Has anyone ever quit without another job lined up?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by mdgirly88

I've had my new job for about 4 months. I HATE it and want to quit daily. I've had a couple interviews, but nothing has panned out yet. I'm finding that since I'm a newer employee, I don't have much time to take off and it's hard for me to schedule interviews around my work schedule. So that, and the fact that I absolutely cannot stand my job or anyone I work with, is tempting me to just up and quit.

Has anyone quit without another prospect? Please tell me it worked out okay and you got another job rather quickly. I think I'll be okay finacially for a little while, and if I still don't have a job by the fall I can substitute teach (not my career track, but I did it for a bit in college to get some extra money) until I find something I like.

Any horror stories about quitting and being jobless? I'm scared, but I absolutely hate my job and need to get out of here to save my sanity. Thanks!

I don't recommend this line of thought from a professional, economical or emotional standpoint. I quit my surgery residency almost two years after I started because I got a spot in the radiology program. Unfortunately, once I knew I had an out, I could no longer put up with the crap forced on me daily in the surgery department and quit. They had put me on 24 hr call two days in a row at two hospitals 100 miles apart...I know, sounds crazy, but they thought it was completely reasonable! I let my new department know...they seemed fine, but a week later, they called back and said I didn't have a job! Aaaah! I was freaked out that I ruined my career. I had no money and now had to pay my employer's portion of my health insurance, or I'd lose it and have a pre-existing condition clause with any new policy. Even though my husband was still working as a resident, we didn't have enough money to go grocery shopping. I literally rolled our entire change bucket to get $75 to feed us for the week! After two months of sweating it out, weekly meetings that went nowhere, crying uncontrollably at the drop of a hat and agreeing to "probation," I got my job back. Unfortunately, every time I move to a new job, I have to explain my probation in residency, which by the way was promised to be for only 6 months but lasted 18 months because the hospital dean is a surgeon. My new boss had to demand that he take me off probation. I would have been better off sucking it up and putting up with 120 hour work weeks for a couple more months.

Just remember, work is called work for a reason. If it were fun, you'd have to pay them!

[33girl]

Is your job anything like a career you want to have for the rest of your life?

Do you have to provide for anyone/anything (i.e. a child or a pet) other than you?

Are you crying in the morning when you have to go to work?

Have you determined that it's not just one factor that could change (i.e. lousy boss) and make the job suck less?

If you answered these no, no, yes, and yes, then quit.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Is your job anything like a career you want to have for the rest of your life?

Do you have to provide for anyone/anything (i.e. a child or a pet) other than you?

Are you crying in the morning when you have to go to work?

Have you determined that it's not just one factor that could change (i.e. lousy boss) and make the job suck less?

If you answered these no, no, yes, and yes, then quit.

Agreed.

I quit a job in 2006 with nothing lined up. Yes, it was rough for a while, and I also went back to substitute teaching. But sometimes ANY other job is better than the one you have.

I wrote a thread about it once and most people were supportive. A few people called me disloyal and unprofessional. But nobody has to live with you but YOU, so do what you need to do for your own mental and physical health.

In time, there will not even be a need to mention that job on a resume.

[jon1856]

Agree. I was in a situation just like this almost to a "t". The owner was doing things and making me do things that went against everything I believe in in business and in general life.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Is your job anything like a career you want to have for the rest of your life?

Do you have to provide for anyone/anything (i.e. a child or a pet) other than you?

Are you crying in the morning when you have to go to work?

Have you determined that it's not just one factor that could change (i.e. lousy boss) and make the job suck less?

If you answered these no, no, yes, and yes, then quit.

[AGDee]

The other question to ask is how long you can support yourself without a paycheck. If you are living paycheck to paycheck and can't cover the next month's rent without that paycheck, think about it.

I wish I could quit mine, but I have way too many financial responsibilities to even think about it.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The other question to ask is how long you can support yourself without a paycheck. If you are living paycheck to paycheck and can't cover the next month's rent without that paycheck, think about it.

I wish I could quit mine, but I have way too many financial responsibilities to even think about it.

ME TOO! And I'm not even living paycheck to paycheck.