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?

I'm not unfortunately, again I'm not sure what they could do. I've never been in this position before.

I may start doing what a couple have posters have said and start documenting what I am doing, what is not getting done and ask them to comment and prioritise. I'm likely to either not get a reply or get something along the lines that I should be able to prioritise my own work load. They're honestly just dicks

I have! I was working with a very toxic boss and they wanted me back in the office more days (long commute made nursery pick ups / drop offs impossible). My plan was to be at home with my DC but after I handed my notice in, I was offered something very flexible/ part time which I accepted because it’s allowed me to have the best of both worlds. I ended up having 6 months or so off in the end (some of that was sick leave and some was just because I wanted a break in between).

Is there any prospect things could improve in the long run? Are they recruiting? Could you ask people who delegate work to you what they want you to prioritise (it’s clearly impossible for you to do everything at once)? It might be worth exploring that first, especially if you like your team.

Ultimately, I explored everything I could but nothing changed, so I left. I knew that we could live off my DH’s salary, so there was no pressure to get back to work or find a job - although I did know that I’d want to work again at some point.

I think life is too short to be really stressed and unhappy. If you want to leave, and can support yourself financially / are willing to take any job then I say go for it. It’s important to prioritise yourself and your mental health. I don’t regret my decision one bit. Take some time to think about it first (even if that means a few weeks of sick leave).

Then you say of course I am but my workload is already full so what would you like done first and what can wait

hard to do I know - but you’ll be the one talking about reality - it’s there problem if think one person can do 2 jobs

I did, decades ago , right at start of my career 4 years in as post grad.

yep, I had a partner who could support for a little while, and I mainly did it as I needed to move to get married, and had already been looking for a while, and I just wanted to move into our newly purchased house in new location.

but interestingly enough one of companies I applied to was Mars. They did competency based interviewing. I was asked during the interview to describe a time I had taken a risk. I’m not a big risk taker, and struggled with work related example to use, and then used the fact I’d given up on my job ..I thought it a lousy example frankly, but they were all over it saying yep, there was a big risk and getting me to explain how I’d balanced the risk and benefit etc.

I was actually offered a job out of the interviews.

(didn’t take it, but that was becuase a better role was offered with another company).

Moral of story, sometimes risk is worth it. Balance the pro and cons , make sure you have provision for supporting yourself, be prepared to take a temp job if needed if you can’t get exactly what you want immedately. Ensure you sign on asap according to rules to get NI credits, continue to pay into pension if you csn whilst unemployed. Look at your housing costs, if you have a mortgage can you take a mortgage holiday for instance. Forget holidays till you are in work agian, make every penny count. Do a budget to check it’ll be affordable and for how long can you afford not to work.

Craft your CV well and cover letters. Wirte out your STARS even if not competency based interviewing and selection- that’ll help you with CV and application forms. Practice interviewing based on competency model appraoch and STARs over and over, to yourself and then to a mentor of some sort. Be prepared to state clearly why you left without blame, grudge, and take full ownership of your situation.

It's really not, UK is in GB

I was replying to your quote above. Perhaps you meant to say GB is in the UK?

Ah, do you mean a British Overseas Territory?

me…yesterday!!!
so too soon to know if it’s the right call, but the relief is amazing 🤩

you can only do what you can do
make it clear that your have reached your limit
it is their responsibility to employ more staff

Well done! I hope it all goes well for you 💐

Ever heard of Isle of Man ?

They've advertised a position but the job description is nothing like what we do, other than maybe a few basics that cross over. Its baffling!!

@ReacherOMGyes as a civil servant who’s been in a similar pickle years ago, easier said than done I know but do all you humanly can to stay in your job whilst you look for another. Having also worked as an employment advisor in a past life, (rightly or wrongly) it’s much easier to find a job when you’re already in one. The job market in general is more competitive these days and it may spook some employers as to why you’re unemployed.

in the interim, things you could try is to ask for a Occpational Health referral and a - I can’t remember the name of it but it’s like a plan to manage stress etc so it sort of safeguards you being overloaded with work. If you search in the intranet or ask your line manager I’m sure they’ll know. Also, organise counselling via PAM Assist - the waiting time in my experience isn’t overly long. Keep a record of all this as well. If the stress plan doesn’t work then petition your manger to escalate your case for a transfer elsewhere in the CS. You will have by this stage formal evidence of your health condition (make a GP appt for advice also if you’re struggling including with sleep issues as a result). If you’re not already in the PCS union join and get their advice and ideas on this. You will be able to almost put a ‘business case’ as it were as to why your current job is unsuitable for you. Hopefully then they will either adjust your workload/arrange for emergency resourcing to bolster the team or look for a different job for you. I’m confident this route will yield some sort of positive outcome for you.

Worst case scenario is ask to go part-time whilst you look for a new job as you’ve still got some income coming in and will be in a stronger position when you’re looking for work.

But please do try my earlier suggestions first. I’m going to sound like a bore but as I’ve gotten older I have started to appreciate the job security and pension benefits of the CS and it would be a shame to not put that last bit of oomph in to see if you can turn this around! The pension isn’t as good as say 20 years ago but it’s still a lot better and more generous than many private firms offer and so it’s about taking the whole picture into account. Especially if you’re single with a mortgage - job security is critical!

Anyhow, good luck. We’re rooting for you and do keep us updated if you’re able ♥️

Yes, it’s not in GB

Not the point of the thread but I’m so intrigued as to where is in GB but not UK.

I did once quit a job without another job but I was living with family at the time. No way I’m brave enough with a mortgage to pay but I really do sympathise 😣

Thank you, I'd like to stay in the CS as the guaranteed payrises and the pension are definitely a bonus. I have applied for another role the same grade bit different department so I'll hopefully get an interview for this

I have quit my job and worked out notice while looking around and considering my options. In the end I had a gap of a few weeks that has never been questioned in subsequent decades of my career

I have also been signed off sick due to stress. Dr advice was to use time off to make changes to reduce the stress

Any time I have handed my notice in, current employer has always queried new role lined up and asked if they can do anything to convince me to stay. Offers have included pay rises, change in role, working conditions etc.

You have options that you can use to see if changes are forthcoming. If they aren't, that's your answer

Can we all just stop with the UK/GB pile on, what part of I came home and cried today about my job is this actually helping?

I'm not given my location

a couple of approaches you could try if you want to try to fix before quitting

1. ask for a meeting with HR . Tell them that you are under extreme pressure with work load. Ask them for help on how you can mamange it better with your boss, as you’ve asked for help but they seem unable to help you. And ask them for help in how to manage the pressure in the workplace currently. State you’ve raised it with your line manager but you still get pressured into more deadlines. Ask them for support in terms of development or training to help you deal with this , ask them for help in understanding what you’re doing worng to feel so pressure, or how to manage your workload more efficiently. Now, we all know this isn’t about you, nor is it your problem to fix, BUT by taking ownership and asking their help for you to fix it, they’ll be failing in their role to not suggest something. It brings it firmly into their sphere of awareness that’s there’s a serious issue, and your boss isn’t able to resolve it . They’ll know when you talk of not being able to handle pressure they’re heading for work place stress related injury and failure of duty of care form EHS perspective. Don’t go in all guns blaring demanding someone else fix it, or grievance, go in with a “it’s my problem , can you help me?”. You know that they know it is their problem, but you’re giving them wiggle room to think and tlak to managers putting pressure on you without escalating it.

or

1. self certify form for 7 days off and make an urgent GP appointment for mental stress. Tell GP how you’re c feeling overwhelmed and can’t cope with stress at work. Say it’s bad enough you’ve considered quitting and being unemployed. Asked to be signed off for two weeks, to get a breathing space. Ensure that GP signs cert with the words “work related stress”.. work related stress is under EHS legal regulations as requiring your employer to carry out investigation and risk assessment, otherwise is a breach of duty of care. They won’t want to risk getting sued by you for failure to follow the law. They’ll then be having to assess it properly and will also be more mindful what’s happening. As part of your return to work, you can ask Gp to ensure that he notes on your fitness to work cert that you must only work your contracted hours for a given period. Discuss this with the GP. if needed you could also ask for a phas3d return at reduced hours. Getting signed off for work related stress is not a sign of weakness. It is actually a very strong signal and protection to get an employer to take the issue seriously and be proactive. Right now they’re just coastiing, hoping it’ll all sort itself out

at the end of the day a “no, I cannot do that on top of my existing priorities, you will need to tell me explicitly what I deprioritise and tell that person requesting the work as well” . This is your managers job. Much as you like them and feel they’re suffering too, they’re paid to sort this out , that’s their job not yours. Some managers just don’t get it is their job to prioritise their staffs work and not fob them off with tea and sympathy . Yep, you might also manage folks, and you need to do same then, but your managers job controls your workload and priorities. Not you.

keep lists of workload. Keep a timesheet even if not required. Record everything you’re asked to do, how any hours youv3stimatemitmtoctske,what deadline you’ve been given, when you plan to start and finish and actual dates you start and finish. Be meticulous around record keeping. When more work comes 8n, take it to your manager, show him list and say you’re not leaving their desk until they tell you what to stop.

it’s your managers job to escalate this to their bosses in turn…until message gets back to hesdcount decison makers with evidence of what is actually stopping in the business and not being done as consequence of headcount freezes

Thank you @limehawkmoth I'll take a look into this when I'm back from my break. I'm not in until next Tuesday now so that'll give me a bit of time to think.

I do actually want to stay but I need them to see what they're doing to people. We're not working much extra and it all gets added to our flexi anyway, but my LM went to see his LM yesterday and she'd left early to go shopping and head home. Now anyone is allowed to leave early, but it just smacks when we're drowning in work and she's in Tesco. She finishes at 4 everyday anyway...

Sorry I'm ranting now

Thank you all that have replied with advice and you're own experiences

I’ve quit or been made redundant before getting a new job several times. I’ve never actually been in a permanent job when I’ve secured a new one.

I do admin, it’s always been fine. It hasn’t harmed my CV. I would be nervous about doing it now because of the job market and I’m in my 50s but you say it’s fine where you are so that’s not a consideration.

Respectfully, you're causing so much confusion over the GB/UK thing it's only natural for people to question it. It is IMPOSSIBLE to be from a GB country that is NOT in the UK. ALL of GB is in the UK.

If you are from the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands etc., then you are NOT from GB. You are from a country in the British Isles, or a British Overseas Territory etc.

I get that you don't want to divulge what country you're in, but you really do need to accept that you're wrong on this one.

As for your job, if you can afford to pay your living costs without an income for 6 months +, then go for it.

Have a decent break then. Prioritise sleep and walking, putting one foot in front of another is a powerful defence against depression, which is where constant stress ends up.
look after yourself.

If you have a spare room could you look at taking in a lodger or air b and b? I’m assuming you’re in Channel Islands/isle of man so a holiday spot which may see you through any period of time you’re not working.
Its awful working somewhere you aren’t happy, I would try and stick it out until you have something else to go to if you don’t have a spare room you can make use of, 3 months worth of bills isn’t a lot of a time and you’ll be putting yourself under stacks of pressure

Yes I’ve done it, best thing I ever did - I took voluntary redundancy even though there was a job for me / it was just too stressful