Quitting Job Without a Backup Offer

Dumb question, but genuinely curious. Market seems still pretty hot, why haven't you left sooner / what has kind of impeded recruitment besides hours

You can quit and find another job. It won’t be an easy road and it could take 6-12 months to find something. It’s a risk for sure and there’s no way of knowing until you get that next job how long it’ll take or where you’ll land. I know people who’ve done it. It’s possible. It’s a hard road. However, sometimes you need to get out and just quit. Only you know this answer. Don’t take the decision lightly and make any rash moves. Think each scenario through. 

Look bro, I’m not gonna say you should have stayed or quit earlier, I understand the stress of the job. What I am gonna say is that eventually that money will run out and the sooner you start recruiting for another job the more secure (financially) you will be.

I wish you the best and hope you land a better job and most importantly, a job you LIKE/ENJOY !!

Quite, you fucking idiot. Try and wait 6 months to two years until you find another job.

All honesty, don't be an idiot. I get the stress of your job and comp, but you can't predict tomorrow. You could quit and out of nowhere have a financial emergency come up or your car need work or something and there goes your 8 months savings.

You could get a job a few months or 2 years from now, nobody knows how long it takes. If you can stick it out, stick it out and force yourself to make time to apply for jobs. Late night after work, while you're taking a walk or getting coffee during the day, jump on LinkedIn or companies websites. It can be done, I did it and it took me a while but it was worth it. Just think through your decision before you quit or do anything, yes it's frustrating but you don't want to make a decision out of passion or the heat of the moment. Only then, after you make that decision out of frustration or stress, will you regret it later.

Best of luck dude, you got this.

Don’t quit. Companies are notorious for dragging their feet. I once interviewed for a company for 6 months with literally 12 separate interviews before I secured an offer.

That's a tough spot to be in but I generally agree with what is being said. But one thing that hasn't been mentioned is start networking! That will help you find something much quicker with a much better chance of securing an offer. I decided to move into development last November and just recently accepted an offer. I had accumulated 6 offers before deciding on one. It's much easier to look for a job when you have a job. It's also much easier to network with others in the industry when you have a job as well. Your going to have to put in the time just like anything else. If you secured interviews but no offers then you have been on the right track you just need to sharpen up your interviewing and negotiation skills. Keep the course but I would say if you know you want to quit devote more time to yourself and marketing yourself for new positions and ride out your last few months there on coast mode.

Don't quit. Instead, take a week long vacation ASAP and go travel to clear your head and regain perspective. Then, when back - devote more time at work to job searching (even if it impacts performance a bit). 

If you quit, I don't think you'd enjoy your time off with a looming deadline and no job.

 As someone who left a job without one lined and was out of work for over six months afterward, do not quit until you have something lined up. 

While my circumstances were unique for leaving without a role, even that did not preclude the lull between roles. I would agree with others that you should be networking, looking on LinkedIn and Indeed as well for new roles. It may also sound like you could use some time away from work to clear your mind and recalibrate.

In a similar place at a developer with shitty comp and no time to interview. Half our team wants to quit.

A lot of what had been posted above is good advice, to find time for interviews take half sick days if needed if you’re in the office and can’t get away. Say hey I have a doctors appointment at 3pm I need to leave at 2pm and will work from home the rest of the day. 
 

Some income is better than nothing. You’ll get interviews and land somewhere. 

Do not quit.

Hold the line as hard/frustrating/boring as it is until you secure something else definitively (as in "Mr. X your start date is in two weeks, specifically xx/xx/xx"). This is tried and true wisdom for a very good reason.

You have time after work each weekday night and time on the weekends. You now officially have a second job: go get it; get after it.

Eh. If you are miserable and aren't even paid that well I would consider quitting with nothing lined up. You've got a pretty solid emergency fund, and if you don't secure a "real" job before then you can always find a job to keep you afloat until you find something. Sandwich shops are literally paying over $16/hour now. This forum tends to focus on work to the detriment of everything else, but mental health is more important in the long run. 

On one hand, it is almost certainly easier to find a job when you already have one. That said, if you just don't have the time, or are extremely burnt out, it could be harder for YOU to find a job right now given your current circumstances. Either way, you should be doing everything you can to get the hell out of there.

Good luck, I understand what it is like when work makes your life miserable. 

Don't quit without having a prospect for another job. It's called an emergency savings fund for a reason, and IMO this isn't an emergency. You can start to put in the minimum amt of work and not stress yourself out during this process, too. But of course not so lax you get fired (you don't know if you'll get any interview in the near term regardless how "hot" the market is).8 months of savings can turn into 2 or 3 very quick from extraordinary costs - and depending on your age, you lose health, dental, vision coverage, etc. What's your rent like? Other bills? What are you willing to give up? Are you wiling to not go out on weekends? If you're young & want to build your nest egg, you should try to get something lined up. If it's months and you're getting no bites maybe reconsider - but if you go that route you should save as much as possible and live frugally.

Been in this situation (didn't quit though, fund went under), unemployment gave little to nothing and I ate into my accounts. Didn't get an interview until about 1-2.5 months after.

Going through the same situation right now. Made me feel better knowing I’m not the only one going through this.

Go for it. In case the job search takes more than 8 months I think you're smart enough to find how to finance your lifestyle. All the other comments should be read from a position of fear and comfort. 

OP - Been there, done that but with a larger "savings fund". Leaving without anything lined up worked out for me in a big way, but I won't say every day was easy. Some weeks were just as mentally stressful as working because of the unknowns. However, I knew what I was getting into. If you go this route, I recommend "disconnecting" from the news, LinkedIn, etc. (except for networking) and a lot of communication with friends/family.

Hope that helps.

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Are you able to take time off and unplug? I'd suggest trying to take two weeks off, or at least one to give yourself space to regroup and recharge yourself. I think we forget to create boundaries just like the above user is saying. If you don't create boundaries the work stress will only continue and hinder you at being able to look for another job.

Don't quit without anything lined up. Just like with what everyone is saying, its easier to look for a job when you already have one.

What are you going to do with the time you have after quitting? Applying for jobs on a daily basis could be extremely boring. This will make you frustrated max in a month. If you comp is so low that you can make the same amount by working as a consultant or remote worker- then quit it. If this is not the case - then take a short vacations and rejoin unless you have another offer.

Im going to suggest an controversial option, and that is continue with your current job, but do the bare minimum. Literally the least amount of work that you have to do, and if the company fires you, who cares you can collect unemployment while you look for a new role. You have to prioritize your mental health here, feel free to push back on when you feel that you have too much work, and make your first priority trying to land a new role. Start using those vacation and sick days, hell take off every friday for the next 10 weeks and make that a day that you apply for new roles.