It is common knowledge that the best time to look for a job is when you already have one, but when is it okay to quit your job without another job lined up? Landing a new job before you quit the old one is ideal for several reasons.
Even though it’s better to leave a job when you already have a job, waiting for that next job may not be the right timing or strategy for you. Here is a checklist of ten questions to see if you are better off quitting your job even without another job lined up.
1. Do you have autonomy over your schedule?
If it is hard to take time off during the workday for interviews, it may not be realistic to find a job while you keep yours. You can start your job search on off hours and weekends (e.g., updating your resume, researching companies), but eventually you will need the autonomy over your schedule to come in late, leave early, take a long lunch and switch your calendar around at the last moment sometimes.
2. Can you keep your job search confidential?
If your field of expertise is small and a job search would be tough to keep confidential, then you might have a tough time juggling a search with your current job. If your boss is the suspicious type who monitors your schedule, you may find it hard to break away for networking meetings or even short interviews. To manage a job search, you need to be able to maintain confidentiality over your activities.
3. Can you keep your job from affecting your attitude outside of your job?
If you are too disengaged and negative because of your job, you may be better off making a clean break to rebuild a positive outlook and go back to your search refreshed. Ideally, you don’t have to quit, but can use your ongoing time away from work (mornings, evenings, weekends) to bounce back. Spend your time on your other interests – try this 100 Dreams exercise to refresh.
4.Can you get a leave of absence, flexible schedule or severance instead of just quitting?
If you think asking for a leave of absence, flexible schedule or severance is risky, so is leaving without a job. If you are going to leave anyway, ask for what you need. You can quit if they say No, but if they say Yes, you get time off paid.