Ever walked away from a job with nothing lined up?

[HardDrive]

I'm toast. Totally and utterly fried.

3 years in the same place. I'm in IT. This year, I have slowly stopped caring. I'm aware of it. I don't like the idea of the doing a poor job. I would rather just walk away feeling good about the work I have done.

I'm in a $ position where I could take a year off.

Anyone just walked away for a while and take stock?

I get paid over $80k a year, and the idea of leaving scares me. But the idea of staying just seems impossible.

I feel like I'm with a woman, and we no long laugh at each others jokes.

[island911]

BTDT. Walk. Live.

[jyl]

Yes, quit law and took a year to travel. It's a great thing to do.

[slodave]

Yup. I did this at the end of the year. I was not going anywhere, not being paid enough and basically lost it every 6 months and went on a rampage (non-violent). I finally had it mid way through Dec. I did it without the safety of stashed $$. At the time, my girlfriend said she would support me, two weeks later, she says things are not going to work. There goes my shoulder to lean on as I live check to check. 6 months later, stagnant hanging on by a very thin rope, still torn over the loss of my girlfriend - likely due to the fact that I don't have enough work to occupy my mind during the day.

I am starting to think I may have to get a job.

Dave

[Sonic dB]

do it...get yourself caught up...pursue that dream that you
always wanted to do...and try to change for the better...

[Dutchie]

Just quit after 21 years of IT work and i never felt better

My company was moving so they bought me out wich means for me that i can do what i want the coming two years. I,m starting up my own firm now slowly and enjoy life

No more Citrix crap yesssss

[equality72521]

Originally posted by Dutchie
No more Citrix crap yesssss

[MotoSook]

Did it. Probably a good move for me, but in engineering I couldn't shed all the BS so there's still some BS now. That's probably true for IT also. So at some point you just gotta step over the BS and do what you can.

[BeerBurner]

I sort of did it. Except that I had something small lined up (helped a buddy with his home renovation business, but it wasn't all that consistent) and the job I left didn't pay very well. I did have my house, roommates paying my mortgage and some money saved up.

In the end, I'm glad I did it. I decided on a career change and it did take me a while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up (went from environmental consulting to teaching). I love what I do and haven't looked back.

If you can do it, especially since you are getting burned out, I'd recommend doing it.

BB.

[on2wheels52]

I've had two extended 'sabbaticals', both involved moving also. Once just me and one w/wife & 2 kids. Living cheap helped to extend the time off. I'm on a pretty good work streak right now, the next break will probably be retirement.
Jim

[widgeon13]

I've done it and I'm still no sure I will go back to work.

Why not? If you are not happy in your current position, when are you going to get out of there anyway. You'll be dead if you don't do something. Take a year or less and find something that makes you happy and gives personal satisfaction, the money side of it will work itself out in the end.

[oldE]

28 years ago, I had just signed a mortgage on our first home. The next month, I gave two weeks notice and started looking. I left that job and started my new job the next morning.

If you're not enjoying it, it's too much like work.

Les

[red-beard]

I did this moving to Houston, except I planned to start my own business. We "moved" while I kept my job in San Diego. My boss was not happy about this and kept wondering when I was going to resign.

I set a resignation date with no other job lined up. A buddy of mine arranged an interview where I work now, and basically told the VP that he would be an idiot if he didn't hire me.

Anyway, I took a month off on purpose between position, to get everything lined up in the new house. Great way to get the head together.

[wilke3169]

I did 2 years ago. I was only in the job for six months and I knew after the first day that I made a mistake. Gave the boss two weeks notice with nothing lined up. Took a trip to the mountains. My son and I took a road trip to Cooperstown which, I highly recommend. In hindsite I could have done more. I would recommend planning your unplanned time off, I could have done one of those Big John and Ron trips out west.

[widebody911]

Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays...

[KFC911]

Originally posted by HardDrive
I'm toast. Totally and utterly fried.

3 years in the same place. I'm in IT. This year, I have slowly stopped caring. I'm aware of it. I don't like the idea of the doing a poor job. I would rather just walk away feeling good about the work I have done.

I'm in a $ position where I could take a year off.

Anyone just walked away for a while and take stock?

I get paid over $80k a year, and the idea of leaving scares me. But the idea of staying just seems impossible.

I feel like I'm with a woman, and we no long laugh at each others jokes.

HardDrive, I can relate... I've been in IT for 25 years (with several major corps.) and our IT dept will be outsourced within a year. I too am totally "burned out" on corporate america bs and where IT has gone the past few years. Even though I will probably have an opportunity to continue (w/ the outsource provider), I'm ready to "turn the page" and get on with the rest of my life. Get you financial situation in order and take that walk...life's just too short! Sometimes I wish I didn't have these "golden handcuffs"...

[KFC911]

Originally posted by widebody911
Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays...

Yeah, but it's Thursday

[strupgolf]

When I was 30,in 1980, I had it with my job. I went to the basement, painted a" For Sale" sign, put it up, gave 2 weeks notice, sold the house and moved wife and daughter 600 miles away. Never regretted it. There's always something else out there.

[robs944]

Toast after only 3 years?
I tend to look at it this way, are you toast because of the work load and lack of help or just getting bored with the same routine everyday?

I’m in IT also, I agree that taking time away and doing "what you want" is very tempting but you should evaluate why you are toast, if you are toast because you are bored then after your time off you'll be in the same boat 3 years later.

Have you spoken to your manager/boss about this? I know that not every company has a manager that is understanding and is willing to help but it's worth a try. I know if I have an employee that comes to me with an issue like this I will do what I can to alleviate some of that frustration, time off, flex schedule, etc.

Whatever you do good luck and of course don't burn any bridges; you never know what the future brings.

Rob

[Porsche-O-Phile]

No, I would never leave until I had something else lined up. It's utterly foolish. Dissatisfaction is temporary and you'll kick yourself the first time you can't pay your bills because you've got no $$$ coming in. Trust me as someone who's been there - the stress of a job is NOTHING compared to the stress of not being able to meet one's obligations and pay one's rent.

Someone needs to be a voice of dissent here - might as well be me. I've been at plenty of places I disliked, even hated a couple of them, but I always found the intestinal fortitude to "suck it up" and use my disdain for my present situation as a motivation to improve it. Negative motivation is still motivation and can lead to positive things, if properly channeled.

I'll put it simply - things in life either make you money or cost you money. Don't be an idiot. Get something else lined up first that you'll like, then make the transition - maybe take a week or so in between (no more) in order to mentally purge yourself and start fresh. When you work a job you like, it isn't "work" and you'll be surprised what you can accomplish.

This is why things like conventional vacations have no appeal to me - they're absolutely good for nothing (IMHO) for anything except pissing your money down the toilet. There will come a day when you'll need it, and that stack of photographs and memories doesn't do schit to pay the bills. It's much more financially smart to make each day a vacation of sorts - balance of work tasks and personal enjoyment, so it isn't a "grind". If you do that, you don't NEED to blow thousands of dollars on an escapist binge every year in order to stomach how much you hate the other 50 weeks. I will never, ever, EVER understand why people do this. Pretty stupid, when you think about it. If your life is balanced, it becomes sustainable and you don't NEED lengthy breaks from it - you enjoy it and like it.

I think anyone that quits a job without having another one lined up is either a millionaire or an idiot. Maybe both.