18
Unpopular opinion: Quitting a job without another lined up actually helped my career more than staying miserable would have
After I walked away from a toxic sales role in Chicago back in March I had six weeks of panic before landing a better position that paid $12k more, and I wonder why everyone acts like you need a safety net when the net is what's trapping you.
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
jackson.matthew2mo ago
Start by saying the panic you felt was totally normal, but not everyone gets lucky like you did. A lot of folks don't have savings to cover six weeks of bills, and that "safety net" you're talking about isn't always a trap. Sometimes it's the only thing keeping someone from losing their apartment or going into debt. Your story worked out great, but it's a bit like saying you jumped off a cliff and landed on a cloud (you know, rare and awesome). The real unpopular opinion might be that you have to know your own situation before giving advice like this.
8
williams.jenny1mo ago
Oh I FEEL this because I literally did the same thing back in 2018. I had about two months of savings and it was TERRIFYING but staying at that place would have wrecked my health worse than any financial hit. Here's what nobody tells you: if you do this, you need to have a very specific plan for how many applications per day you'll send (I did 10 minimum) and you need to be brutal about cutting costs immediately - I canceled my gym, stopped eating out, and called my landlord to ask if I could pay rent two weeks late if needed. But honestly, the real trick is knowing what your absolute rock bottom budget looks like before you quit, because if you can survive three months on zero income then the risk changes completely.
1