Handing in notice before securing another job - a bad career move?

[Whatiswithallthisracket]

I'm miserable in my current position. However, I do really like my colleagues. They know I'm looking for another job but obviously can't explicitly look for a replacement until I hand in my notice.
I haven't found another job yet. But I'm tempted to hand in my notice both to put my mind at ease to know that I'm on the way out and to help my colleagues so that they can get a replacement in place before a very busy period of time.
Would it look bad to potential recruiters?

I did this in Feb, but because it was a new job that was beyond awful (blame culture, micromanagement, bullying), so I had to resign to preserve my wellbeing.

I would advise against it if you merely dislike your job, rather than the job being unbearable and a harm to your mental health. Employers far prefer candidates who already have a job. I am still searching after three months, and it is soul destroying.

It would be a risky move unless the job is currently affecting your mental health or you’re 100% sure you’ll find a job quickly.
Having said that, I did it in the past, when I was waiting for feedback from a couple of interviews that had gone well, I was confident I could find a job fairly quickly and had savings in the bank just in case. My motivation was to be able to move on quickly.
How they replace you is not your problem, you don’t owe them anything apart from working your notice and handing over your work.

As much as you like your colleagues I wouldn't factor that into your decision. It depends really, if you can stick it out I would, if though you have some savings and are confident you can secure another job fairly easily then if it's affecting you sure.

No, I wouldn't do this, especially as your only reason appears to be to be helpful (it's not very clear to me why it would be helpful though). It puts all the risk onto you, if you don't find a new job quickly. It's also a harder sell to future employers- if I were interviewing a candidate who told me she had already resigned "to help her colleagues" I would smell a massive rat.

What you could do is speak to your manager and explain the situation- say you're not sure that the role is the right fit and that you're looking elsewhere, but without handing your notice in. I wouldn't do this unless you are completely sure that you're leaving and likely to be in a new job soon though.

Don't do it, you might be asked to leave immediately rather than working out your notice. Even though technically you should be paid if this happens, I've seen enough people not get what they are due to know that it's not a good idea.
You don't know how long it will take to find another job, either.

No, it’s too risky. Start job-hunting seriously now

What's your notice period?

It is risky, but it can also make you an attractive candidate if a future employer doesn't want to wait three months.

It depends what the job market is like in your industry, ie how quickly you are likely to get another job, and also how comfortable you are finding.

Pretty much every time I've left a job it has been before I have an offer of another. This has never been an issue with future employers, it has sometimes been an advantage as I've been able to start a quickly. I have found doing this really frees up my mind to look for something else I want, rather than looking for something because I'm desperate to move.

However I am financially comfortable so I've always known I can cover costs without income for a certain time. And the industry I work in has plenty of jobs as well as plenty of short term freelance work. So I've had no concerns about getting work even if it's taken a few months.

Don't factor your colleagues into your decision. Make your choice based on your own circumstances. Can you afford to lose your income for a certain time? Are you going to find work easily? That's what you need to consider.

It’s head and heart stuff. Head says stick it out. Heart says leave. I’m going through the same. Hate my job but it’s needed. If you are confident then do it.

its really hard but I'd advise not to unless you are very comfortable eating into savings. I recently did this (by accident - I had an offer and then the company I was moving to had a complete restructure and did away with my department!!!) and had a very stressful few months of job search and felt I needed to take the first offer that came along which in hindsight I was really not that excited about. Luckily I got a second offer just in time. Even though I have savings I didn't feel comfortable waiting for the perfect job as I'd been looking for so long already. It's all worked out, but was not an experience I'd want to relive.

I did it earlier this year and it was for the sake of my mental health. I found a new job within six weeks thankfully but I couldn't have stayed any longer. I'm still dealing with the anxiety the last job induced in me.

I’ve just done this earlier this week and it’s very nerve racking. However my current role was so demanding and meant I was too drained to look for another job, so I’m hoping with a bit more headspace I’ll be able to find something I actually enjoy.