Misc.Jan 17, 2020
AmazonCool 🍌’s

Leave a role without having another job to go to

how many of you have left a job without something to go to? would you? if so, why? *edited - those that DID leave with nothing to go to, how did it work out for you in the end? would you recommend?

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Google rewers Jan 17, 2020

I have and it was stupid. I was young and inexperienced but thinking I was the shit so I had a hard time landing something good afterwards. On the other hand, it made me more humble and hardworking and I value my job now more.

Capital One pRTY77 Jan 17, 2020

I did it last year, can't say I recommend it unless you really hate your current job, have some savings and are willing to jump to a very similar position in a similar area. I just wanted a few months off to work on the things I wanted and really prepare for job interviews. Was aiming to make a jump to a more Front End focused role so I needed time to put together a portfolio. None of it helped. Got nothing but shit offers because apparently most companies see this kind of situation as an opportunity to hire a senior developer and pay them as a junior "because they lack experience with x" where x is merely a framework or tool that can be picked up in months at worst. It also didn't help my job was based in a slightly higher COL area. We're talking ~10% difference tops but most companies were shooting to drop my pay 30-40% because of this. Ended up panicking after a couple of real bad rejections (people basically hanging up on me once they realized I wasn't going to be working for 60k-80k with close to 10 yoe) and took a really shitty C1 offer. Ended up right back where I started eventually but with a small promotion. Burned through much of my savings though but learned a lot. TL;DR most companies will use it against you to save a dime, play the system with some competing offers or the system plays you.

Amazon Qw Er Ty Jan 17, 2020

Sorry you went through that experience! But glad you’re back on track now. It appears that the consensus is to stay put until you have something else to go to. Hmmm.

Amazon Amazonbie Jan 17, 2020

I was 23, no debt, no obligations, had about $20k in saving, living in a low rent city, and was already in the final stage of an interview. I hated my job and my manager, so i quit to prep for the interview. Fortunately I aced it and started work 2 months later. I wouldn’t do it now since my life circumstances have changed, but at 23, I wouldn’t even think twice.

Citibank LuBJ70 Jan 17, 2020

Just do it with a proper plan. You won’t regret taking a break. Don’t do it for more than 6 months.

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rtolgc Jan 17, 2020

i did this twice. both time i went into depression. don't do this. it feels good for a few weeks but anxiety will start to kick in afterwards & it gets worse as the months go by

JUUL UuEA17 Jan 17, 2020

Did it in my mid-20s because I wanted to move to the Bay Area. I disliked and was underpaid at my job, my apt lease was ending, my friends were getting married... So I made the move without a new job lined up. 3 months later, I was starting my next job, which had been landed via headhunters and networking, and the offer was 40% more than I'd been making. I don't regret taking the risk as I had enough saved to last me 6 months, had/made good friends to keep me sane, and already knew that the job market here is good so headhunters/recruiters are very helpful.

Amazon Qw Er Ty Jan 17, 2020

Very encouraging to hear. Congrats to you! Sounds like it worked very well for you. Am quite scared to take the plunge even though work is mentally killing me and I know leaving is the logical thing to do.