so a second opinion is a good one. Interestingly, most of the people on the other thread who've said they've done it also say they don't regret it, the opposite view is mainly coming from people who say they wouldn't do it. Which is a valid point of view, but there haven't been any horror stories along the lines of "I did it and I never worked again / died in a poorhouse / went on the game". Perhaps Mumsnet isn't the place to get those stories, though!

SoulJacker · 13/02/2014 12:49

I handed in my notice just before Christmas without anything lined up. I now have some short term, well paid contract work for now with part time hours whilst I decide what direction I want to go in.

I had a lot of people telling me I was mad but I ignored them

I did worry that after the initial elation of handing my notice I'd start to regret it as it approached my last day but actually it was just a relief to leave.

I'm no closer to knowing what I'll do next but I've got the time to sort that out.

Geoff0409 · 13/02/2014 12:53

Can I just say that the advice on the forums is always brilliant and often hilarious

tribpot's "And I hope it did - it should have done. It was a big shock to a lot of people, who assumed I had nowhere to go where I could possibly hope to juggle work, childcare and my caring responsibilities (and that therefore I should be prepared to put up with any old shite)." has really tickled me .

It's the same for me. My lot are a sort of "do you know how lucky you are to be employed by this company?" brigade - I think I am supposed to feel like I have won the lottery and all my christmases have come at once?

Let us know how you get on jean . I'd do the same if I were you .

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