Is it a bad idea to quit a job before you have another one secured?

Nurses Career Support

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I am wondering how it looks to employers or if it even matters on an application whether you are currently employed or not (assuming it hasn't been years since you last worked)

Specializes in ICU.

Yes, HR directors look at gaps in employment. If you have any, they will want to know why. Unless there was a good reason for it, I didn't hire people who had gaps in employment. It reflects poorly on you as a person. It shows perspective employers that you don't take being employed very seriously and they think you may just abruptly quit on them. Gaps in employment and job jumpers were things I always looked at when hiring. Now, if someone has gaps for health issues, decided to be a SAHM for a few years, or maybe focusing on their studies, I didn't worry about those people too much. It is what you are describing, quitting before you had a new one is the one reason that raised red flags for me.

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Specializes in ER I/CCU Cath lab LTC.

I speak from experience-don't do it unless you absolutely can't tolerate it anymore. I won't go into the details, but I gave my notice after I could not endure one more shift in a place ruled by fear and intimidation, and worried about my license. I felt sure that it wouldn't take me long to find another job. After all, despite my age (60's) I had lots of great experience, most of it in hospitals. Was I ever wrong! There were hardly any jobs available, and I think ageism did play some part. I used up all my savings while looking. Many is the time I have kicked myself for quitting without having a job to go to. The stress of working there was less than the stress of having a months worth of bills due and one dollar in your wallet! I have never quit a job without having another one, and I'll certainly never do it again! It took me over 2 months to get the job I have now, and I have been stressed every single day of that time.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Ordinarily, I would not advocate for leaving a job without another. However, it depends on your circumstances. I need to relocate, so it's very possible that I may not have a position to go straight into.

However, I'm fine with that and I'm financially prepared. I'm also very flexible with respect to where I'm willing to work, I enjoy travel, and I don't mind having some time off. I am also researching alternate streams of income.

Still, I'll be sending resumes and making contacts months before my departure. If you are going to quit, make sure you've got a plan first. And sometimes, working another shift is intolerable. In that case, give the required amount of notice.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I have quit a job before I got another one. BAD IDEA! I left my job & had no active income. Both my boyfriend & I didn't have jobs at the time so I was soo stressed, we had bills to pay but no money coming in. Thankfully I got a job doing pedi PDN a few weeks after I left the other job. I will never leave a job without having another one secured.

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IF YOUR LIFE OR LICENSE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER....GET OUT OF THAT JOB!!!! otherwise stick it out until you find another job!! I too recently quit my job nov 15 and did not have another one, but had an interview already set up a week after that i was determined to get the position!! Thankfully i got the job....but during the three days in between me quittin my job and the day of the interview i was already sweating.bullets about where my icome was goin to come from because i was essentially unemployed.

PS. The reason i quit my jowas NOT becuz of the interview i already had scheduled but for another reason.

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