Has anyone quit with no other job lined up?

[ReacherOMGyes]

Work is killing me and I'm ready to just give my resignation and then look for work, though I am actively looking now and have applied for a new job.

I'm a civil servant in an admin role and our team has gone from 8 to 4 people in the last month, one of the 4 is part time, one is still training and one is my line manager. Oh and we're also spread accross 2 sites. Upper management just can't seem to grasp the sheer amount of work that is now on the plates of the remaining people and instead of helping they just keep sending email asking why things aren't done, or asking if X can be done too. They're awful. I sent an email to two managers on Friday having a bit of a rant, today they've asked if I could do yet another task. I dispair!!

I'm off until next week now on planned AL but I've just come home and cried, I'd be happy to never go back in. I love my team, my LM is great and under the same pressures, he's also ready to quit so I'd feel guilty leaving them, but at some point I have to consider my own MH. I'm not a dramatic person but I've never felt like this in a job before

So to my question, do I quit now with no job lined up or stick it until I find something. I've got probably 3 months I could do with no income at a push. Will it look bad on my CV and hurt my future prospects?

Sounds awful I've worked in a similar place. Only thing I would say is that the job market is incredibly tough at the moment for job seekers so it could take longer than 3 months to find something else. I don't necessarily think a gap on your CV will look bad unless you've had lots of gaps. How long have you been in the role ?

I have when I was young. I temped so didn’t anctually spend a day out of work - although temping paid less than the job I resigned from. It was also back in the days when a house came with my DH’s job so my costs were low.

You need go be able to afford to resign.
Can you temp?
Does it feel possible to work your hours and no more and keep looking for new job?
Would putting in a complaint about your working conditions be a viable option whilst you’re looking?

Thanks for the replies. I'm not in the UK, GB but not UK, and the job market here is very different. There's a shortage of workers and a lot of jobs so I'd hope something would come fairly quick, but you never know.

I'd be happy doing anything to at least tide me over until something better/permanent came up. I've been here just over 3 years

I could raise a fairness at work complaint I suppose but I'm not sure what good it would do me, management seem to have this attitude that we should just stop complaining and get on with the job. I'm not being big headed, but if my manager and myself both quit the department would be in deep trouble. I don't think they realise how close we actually are to going. There's a lot more than just us unhappy with how things are managed too which makes me feel better and that I'm not going mad.

I've got a lot to think about

Definitely threaten to leave to upper management. Shout about how unhappy you are.

Do you have enough savings to fill the gap for a few months?

I've worked in places I've hated before. It's awful. That sick feeling.

Best wishes I hope you find something else soon if that's what you decide?

I did, a couple of times. Was not in a precarious situation financially. first time I wasn't really out of work at all. Signed up for an agency. Found a new job straightaway. That job wasn't great tbh.

Then I quit another job as was under horrendous stress. Was out of work 4 months this time, but the next job was much better.

Can you be signed off for a period of time with stress? That will at least help you gather your thoughts and feelings and give you time to decide what is best for you. Yes, it will be hard on those left at work but ultimately you need to look after yourself.

I have threatened, they just don't think I'm serious. I'm not even sure what they could do now to make me happy, it may sound naive but I like to have trust and respect at work, both ways, and I've lost it completely for this management regime. I like the job, I enjoy what I do but there's no reward for it only more expectations

I have savings and could survive for a bit, I have a mortgage but no dependents and I'm single so it's just my expenses then my basics to tend to

I did it quite a few years ago as I just couldn't take it anymore. I used to come home and burst into tears most nights. I just handed my notice in but I was fortunate enough that I could have a couple of months off so I could get my head back together. I signed up to a couple of recruitment agencies and the second assignment I got is what I am still doing now although I was taken on permanently after 12 months. One of my managers at my new job said that she actually respected me to have the courage to walk away with nothing to go to.

What about replying efficiently to every request "Absulutely, I can do that. What tasks would you like me to drop to prioritise this?". Or less sarcastically, list everything you've been asked to or are expected to do and ask for your manager to let you know the priority order, then be clear what you can realistically do in the time. Everything added later, you insist has to have something else de-prioritised.

I did it and it worked out fine - it was actually the best thing I ever did!
After about 3 years and a baby I started to hate my job and the workplace culture, it was getting worse and worse until I was nearly at breaking point. I was struggling to focus on the job hunt because the expectation in my existing role was so high. There was an expectation that we put in as many hours as we needed to hit our targets which was often way over FT. (Recruitment consultant) I was a newish mum and I was meeting myself coming backwards between work, childcare etc!

I gave my 1 months notice, and told them I didn’t have a job to go to but I would appreciate time off for any interviews I secured, which they agreed to.
I then applied for all sorts of roles as we needed a wage to be coming in! I ended up at Lidl of all places, I had the most amazing experience working there, really flexible work pattern wise around childcare etc and I stayed for 5 years before returning to an office job.
I think if you’re flexible to where and what you do work wise, resigning will give you a clear head to help with the job hunt.
In your circumstances though, you should raise your concerns to your managers manager and HR formally, because it doesn’t sound sustainable for anyone to work at that capacity.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do! xx

You’re in GB but not the UK? Great Britain is in the UK? Sorry if I’m misunderstanding

This was another route I'm considering, so many people have done it and not given it a second thought. I hate the idea of it though, I'd feel like it's something for nothing

I am so bloody unhappy though

It's really not, UK is in GB

Whatever you decide I'm sure will be the right choice for you. I worry at the smallest thing and personally hate the idea of leaving a job with nothing to go to, but everyone is different. I hope it goes well for you whatever you choose.

Did it twice with my last 2 previous jobs, but both had a 3 month notice period so I just wanted it in, tell them I'm going then figure out where to.

I would never have done it if my notice period was a month but on both occasions I had interviewed and received offers within about 2 weeks of resigning.

3 month notice is just horrible as you have to pretend for the first month or so you've definitely not made your mind up about leaving, otherwise you get treated like shit.

My last job I had to throw in a 2 week sick line for the last fortnight as I was at the stage I would punch my line manager out. Never put a sick line in in 20 years of working but I had to do it.

I did once after dealing with a horrendous boss for a year before. I sat down with my husband and we worked out how long we could survive without me working. I had to give a long notice period and aswell if I was still employed there on a certain date I was entitled to the company bonus. plus had a huge holiday pay owed to me. so still had good money coming in for 2 months after. Once I finished I went to citizens advice to see of was entitled to anything and put applications in lucky was entitled to job seekers. I spent the 1st month resting which I needed then the second month doing my cv going to interviews etc. at end of 3 month I got a temp job and 6 months later got job where am now. that was 7 years ago and the best decision I ever made

Are you in a union . Could they help

if there is the possibility of sorting this out then I agree with the poster above who said to list everything on your to do list and ask managers what is the priority and what should be delisted in order to address other priorities

if this cannot be resolved please get signed off by the doc for a few weeks. Give yourself some breathing space. Seek a role whilst you are off.

If it is as bad as you remember when you go back, resign then and get signed off if it gets bad again.
and actively seek a new role during your 3m notice period.

Yes.
Quit.
Tell recruiters you’re available from (date at least 1 month after quitting), which essentially makes you immediately available which is highly desirable.

I have once before and I’ve just done it again, I finish mid month. I’m going to spend the summer with my children and then figure it out. I do have a separate part time job though so it’s slightly different as I do have some wage coming in.
I have been messed about in my job and had to leave.

GB is England, Scotland and Wales.
The UK is GB plus Northern Ireland.

I did that with my last job, which I'd been in for three years. Job was great, as were colleagues and immediate boss, but the working conditions and demands and the big boss were just too difficult. I saved hard for 6 months then walked. My immediate boss gave notice at the same time, with the excuse of 'going travelling'. I've been freelance since (25+ years) and never regretted it.
Incidentally, I've since used 'going travelling' as a reason to leave clients without causing ill feelings.

It’s the other way around - the full country name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

You can be in the UK but not GB, you cannot be in GB but not in the UK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom

Respectfully arguing with me about the country of my birth and residence isn't really helping....i live in Britain I do not live in the UK

My industry (media and marketing) is rife at the moment with layoffs, redundancies and restructures, and not just in the UK but globally. People who have been impacted are really struggling to get a role.
So I'd definitely advise anyone in that to currently keep hold of the job they have and wait till the dust settles.

I really was at breaking point with burn out, stress and an AWFUL line manager, and wanted to resign with nothing to go to, but thankfully I held on and found another role internally and I am SO much happier. I love work now, I'm a totally different person and like a new woman. Seeing what my peers, friends and colleges who have been impacted are going through, I really thank my lucky stars I waited.

However, I'm not sure what the civil service industry is like, so hopefully someone with experience can advise further.