I'm in a situation where it's nearly impossible for me to job hunt. On top of endless work (nights and weekends) and stress is intense burnout that make it difficult to even think about programming outside of work hours. I have probably 8 months of emergency funds to live off of but how much more difficult would it be to find a job without already having one?
Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
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Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#2I strongly recommend that with only 8 months of reserves you don't quit before having a signed offer.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#3I've done this and had another job in three days.
I've also done this and had another job in three years.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#4It sounds like you are already burnt out. What are you doing about that right now?
Outside of that, quitting a job before you have a new one makes it more challenging to get a new job. Recruiters and employers find those that have a job more favourable plus it gives you a negotiating advantage when it comes to salary.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#5I don't think it's especially difficult to find a job as a developer within eight months, but you'd be giving up your current job as a fallback. You might not feel like you can walk away from an offer that's good, but not great. You'll also have a reduced ability to negotiate without a current salary, and it'll be hard to shrug off rejections.
If it is at all possible for you to take a leave of absence or reduce you workload, that would probably be a better option. You might feel burnt out now, but being unemployed adds its own type of stress.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#6I reckon the bar is so low for software developers that if you can't geta job in eight months you are doing something very wrong. So many applicants can't even code a simple console app.
Just be somewhat proficient and you'll be fine!
My last few jobs were all left with no other job in place and i think the longest it took to find a new position was three weeks.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#7What is causing the end-less work? Have you communicated your limits to your manager, or do they simply not care? How about your colleagues, do they feel the same?
Talking from personal experience, as I am a "good worker", and tend to take up every problem I see and solve it. Which is kind of self-exploiting and not sustainable in the long-run. I have to actively remind myself that setting limits and communicating them is part of the job, as otherwise you'll end up burnt out. The difficulty here is, it may be even okay in some short-time frame, it is not black and white.
Just food for thought: Would it be an option to be also frank about it to future employers? E.g. I am currently not at the top of my skills due the current work-load. Would they be willing to re-negotiate after a certain time of working part-time to recover?
Personally, I value in a company (or team) more that they treat you humanely, than having a pay-check which is possibly three times as high as now. But that is the luxury of having a high salary.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#8You will be extremely lowballed at any offer you get, with the company not willing to budge. I've personally seen this happen to several colleagues of mine. Even their recruiters just shrugged and said it was all they could get for them.
Definitely start interviewing, but in order to do so you will have to stop working unpaid overtime for your company. Since you're already leaving anyway, promotions or looking to get ahead of your peers is out the window, so focus on yourself, and not your work. That's the most important step! Keep it 9-5.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#9Why not just start slacking off hard? What are they going to do, fire you?! You want to quit anyways. I would say do not quit before having another job. Most likely you will slack off and it will go unnoticed because the need to overwork yourself is in your head.
Re: Ask HN: What are the ramifications of quitting a job before finding another?
#10Done it many times, never had a problem. You just need to be confident in your skill set.