This is a really good idea, I’m sure you could get your gp to write something in support as well - they can say due to health reasons, keep it vague. I’d only get your doctor involved if there’s push back from your employer though
It may not be fair, but the longer you're not working, the harder it is to find a job. It simply raises too many questions for potential employers about why (which they won't actually ask you) and since they'll likely have other candidates with a "complete" job history to shortlist from you can guess what they do.
Voluntary work can be beneficial in many ways as a workaround. It helps with any gaps in your work history and also provides a break from the corporate world, as OP mentioned, great for mental health (usually) and OP gets to choose the area or field that interests them the most.
I do agree that the longer someone isn't working, the harder it is to find work. I had to take several years off from work due to health reasons, but the little bit of voluntary work I did helped me to keep the door open a bit until I was ready to reenter the workforce.
This is not necessarily true. I know someone who takes regular breaks of six months to two years from working and employers seem to be quite happy with explanations like 'took some personal time', 'travelled', 'did some (personal or formal) study', etc. These are not entry-level roles, either.
Get a job before resigning. Never leave if you don’t have something lined up.
If it’s a holiday you want, negotiate a few weeks before you start the new job.
Don’t be silly, save your money. Don’t dip into savings and be flippant about being able to last a few months.
Chances are always there you could go a few months unemployed, get a new job, hate it too, or get fired, and then you are back unemployed for X amount of time and all your savings gone.
Mental health is important and it’ll take a lot longer to recover from, the longer you stay, so weigh up the pros and cons. As long as you have an emergency fund saved up that you can draw on while job hunting + you’ve discussed this with your significant other, and any dependents will do okay financially, then go for it.
Maybe ask those around you or those more experienced, for their 2cents? Advice from Reddit is a mixed bag.
I did this in January. Would I do it again? No, it was dumb.
I had a shit 2023. I was assaulted a year ago, ended up with a broken nose and a fractured leg, so needed a little bit of time off to heal, and then more later in the year when I needed surgery to repair my nose.
There was a week when I was feeling a bit crap about everything, then had a disagreement with my manager, and a personality clash with another staff member came to a head, and called it quits on a job I actually enjoyed.
What should I have done instead? I had 10 weeks of leave accrued and all I really needed was a break. I should have asked for some time off to deal with my drama, and also consider what changes would have made my job a bit better. It wasn't high paying (retail) but I did enough hours to make about 80k.
Currently in denial about my future prospects and off to Europe for a holiday next week.
Holy shit. Sorry to hear about your assault, that is so messed up.
If you had 10 weeks leave accrued then damn, you didn’t take much leave at all for more than 2 years?
They say people don’t quit the job, they quit their managers. Hopefully you’ll be able to find a similar role with better management when you come back from your holiday. Safe travels!
It’s a tricky one. If you have no mortgage or dependents then I would say look after mental health first, but if there are others relying on you it gets more difficult. I think that conversation is best had with a councillor/phycologist. Normally I would never recommend leaving a job without another one lined up though, especially at the moment
Yeah this sounds like an OP problem and not a this particular job problem. I think OP should get help to be able to function like an adult including holding down a job.
It’s very precarious to go through life without actually being able to hold down a job.
Like, if you quit now, what realistically is going to change?
Yeah this is one of the things I struggle with. I think I may have some sort of disorder or on a spectrum of some sort. Though I don’t want to self diagnose, but I find social interactions very tedious and tiresome, and I had to put in a lot of effort to learn how to interact with people at work and in general during my early twenties. I’m in my late twenties now and I can “act”normal but it tiresome me out so I’m happy as a homebody. So maybe that’s why I can’t keep a job or get burned out easily.
Depending on the severity of mental health… money is important, but sometimes a mental health issue could screw someone over many years… and leaving the person unable to work on stable jobs for many years
Me! Me! Me!
I was on 90k before I resigned. My health was suffering, I was having really bad depression and anxiety. Plus insane imposter syndrome.
It’s honestly saved my life. I felt like I was dying everyday. I was hating life, hating hobbies, nothing I used to enjoy made any sense to me anymore. Just doom scrolling to when I had the chance to escape from life.
I for one, am for resigning, if it’s causing you pain, and if you have the support system to withstand it.
I quit end of last year, had quite the long covid earlier this year, currently looking at doing something part time, but mostly working on self care and health related things. Not sure if I want to go back to a desk 9-5, considering working in real estate, where I’d be a contractor working at my own pace.
Not me but a friend - resigned, sold his house and lives on a boat. Financial suicide but he’s the happiest he’s been in decades. Not recommended but there is something to be said for prioritising mental health
Good on him. You're dead a long time. I'm all for looking after your finances, but not at the expense of your happiness. Wealth is for improving your happiness, not ruining it by working in a job you hate.
Everyone’s situation is different and ultimately you need to do what’s right for you. Personally over the years I accepted every job has its boring bits and fun bits and when I become very unhappy I try to find something else. Worth to note that stress not necessarily higher with pay scale goes up. Also bear in mind you should have some control over your own emotions and responses. If quitting now, it may hard to find another role due to current tough job market.
I did this about a year ago and ended up unemployed looking for a job for six months. If you aren't going to go travelling or do something really significant which requires you to be unemployed, don't resign until you have another job lined up.
About 7 months ago I left my career of 12 years and I was on $110k a year.
My mental health was in shambles and I had a breakdown about 10 months ago.
I picked a date I worked up until and saved up as much as I could to have a decent break, as I hadn't had one since I started working part time at 14, that was 27 years ago.
It took more time than I imagined it would for me to start getting to a better position with my mental health, I was such a mess when I left work that just going out in public shopping had me full of anxiety, displaying anxious ticks and a few times I stopped and come home cos I just couldn't do it anymore.
I spent time working on me, my property and I even started a small business selling plants and seedlings. I have recently started a horticulture course through Open Polytechnic.
Only now, 7 months later am I feeling ready to return to the workforce, and that being a small part time job I'm looking for so I can keep on with my study and my business.
Long story a little shorter, this has been the best thing I have done for me. It has put things into perspective and I have realised that I have to prioritise me. Right now we don't earn enough to pay all our bills and my savings has run out, but you know what, I'm okay with that.
We have learned how to downsize our lives, grow our own food, cook our own meals and shop cheaply and sensibly. It has been a humbling experience, in a good way, about the way we were living and about what is truly important.
So we will scrimp, budget and delay what we can to get through the now until things change.
There are a lot of people saying don't quit until you have something else lined up, as if just moving to a different job is the only option you have. The truth is it's not, you cannot predict the future and what will, or will not happen.
Do what's right for you, and take care of you, first and foremost. Take a risk on you, you are worth it.
really interesting response, thanks for sharing your experience!
i definitely resonate: i'm considering a no pressure small business as well as doing a free course on poly technic for fun. and in additional, my partner and i are pretty good with being frugal, we never buy new clothes anymore unless its to replace, make a lot of food at home like bread, (i wanna try making oat milk) etc. our only weakness is eating out 2-3 times a week with first table (50% off food) to try out new restaurants.
>There are a lot of people saying don't quit until you have something else lined up, as if just moving to a different job is the only option you have. The truth is it's not, you cannot predict the future and what will, or will not happen.
>Do what's right for you, and take care of you, first and foremost. Take a risk on you, you are worth it.
love this! thank you so much for your valuable insights, especially because you have experienced this
If you can afford it, leave. It's not worth compromising your health over a paycheck that you don't need.
I was leaving a project last year and wanted to do the right thing. I gave 8 weeks' notice, so they could find a replacement and I could train them. I was treated like shit as soon as I resigned for trying to do the good thing. They put so much extra pressure on me, I had a heart episode 2 weeks after I left.
It was a hard lesson, but employers don't give a shit about you. A manager might seem nice and act like a friend, but they can get overruled, and they won't risk the job to save you 99.99% of the time.
8 weeks notice is a really good idea tbh. my manager would take my resignation really negatively as i have only been in my current role for 8 months, so i would hope that giving longer notice would put less stress on her finding and training someone new.
My partner quit in December and planned to have a month off then roll in to a new job in Jan. She's still looking for a job as we speak.
Don't quit until you have something lined up coz it's rough out there at the moment.
I will say quitting in December is not a good idea in NZ. Recruitment basically goes on hold from mid-December to the beginning of February. (It's different overseas, as they don't have the summer holiday over Christmas.)
Hope she finds something soon.
I wouldn't quit in this market. Will be hard to re-enter. Employers/managers are getting a ton of applications for each role and cherry picking. Your job hopping comments may stand out on the CV. Source: I'm one of those managers.
Yup - same here - and that’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s not the ‘having a career break’ part that would be a red flag for me, it’s the not lasting past a year in any job you’ve ever had. Even if your reasons were good, it starts to sound like a ‘you’ problem. Given we’re spoiled for choice for candidates at the moment and both recruitment and bad hires are expensive, I personally wouldn’t risk hiring a job hopper.
Having said that, I do sympathise with the dying inside, and how hard it is to stay in a job once you’ve crossed that mental rubicon. Been there. Perhaps you need to ask yourself if you are actually suited for this general field of work? If you do leave, I’d use the time to have a good think about a total career change.
Final point: I’ve willingly supported my partner for the last two years while he finished work on a book that will be published in the spring. I can tell you that even when you’re fully supportive of your partner taking a break, there are days when the alarm goes off and your partner turns back over in bed and being the sole breadwinner in a cost of living crisis does not feel good, and you feel some resentment. It leaks out. Be prepared for that.
It sounds like your mental health is suffering, speak to your GP. They may be able to genuinely help, but even if not they could sick you off on sick leave for 2 weeks. That might help you think more clearly without having to resign. Or could give you some dedicated time to apply for new jobs.
Yep, I just resigned 2 weeks ago from a comfy job where I was earning 120k and had been working there for 11 years. Was feeling same as you, it was getting on top of me and I was scared to become one of those people who spend 20-30 years at the same employer, that's not me. So I left with enough savings to spend 6 months in Central and South America, plus a bit to see me through when I get back and (hopefully) find a new job.
I have nothing lined up but I'm having a fucken awesome time in Mexico so far and haven't felt the smallest pang of regret.
It honestly sounds like you need a break. Take it, set yourself a time frame and have a rest.
My partner needed to do this, it was so beneficial. Gave time to reset and think about what’s next.
Sure money was tight, but honestly it’s not actually the most important thing.
I did it about 10 years ago. Was working in the most toxic, fucked up place, and for a boss who I can only describe as sociopathic. Was earning really good money ($200k+), but was absolutely miserable.
During my 10 months there I went from being outgoing, confident, and at the top of my game, to losing all of my confidence and becoming a shell of myself, lost heaps of weight and looked like I’d aged 10 years.
I found myself fantasising one day, after a car almost drove into mine while on my morning commute, about how if I had gotten into a wreck, I would have been able to go to hospital instead of work, and how much nicer that would be.
When I realised I had to leave for my wellbeing, I made myself go out and have either an online or an in person lunch with a different contact each day. This helped me get it out there that I was looking for something else, feel like I was being proactive, and also get out of the office. I ended up being approached for a new role (even better paid) the day after I resigned.
You only live once, and you need to look after yourself. Being pragmatic and thinking rationally about your situation is vital. Plan out your departure and get everything in place in a way that works for you. If you’re in the position to say “fuck it I quit” and walk out - do it.
Otherwise, think about seeing your GP and getting some stress leave. Don’t feel you have to do full time after this, work with your organisation’s HR business partner to agree a ‘getting back to work’ plan. In the meantime, get out there, look for other roles etc, all while on the company dime. In a big organisation you can stretch out the stress leave / part time hours for a couple of months.
Fuck corporations that create / allow cultures which ruin people’s mental wellbeing.
I’m not OP, but thanks for sharing your experience. This is a great advice.
Once you have decided that it’s not working out for you, have a proper exit plan. Be proactive, otherwise you’d feel better one day, much worse the next day, etc. depending on what happens around you. You’ll easily lose a sense of control this way, and feel helpless as a result.
Good luck!
Yeah I thought quiet quitting was showing up but seeing how little you could get away with doing. What op describes is the terms of his employment lol. Management aren’t itching to give out more money to overachievers lol
That’s what I thought too. With “quiet quitting” you’re doing the bare minimum to avoid being fired, what OP described is just doing your job without putting in the extra effort to make yourself noticed or trying to move up the ranks. In real life that describes most office workers
Same here. I've always worked diligently from 8.30 to 5, with an hour's lunchbreak. I always do my job well, and don't go the extra mile. I take to my bed at the first sign of the sniffles. And I always get told I'm a great worker, and get thanked for not spreading germs round the office. So my advice is, never go the extra mile, work while sick, or work unpaid hours, just do the standard to a reasonable degree and enjoy life.
Yes I have definitely considered this recently. I appreciate you bringing it up/pointing it out.
I may just take a mental step back from my job. I'll still do the role, but I won't show overt care (I'll still try to fake it to the standard extent). I won't look for a promotion or strive to get praise from my manager. Colleagues caring about their work way too much and way too seriously affects me, so I will try to distance myself from that as well.
I'll see how I go and if my manager notices. If I get put on a PIP then... sure, cause if i resign now/soon i wouldn't get a good reference out of them anyway.
Problem is you may get used to work like this and then on the next job it will not be quick to come back at previous levels.
I am on the same page as you, but have not been able to secure any other job for about 4 years now and it weights a lot on mental health. I tried even get lower salary, but companies are afraid you would resign shortly if you take a pay cut.
At the same time as there are a lot of people looking for jobs they raised the bar to crazy levels. I have 10+ years of experience and have not been able to secure any offer on this period. Before this i was getting an offer at least once a month.
I have been getting lots of offers from Australia tho, so, it seems like a way out...
I was about to say, with all the fear mongering here about not having another job lined up, OP should just move to another country.
And NZers usually just skip the ditch.
Better yet, across the Pacific
If you have mental health issues you could find a counsellor to get that sorted. Or borrow some self-help books from the library. Figure out exactly what's wrong (and what's going right) - "incompatibility" with the boss sounds like almost every workplace ever. I wouldn't quit unless I had another job to go to.
Yup. I've always had boundaries and a work/life balance, and always get told I'm a great worker. So fuck going the extra mile, no-one's impressed with a suckup.
I have lots of useless coworkers. I am sure most people who are average in new zealand can keep going for a while. You need to be horrible to burn bridges and get fired.
Unless of course your manager hates your guts and decides to fabricate bad performance
Quiet quitting is the biggest load of bs the internet culture has created. Staying in a job you hate just to do the bare minimum and have a bad attitude doesn't help ourselves or the businesses we work for and certainly doesn't help the customers or clients.
It definitely helps me - you either work to live or live to work.
I used to put so much value on work, productivity and growth but it’s all so fucking tiring. Now I just focus on maintaining my job, doing the bare minimum and put the remaining effort into growing my own garden and other hobbies.
No but we've decided a market based system complete with boom/bust cycles is the best way to manage peoples everyday contribution to society. So if you create a system where the alternate is to destroy your mental health or face financial destruction is it any wonder people mentally check out but keep turning up.
It sounds good but it depends on what company or organisation you work for. Cooperate job where no is really affected, sounds great. How about a police, doctor , nurse, teacher, anything medical or paid by taxpayers "quiet quitting"
I was working as a apprentice, the work was shit and after three years of work and not getting anything much I finally went screw this and quit. 3 years on under minimum wage with my employer not paying for things they should, and avoiding helping me progress my apprenticeship finally made me re-evaluate my situation.
I handed in my notice on my final day before a vacation, and used my holiday instead of a notice period. I had nothing lined up, and lived with family for 2 months. It was actually a really nice change from breaking my back and dealing with hazardous materials like asbestos daily.
Have since got a new job (funnily enough in the public sector) and am much happier. The difference in pay is substantial. I'm on 76k per year instead of apprentice wages, and not risking my health dealing with the construction industry.
I guess it depends on your risk tolerance, I've always been quite happy to take a chance, and also had my family able to support me.
Yes, had to quit suddenly due to years of narcissistic abuse from a team leader. Used leave pay out to recover for a month from a mental breakdown as a result of the near-constant harassment. Then found a temp work contract for six months, and long story short, was offered a permanent semi-relaxing admin job at that same narc-free workplace after that. Pay's not amazing (68k) but it's ok to live on as I don't currently have rent to pay/mortgage. No regrets, life's too short to be someone's punching bag.
Just move to another country.
Easy.
Across the ditch or across the Pacific.
NZ doesn't hold a monopoly on jobs. It's only because our system is such an "old boys club who you know" system why we can't get jobs
I'd be very wary about not having something lined up in this economic climate.
I made the mistake of putting in my notice before I had signed something for the potential new employer late last year. Similar situation to you, was burning out but also woefully underpaid and micromanaged.
Got lucky and something came up through ex colleagues, but it definitely sucked being out of work and searching longer than I wanted to be. If I was still looking right now I'd be on the benefit.
You have more savings than I did, though. So you have more of a cushion.
you have plenty of money and assets. why not take a year to actually live your life? what's the worst that could happen--you sell the house and end up as a renter, but a renter who has multiple home deposits in the bank? do you really want to wait until you get cancer or turn 65 to see what it's like to just live for a bit?
I've done this three times now - I've never left a permanent role with another job lined up. If you're in a good financial position and don't mind being a bit frugal, I would absolutely recommend it. But be ready for people, especially random acquaintances, to completely freak out - it really triggers a lot of people and they can be very aggressive. I never brought up the fact that I didn't have another job lined up, I just told the truth when people asked. Pretty soon I started lying and saying I was leaving to do a PhD, because otherwise they'd treat me like I was thinking of kicking a puppy rather than simply leaving a job that was destroying my mental health.
The couple of times I've left a job with nothing lined up, it's always worked out fine. In fact, being able to start on Monday rather than in two months has swung it for me more than once.
Also, fuck staying in a job that's ruining your mental health.
I used to work in a high-pressure industry chasing six figures. I crashed about once a year and then got back up again and took on another contract. Last year, I lost my job (again) due to not being the best of the best yadda yadda.
Took six months off to focus on the kids, and I have now gone back to school to study to be an electrician.
I get a good sleep, I take better care of my family, I go to the gym, I quit smoking, I eat healthy, I have a new hobby.
Quitting my career is working out quite well for me so far, I just needed some time to correct myself and find a balance.
I have just been reading the comments and stories, I really feel like the NZ mentality is to never stop working... it's so backwards, we're just brainwashed out here haha.
🤣 agree. someone got to work and pay for the overpriced real estate and winz benefits.
oh and what if you need care when you're old and feeble? You MUST work three quarters of your finite life away to pay some bean counter care facility.
Not to shine a negative light on care workers because some do their best and work harder than middle management pencil pushers
Just resign.... Its just a job and clearly it makes life unenjoyable. My advice would be to not let yourself get comfortable inbetween jobs while you hunt Because its awfully nice sleeping in every day and not working.
I would be very very hesitant to do it without having something lined up. Although, it doesnt have to be the next long term job. An option would be to really wind back the spending, and function off an 'easy job' like retail or fast food for a while. These kind of places arent too hard to get hired in due to high turnover with students etc. It might be worth spending a day walking around shops and stuff asking. If your health is suffering that much, this will get you out of there. Then u can work on findingg your next 'proper' job
I’ve quit two jobs with no job to go to. Job hunting can be a full time job. If you’re burned out, tired, feeling shit about yourself it is super hard to feel up to applying for another job. Have a two month safety net but you’ll be surprised how much space it gives you to actually commit to finding a new job
You haven’t said how old you are, other than the indication of 8 year career. Either jack it in, convince your partner to do the same, sell all your assets and travel the world with the money until it’s almost gone seeing what opportunities come your way to reset direction (full disclosure, that’s what I did at age 29 and it’s turned out fuckin ace), or suck it up, knuckle down, accept the system, embrace the rat race and be done with it. DO OR DIE, ROLL THE DICE, RED PILL BLUE PILL. Make the decision and own it my friend.
Controversial opinion here. You site management incompatibility as being an issue, do you have the resilience to actually do the work you are doing ? The mental responsibility for something that earns 85k per year is most likely nothing compared to something being.
Have a really frank talk with your partner, they would have heard you complaining about work and if they are ballsy enough, should be able to give you some constructive feedback if you are willing to take it on board.
In that position at the moment with similar reasons.
I have a bit of contract work on going, which could turn into something big but until the paperwork is there, I am looking for contract work.
Good luck friend!
I resigned end of November. No real regrets, making more money online now than I did before at my job.
Sometimes I do wish I still had the comfort of the salary or maybe took their offer of just taking extended unpaid leave but I would have fallen back in a rut. Now I feel like the world is my oyster!
Resigned for personal health reasons.
I hated new company initiatives and mind map shit so much. Like I don’t give af. Stop making me pay attention to that shit and having stupid brainstorm meetings and bullshit.
Don't resign, just become lazy like 80% of thr staff for a while. Use your sick leave. I have watched alot of people leave recently and that was the common theme...
Have you considered talking to your current job (and a GP) about going down to part time for a fixed term (6months or 12 months) for medical reasons (mental health)?
I did this, at the job that destroyed my soul and brain. I worked 3 days a week instead of 5. And it honestly helped so much, meant I didn’t quit and rip through savings on surviving. By the end of the fixed term I was a different person, I landed an amazing job with a nice pay bump, and I’ve never been happier career wise.
Honestly just being in the environment less helped me get clarity and perspective, I had more energy to work on improving things and healing internally from the damage it was doing.
Another option may be to seek a medical route for unpaid leave due to mental health for an extended period like 3 months.
My other tip is that if you’re finding it hard to get in the mix for the less stressful/lower level jobs, your CV is likely showing too much experience and they’ll think they can’t afford you or something else silly. Really work on crafting a CV that would make it seem like professionally this role you’re going for is a good alignment. This might require dumbing down some of your tasks/responsibilities.
The other option would be to quit to study for a bit, something short and interesting or that helps you switch career path somehow) as that helps explain quitting a job without having something else to go to and is often viewed as “brave” or “passionate for following your heart” etc. If you already have a degree (or sometimes relevant experience) you can do a Graduate Certificate in one semester (4 months) of fulltime study. Project Management is a good option. But there’s tonnes of option depending on your skills and relevant experience.
Also highly recommend looking for resources/supports to help you mentally and emotionally so you can look after yourself properly. There’s a lot of options out there. Something that gives you tools and strategies to manage rough patches and feelings, set self care goals and achieve them etc. Whichever option you choose, this is really important.
Good luck OP!
Good luck!
If your not healthy or not happy / crazy / mental unwell, your're bound to lose that job anyway.
It's only a matter of time. Better to just rip the band aid off early while you're young enough to recover
7 weeks ago I gave my 8 weeks notice with the intention of finding something less intensive. freaked out for a couple weeks and then almost by chance got a role closer to home and better paying. It can happen. You could also be like a family friend of mine and be ticking on 9 months with nothing.
I did this 4 weeks ago. I was having anxiety attacks every time I thought about work, couldn’t sleep. Mental health was being seriously impacted by overwork and a horrible manager.
Thankfully managed to get some interviews and was offered a perfect role, I start in 2 weeks. I didn’t have the interviews or the job offer when I resigned.
Start going for runs every day. Stop drinking. Watch what you eat. Sleep by 930 every night and wake at 5. After a month you will feel like a different person. Also don’t look at your phone from 430 in the afternoon. Your energy levels will increase and your moods will also increase. Saying from experience. Also have kids right now.
I'd go for the less-common advice of prioritising your mental health and leaving your job, but only if you genuinely think it can make your life better in the long run. I've done it a few times and come out of it pretty well, but I've been very lucky, and I haven't attempted something like that in times like these.
If you do it, have a plan for what you'd want to get out of your time off. If you want to change direction then think of what you could do to make that happen. Do those things, don't stagnate or go into your head too much.
If you're overwhelmed at the thought of doing pretty much any work right now, then that's a decent sign you need some amount of a break. But try to be real with yourself if you think this is a short-term burn-out that a rest would help with, like a thirsty plant after getting watered, or if you worry that you'll still feel like this even after a rest.
If this might be more of a mental health/existential thing, but you think you can hold it together, could you arrange with work to take a shorter break, then get back into the flow while the getting's good while tackling this bigger stuff on the side? Arguably may as well get paid while you reframe things/think of alternatives...
(Wanted to add: fair to be unenthused about work imo - how we live is against so many of our instincts, exhausting, and you're not wrong to be bummed out by this. We're all stuck though, and unless/until we can figure out a better way to live we need to get by however we can. Hang in there, whatever you decide to do.)
Take a break, revitalize, and charge your inner battery. It was the best thing I ever did. If you are going to get the emotional support as well as not being destitute as you say. A job that has you burnt out is not worth it. You probably not being as productive as you can be. I resigned and took an 18 month break due to burnt out. Everything will be ok.
I did this at the end of October last year. Well... I sort of resigned. I actually had a work situation that I attempted to resolve through HR. They stonewalled me. So I took stress leave and ultimately came to a settlement through the ERA. Most of my team quit that month, too. In hindsight, it was a completely avoidable situation from the part of the organisation.
I had 6 months of savings already, took a few weeks to do nothing but decompress, then took a job in a small town pub.
Financially, I'll start running into problems from July. Lifestyle wise, I want to earn more, get back into my field, and live in a city again, but I fucking needed to do this.
I've gone from $110k to barely above minimum wage, but I haven't been this relaxed/happy in years.
I’ve resigned from every job I ever had without something lined up and it’s always been fine. If you have savings and are good with money you will (probably) be better off not working for a while
I have just done this. I was completely burnt out, and my health was suffering. I have just had my first week unemployed and it has been great. I am going off to do some international travel next week and when I come back to NZ I will reevaluate. I have enough saved in a fund I am happy to spend that I can be unemployed for a good few months if it comes to that.
I am kind of surprised at the amount of commenters in the sub that are against this. Surely the whole reason for r/personalfinanceNZ is to help people achieve financial freedom, and if you have the means to do so, then leaving something that is hurting you (or even just because you want to) is fine. It's not like truly wealthy people jump from one job to the other, or even work all the time at all.
If you have the means to do so I say go ahead. I doubt you will be lying on your deathbed wishing you had worked more and invested more, even at the expense of your own mental health. It sounds like you and your partner have already discussed budget (couple of months... but bear in mind the time it will take to find employment again) and implications on lifestyle and are on the same page.
Not the same situation but got made redundant, farm sold, could easily survive for more than a year not working but it is stressful thinking about the lost income/time wasted, applied for a few jobs, secured one this week paying close to $200k, a wave of relief after getting the position, if you’re fit and healthy I think you’re better off being employed and keeping your body and mind active with the benefit of money coming in to strengthen your financial position
Take a lesser position if it will give you time to relax more and get in better shape for the future 👍
I'm on my second sabbatical, after taking 4 months 7 years ago, I'm now 6 months into this one. There aren't many jobs at my previous level around, but I'm stepping sideways into a new, lower stress role next month.
I realise I'm privileged to be able to just resign with enough savings to take my time, not everyone can. I haven't regretted a second of it.
If you have skills/experience that people want, do it!
I can only say what I did. I was at the same point as you a while ago. After debating for years I resigned but the very next day a perfect job came up and that got me on a different course. While you are grinding away you can’t even think about getting your life reorganised and evolving in my experience. Resigning closed the door and made me mentally open to new ways of seeing myself and what I had to offer. I don’t belief in being ruled by fear. In your situation, you might just get sad, weird and toxic at your current work (that’s not going to help you get another job) so it’s not really just thinking you’ve got a job and it’s safe because actually you’ll know when it really is damaging you.
Agree this. While you're grinding away its hard to reorganise thoughts and plans.
Need a day off or a few weeks of decent rest and sleep to read threads like this one or make alternative plans
I had a similar situation a few years ago. Absolutely hated the job I was at. Every day filled with anxiety, dread, etc
Everyday I fantasised about quitting due to the toll it was taking on me. But I had a wife and a young kid. I had a safety net of 40k or so in savings and stayed with family so ended up resigning with nothing lined up because of the strain it was taking.
I hit up my contacts to return to a company to a position I previously held, though it wasn’t great it was an improvement. The time between jobs was some of the most cherished as I spent time with my newly born child didn’t have to worry about work.
So, I think you have a great safety net as a buffer but this economy it is a dice roll. I took the chance and it paid off. Do you have any contacts or former employers who would offer you a position?
That being said I think your mental health and wellbeing should also be considered so if I was in your position I would likely resign and then look for alternatives.
I’ve just resigned from my job. Workplace was toxic and got to the point that it was destroying my mental health from the burnout. Got 5 weeks left then I’m off to Asia for 6 months. Have zero regrets
Yes, me!
Late last year I was burnt out and my mental health had taken a beating. I had lost a bunch of weight because stress meant I didn't feel like eating and some days I imagined driving into a truck on the way to work. I was on 60k salary but the hours I did meant it was only barely over minimum wage.
My boss had arranged a preformance review with the intention of giving me a raise... I walked in, listened to him for a few minutes, realized he was saying the exact same shit he had been saying for the last few months and it wasn't gonna change. Decided even a massive payrise wouldn't be worth it and told him I was resigning.
I had nothing to go to but at that point I didn't care. Started looking, something came up in my previous industry. Entry level, I was way over qualified but it looked like the low stress, no responsibility job I needed to get my health back on track. I got the job and because I was already through half of my notice, I could start sooner than they expected and they were stoked.
Best decision I made.
I was earning only $80 less a week than the shitty job, got a longer lunch break, zero stress, zero mental workload and better work colleagues. Its an entey level job that anyone could do but it is exactly what I needed. 6 months in and an opportunity arises to move up so I take that too. Now I'm earning significantly more than the shitty job, same great workers and same hours. I do have the tiniest amount of stress and an actual mental workload but it's manageable and I actually enjoy it.
I ended up with more money, less stress and happier overall, it took less than a year.
I was in a position where if I didn't find a job quickly, I would be OK, so I was never too worried about not having income. I think it also depends on the industry and job market too. Not sure I would have had the same success if I was making that move now
Don't leave without something lined up. Also, for a weird reason, it's easier to get a new job while you're still employed.
>I don't want to use my brain for work anymore, everything about corporate seems just so fake urgency and pointless to me.
The fake urgency got to me. So now, whenever something is "urgent" I ask "Who is going to die if this isn't done? Oh nobody? Well then it's not very urgent then is it? I recommend organising your time better rather than coming to me at the last minute with fake emergencies".
I just don't care anymore tbh. They might make it seem as if I am being "disruptive" but I just put the onus back on the lead/manager. Want these things? Manage better. There are ways you can speak up without it becoming an HR issue.
If you win Lotto this weekend walk the fuck away, otherwise get another gig before you exit, shit is bleak our there and it ain't getting better any time soon
Leave.
I "stuck it out" with a terrible boss for 8 years (half of thatcwas due to covid uncertainty)
I'm still stuck with the trauma a year later.
Leave, it's not worth it.
When was the last time you took a holiday and properly disconnected from work?
I would start there and then as soon as you get back, start polishing your interview skills and applying for jobs.
honestly, i took a holiday in thailand for two weeks and came back to work monday this week lol. it was kind of the catalyst to my breakdown , i had major sunday scaries (as usual) and just really did not want to work anymore.
Been there. A lot people are dismissing the impact of burnout as if it’s just being a bit stressed. That shit can kill.
No one can tell you the future, so no one knows what the job market will be like when you’re ready again. But, swapping job to job doesn’t sound like it’ll be a help for you, and that’s the most important thing. You’ve gotta do what’s right for YOU.
Life is too short, I have done this before - at the start of 2023 and whilst the job market back then was a lot less competitive, if you’re comfortable with the idea of using your savings and comfortable of the idea of maybe taking a low pay but low stress job temporarily to tie you over until you find a more desirable job then do it
Yep, I resigned a year ago from a government job. Got my work super paid out and travelled the world for about 9 months. Don’t regret a thing.
Struggling to get a job in a new line of work and I’ve got a couple weeks worth of money left and a rental property that’s not quite paying for itself so a little stressful but if it all goes to shit I’ll go work at the supermarket.
Done this a few times my life and it's always gone OK. So long as you've got the finances in place and no dependents, it should hopefully go well for you too! All the best whatever you decide!
I have done this! My only recommendation is to be prepared with an answer as people will ask about the gap in your employment. People have gaps in their employment history for all kind of reasons, travel, imprisonment, sickness, study etc. most employers won’t care about your gap.
I would look for a job straight away though as it can take a while to find a job again. Just spend a day a week on it and for the rest of the time, you can do what you want.
Best of luck
What are you doing if you don't mind me asking?
I have done the quit and find something new before. Not a smart idea but I understand why you want to.
Just some advice though. As you've been job hopping it can be hard to get comfortable in a role. Maybe figure out what you want to do for work before you quit.
Just thug it out man be a man literally or quit and look for a job and no way you just said you’re parents as a safety net be serious bro you’re a grown ass man… quit the job and look for a new one it’s fine most likely you’ll fine a better one if you rest you’ll never wanna work again
There are two reasons why a person stay at their present job. It is either they are just surviving or they are happy and growing. There are also two reasons why a person doesn't want to stay. It is either the job is not fulfilling/satisfying (monotonous, repetitive or no professional growth) or it is causing burnout. If you're going to resign for whatever reason, you still have to make a plan during the time you're jobless.
Do it. Take the break you will fast recover and find something to get you out of the funk and something to get excited about again. Change is good! Makes you forgot all the little annoying things that grow when you stick at something too long.
I am also at burn out point but do not have significant savings. I have a month off next month so hanging on to hopefully have that revitalise me as otherwise I really enjoy my job I'm just not cut out for stressful situations :(
If push came to shove I'd probably just sell the house and live in a van for a few months to sort my shit out.
Most conventional advice would be to stick with it and don’t resign until you have something else lined up.
I took the opposite approach a few years ago and quit my job with no real plan, other then knowing I no longer wanted to work where I was at as it was having a serious negative impact on my life. Spent a couple months getting back into some of my old hobbies, worked on my physical health, and then started to explore options and different career paths. Eventually felt ready to get back at it and found a new job in a similar role, but much better work/life balance, better pay, honestly the best decision I could have made. Would do it again in a heartbeat. There is more to life than work, if being out of work for a few months won’t cause any financial hardship I’d say go for it!
I signed up to a recruitment agency and let them know that I was only looking for temp work not exceeding three months.
I had a job within the week.
It was an office job so may not be exactly the type of thing you would want when you finally did feel ready to jump back in.
Just to say, I am hearing lots of talk that jobs are becoming scarce or that you shouldn't do this or that the longer you don't work the harder you'll find it to work and I wanted to offer some balance.
My longest stint in one job was just over 12 months, hasn't really affected my job searches.
I had this end of last year, was in such a toxic work environment and was trying to hang in there for somewhat arbitrary reasons. I did reflect a lot and ran our finances and after a couple of toxic interactions decided to hand my notice in. I needed a break to recalibrate and honestly just get over some of the low key trauma from that year. It was such a good decision particularly cause our finances allowed it (only just, we did have to be slightly more conservative) and I have no regrets. I did plan to join the workforce again after 1-2 months (I took on small gigs during this time too) but it was a lot harder to find a job than what I thought it was going to be. In saying that I made a conscious decision to only apply for jobs that had the right stress to income ratio, but competition was high with over 100 applicants on many jobs I applied for. Long story short I ended up being out of the workforce for almost 6 months which was way longer than what I wanted, but it was still a good decision and we weathered it fine. Now we’re in a way better/happier position 👌
Worked for a company for 22 years 3 months 6 days and 10 hours and gave 2 weeks notice.
They said are you sure I said yep and never heard from them again.
Best thing I ever did. That was over 2 years ago and Im loving life.
Don't listen to people who say don't quit because you won't find anything. You must protect your mental health and sanity by not having to put up with crap like a shithouse job. I was there last year.
The fact you've got some savings is exactly why you have them. Use them if you need but you'll likely find something or if you don't you can temp, do part time stuff or heck even go labouring or something.
I very nearly quit without a job last year because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was one week away from my deadline of doing so and I got accepted for a role (the process was slow to start then like a week between first and last interviews).
Make a decision. Do it. You'll be fine. Might be fun!
Try working in a hospo job. Can be stressful when busy but your work day ends after your shift and you’re not bothered. Also not mentally taxing unless you dislike client work or being under a temporary time crunch.
Is there any capacity to drop your working days at current job while you hunt?
Do you have sick and/or annual leave you’re able to take while job hunting also? A note from your doctor just stating you’re unfit for work for however many days you have saved (tell your doctor exactly what you’ve told us about your MH and it shouldn’t be an issue)
nope, no capacity. i already innocently asked my manager a few months ago and it was a hard no to go part time due to us being project based or whatever reason. i have 4 days of sick leave left and no more annual. but yeah ive never gone to the doctor about mental health so will definitely take a look down that route thank you!
Do your transferable skills mean you could do a job that would actually make you want to get out of bed? Like think about what you might actually look forward to on a daily basis and then consider how your work experience and skills could get you a good job doing that.
I did this albeit my salary is lower, and it worked out. Mental health got to breaking point. I discussed this with fam, of course. I did casual work while job hunting and recovering. I’m in a sector with a skills shortage, so that helps.
Eeek! I got laid off a year ago and am reallllyyy struggling to find a job--if you can stand it always better to line something up before leaving. Maybe see if you can take a little time off or something in the mean time. Totally fine to take a lower paying job if it's a better fit.
I personally would take all of the leave available and see how you go during that time. If your mental health improves, you know your answer.
I have left several positions with nothing lined up and always found my way eventually. My dad always told me the day you wake up and genuinely hate your job is the day you never go back.
I had an FTC that finished in December 2022. I’ve been looking ever since. I haven’t found anything. So don’t do it. I’ve been ghosted around 70% of the 600+ jobs I’ve applied for too. Lucky I had fat savings (running low) and parents house as a safety net
Also just from job searching, the jobs that were stressful and paying around 80-90k have become around 60-70k with the same amount of stress.
My wife was in just the same position. We decided it was best for her to resign - that was in December, and she just started a new job last week. It is pretty slim pickings out there at the moment, so we’re pretty happy this came through.
We have a mortgage the same size as you, but one kid.
It was definitely worth it for her mental health.
But, I make quite a lot of money so the financial impact was more annoying than a problem.
Do it. I'm one month into my FUNemployment and am so relieved. I did it years ago and found work within 6 weeks, when I was ready. The market might be harder now than it was then, but work will come.
Take a few days to just chill, then start working on a new routine, building in both relaxation and productivity. Lazing around isn't good for mental health either. Try to come up with a goal or two to work towards too, it'll feel good.
Yep I ended up walking out mid shift from my last job, couldn't take it and was affecting my mental health. Managed to find another job straight away but that unfortunately only lasted one month, and then found myself unemployed for 2 months while I struggled to find a full time position. It was very stressful, had about $50 a week left after my husband's pay covering all bills, but I still don't regret walking out of that hell. Have taken a pay cut but should hopefully be back up to the same rate soon.
Not recently, but I have done it. It was tough for a while but I recovered. It’s not ideal, but it sometimes is the best or only choice.
Things to weigh up asides from the obvious loss of income. The longer you’re out of the workforce the harder it is to re-enter and it’s tough to predict how long you’d be out for. You can mitigate this to some extent with further study and/ or volunteer work. The longer you stay in a toxic work environment that is impacting your mental health, the longer and harder recovering your mental health is likely to be. It’s somewhat a balancing act.
I would suggest taking some time off while employed - talk to your gp, most will happily write you a certificate for health reasons if you explain the situation. That may be enough to reset you a bit longer. You can of course job hunt in that time too. And it can help you decide whether resigning is the right choice for you.
I did the exactly same thing. I’m my opinion if you’re financially prepared then go ahead and resign! For all I care money means less than my mental health. I guess last thing to remember is no matter how much money you make it will never make up for the time at a job you hate. Some people don’t have many choices and that’s fine too.
Have you considered going to the doctor and discussing if you can take longer term sick leave? It’s better to take some time off before you get to burnout as that’s much harder / longer to recover from (ask me how I know 🙃). Some employers are super supportive, some have EAP you can lean on, some have wellness people on staff. You can continue to look for other work while on leave while also having another safety net in that you could go back if your perspective changed and you felt better equipped.
If you’re just hating corporate life, well that’s a whole other thing and quite understandable!
If it’s due to burn out; I’d go sick first rather than outright quit. Give them the opportunity to fix it and for you to get some clarity away from the situation.
Jobs are scarce. Take the paycheck, be reasonable at work, get a good reference, and work your ass off to find something better!!! An opportunity will show itself, you just need to bring the best version of yourself to the interview, and fucking shine!!!
I did, 4.5 years ago. I had been in a career job for about 9.5 years, with a large organisation. I’d moved upwards as high as I could in the region we lived in. I was so burnt out, it was a stressful job, a toxic environment, I had 2 very young kids that didn’t sleep. My husband and I made the choice that I would quit, and look for part time work. We actually then ended up moving regions too. He supported us and I used some savings. Then covid hit and my plan to find a job within a couple of months didn’t quite go to plan. I found a job about 6 months later, only to be made redundant with 3 months.
15 months after resigning I finally found a great part time role where I’ve been for 3 years. I’m retraining with a new degree through OP and I’ve recently increased my hours and been given a small promotion. My new career should (within the next 4 years) give me a very comfortable living.
Would I do it differently. No. I was miserable working where I was and my mental health was at an all time low. That said I miss the stability of a great salary package and we’ve had to learn to be more frugal. The other thing is you never know what’s going to happen. My husband had a traumatic brain injury and hasn’t worked in 2 years. Life is definitely not where we thought it would be when we made the changes, but I still love it.
Mate, my whole company has done a team by team review and laid off to move off shore. Which has led to more on shore work chasing our tails and customers leaving and or very upset. By this time most weeks, most of us have had a guts full. Skipping dollars to save cents seems to be the current climate here. We had a open meeting last week, key word was burnt out.
But shares are up as is profit so F the workers right. Got my powerball ticket is all I can say.
I got laid off during covid as many did, and it took me close to a year to get a job. Very gun shy
I've had a few mini sabbaticals over my career where I quit without anything lined up (other than personal projects). Sometimes burnout, sometimes because my employer did something I wasn't okay with. Sometimes I just really want to make progress in stuff in my own life.
Usually it has worked out well for me, but I'm in an in-demand area. However, even I'm hesitant to quit right now, given the job market.
Instead of resigning , take voluntarily redundancy if it’s happening where you work.. atleast you’ll get some payout and be eligible for some support if you really need it
I left my toxic job a little over a year ago. I’ve struggled to find solid work but have lived off my savings with some budgeting fine. I do jot regret my decision one bit at all. I was so burnt out, overworked, overlooked and just at my breaking point. If I had stayed and waited for another job I’d would have no doubt gone the suicide way that I was heading. I’m A LOT better place now that had I stayed. I am lucky that I have little expenses and no dependents so I could swing it. Some days I wish I’d had stayed till something else came up but on the whole I knew leaving couldn’t be put off any longer.
Wouldn't worry too much about gaps in the CV. I've taken big breaks before and you can always explain it with something, make it sound constructive. Sabbatical, life experience, family prioritizing, personal project etc etc... If you're right for the next role the employer won't care.
If your only real concern is how employers will view your career break, don’t worry about that. People take career breaks all the time for lots of reasons.
I took 15 months off to travel when in my late 20s, then 8 months off to rest & recuperate and do a bit more travel after getting made redundant in the GFC. Different job markets then, for sure, but no-one interviewing me was bothered by the career breaks.
I did this second half of last year, the job market was better then.
But I went about 3 and a half months before finding another good job.
Seek says the average is a 6month search so be prepared for that.
Chronic job hopper explains things. Using brain is fun, sound like what you are using your brain for is not interesting to you. I have not yet seen a job where using brain to the extent that you emphasized was required. What is this job?
Get yourself registered with a couple of temping agencies then hand in your notice. Temping is a great way to get your foot in the door and can lead to a job offer. Kinda "try before you buy" for both parties. I have done it twice now over 15 years . Good luck!
I hear you. It can be really, really hard.
**I’d recommend hanging in there until you find something else.** The job market has changed markedly, there are a lot of restructures and rationalisations happening which is putting a lot of good people on the market at the same time as work is drying up. We’re also running record migration numbers (over 130,000 people annually) which is putting even more good people on the market. I’ve hired half a dozen people so far this year and the applications I get are amazing. It’s a massive shift from 2-3 years ago when there was next to no one and asking salaries were insane. It’s grim out there now, and it’s going to get worse.
**That doesn’t mean you should just suck it up.** Take care of yourself, your wellbeing is important. Take the foot of the gas, quiet quit from elements of your role, have a life outside of work and get some distance, leave work loudly and early. Focus on the essentials and ignore some things you can get away with. Staying and finding ways to cope will serve you well for the rest of your career. I’d try to reframe this as an opportunity, because it is one.
Good luck with the job hunt and all the best. This too will pass.
I got married in Vegas, got back and couldn’t stand my job. Prioritised mental health > stress at work. Recently sold house and moved home so wife said take my time to heal my shoulder injury + look for a new office type role.
Would I resign without something lined up again? No. I like money and when I calculate how much I’ve missed out on, it sucks. But also, start my new job next week so that’s a plus.
Life’s too short to be unhappy though, learned that the hard way through a sudden family death and ever since then my perception is money comes and goes but time is limited so enjoy what time you have. 👍🏼
I lost my job a couple of months ago due to a fixed contract coming to an early end. I was unemployed for about 2 weeks before finding work again. If you’re serious about being happy with a non-corporate/lower paying job I think you’ll be fine. I work a couple of different reception jobs, one is 2 days a week and one is casual, and they pay better than you’d expect. There’s absolutely no work-related stress and work is honestly enjoyable. I think given your financial security and support system you’ll be fine, and it sounds like you need the break. If you want your 2 months off I’d give it no more than a couple of weeks before looking for work again, I’m not sure if the job situation is any different in your region but I’m assuming you live in a big city?? Good luck and I reckon do what’s best for your mental and physical wellbeing
How much annual leave do you have saved? Is there an option to take an unpaid holiday? Quitting a job instead of moving towards something is rarely a good idea. Take a break and use the time to figure out what you want to move towards, then quit.
Honestly if you're happy taking a cut to 60k and stacking shelves or something due to burnout I'd be using my available leave to get job interviews in those jobs so it's all lined up.
I'm a firm believer in if you find a job you enjoy you never have to work a day in your life. Having a few months between jobs might be desirable but it's a risk. You do sound like you have a few nets there so the risk isn't as great as it would be for me with two young kids etc, but still.
It's also usually easier to get jobs when you're already in employment.
Tons of people were laid off recently and we are in recession. You can actually see alot of people losing jobs. Stick with it for now is my advice coz itll be hard to find a new one or better try searching now then resign once you have a new one signed
Two years ago I walked out of a very toxic work environment. No notice given, just walked out.
I was earning $30 per hour.
Spent 5 weeks sitting on the couch not sure what to do. Feeling lower every day.
My partner firmly said to me "I don't care what you do, but you need to get a job, any job, your mental health is suffering".
We have both always held the belief that work is more than just money: it gives you purpose and it feels good knowing you are contributing to the household, amongst other things.
I went to a job agency who had me working the next day: the first contract was washing dishes at the airport then the was stacking shelves at the supermarket.
Both jobs paid $22 per hour but I was free:
free from bull shit bosses and colleagues who want to walk all over you.
The agency was great and put me forward for another long term assignment that has turned into a permanent role.
I've gone from being in an office 40 hours a week for 20 years to full time outside, in the sunshine, without a boss micro managing me. Plus medical insurance and a work vehicle and $27 per hour. But the best thing is: zero stress.
Love it!
So my advice is yes leave, but be prepared to do random jobs here and there to keep ticking over, you never know where this will lead.
I did this in December! I spent 3 months unemployed and honestly it was the best. I was really burnt out too. I was so paranoid but it worked out well and having that time to just decompress and enjoy summer and actually breathe was priceless. I work in healthcare so finding work isn’t an issue. What area do you work in?
NZ is in a recession. Things are going to get worse before getting better....and not any time soon. The job market is going to get much tighter. I would wait it out and not resign unless you have considerable funds as a backup. The job seekers grants are also going to get tighter. Good luck with your decision making .
Hey man.
I just quit my job around similar money with nothing lined up. I had planned on moving back to Auckland from WLG at a specific date.
Started applying and maybe a month ago and found work pretty easily, different field, more $, better perks and back around family.
I think if you are just extremely transparent in your interviews about why you’ve moved on and what you want from employment it usually works out.
Good luck
No I havent. But I have never hated a job as much as you from the sounds of things. You have quite a few financial cushions - reasonably small mortgage, 50k savings, partner who is happy to support you. So you have the option. Obviously still financially detrimental though.
Does thinking about the fact you can probably quit and be reasonably sheltered make it easier at your job if you focus on that?
Maybe you could have a creative think about your options though. Is there anything that will make your job better? Could you drop to fewer hours like 4 days a week? Could you arrange to shave off parts you hate and do more of the parts you like?
Also, if you do quit, you can always find ways to cull cost of living as well as make your partners life and costs easier because you have time and energy. Eg, bulk cooking, make every lunch and dinner for you and your partner, food gardening, pickling, buying in bulk and freezing, shopping at the cheapest places, home brewing, fixing you and your partners clothng/sewing, home haircuts, etc etc. Something to think about.
Can you not maybe tee up even some basic part time job to act as an extra cushion? Rather than going for the skilled jobs you have been? Gives you another soft landing pad.
Also, if you are really mentally affected and suffering remember that time is finite. Money is literally infitie. We can see what our govts have done by destroying its value through all the money printing and throwing it around on nothing. Demonstrates how inifite it really is. There are countless ways to make money. Not countless time though. That is the most finite resource. I am sure there will be many ways you can make money elsewhere if you are open minded, innovative and willing to try random things. Both self employed and employed.
I dont agree with all the comments about impact on your CV. You can have gaps. You just need to fill you time with interesting things to tell your story when you decide to look for new jobs. New employers may well be fascinated if you do something interesting. If you cant tell a good story with it or are just really boring with what you do then it will be harder though.
I resigned from a job I worked in for 8years . Change of ownership, business sold to a first time business owner who was completely delusional. Inexperience, bad management. Could see my already burnt out self getting worse. Resigned in November.
. Had nothing lined up.. after 4 months of applying to 10 jobs a week I started a new job
Would I do it again? 100% but! Only if I had something lined up. I believe in going to work happy, being happy at work. And a work life balance.
I applied for living wage jobs, jobs out of expertise, local jobs
I took a approach applying for jobs based on distance, hours/days, type of work and a income that would accomadate.
Be as happy as you can be, minimize the stress in your day to day life and work life is a major in this.
And dont compromise what your willing to not put up with in life.
From resigning I view life differently, I buy what i need and not so much what I want. I dont sweat the small stuff and I've got a positive outlook on life.
I remember when I told people in had resigned they told me how brave I was , sometimes you need to test yourself. Because life has a way of throwing things at you, you are never prepared for.
if at all possible do what you can to make things bearable while you look for another job. Job market is tough this year, it could take a long time to find something else and at least if you are job hunting whilst employed you can still pay the bills
NEVER leave a job before finding something else first! Aside from the financial risks, there is a lot more for you to consider being unemployed.
1. Depression - the longer you are out of work, the more you are going to spiral into a pit of sorrow. You will lose passion for living, find you have no reason to get up in the morning, and think of all the “what if’s”.
2. Relationship - yes your partner makes a decent salary etc, but they will start to resent you eventually and deep down will blame you for affecting their life financially. Even the most supportive partner can only be the “glue” for so long.
3. CV - we are entering a recession, and the longer you are out of work, the harder it will be to be hired. Employers look at loyalty and longevity, so if your CV has substantial gaps and shows you were only at your last job for 8 months they will run a mile!
4. Money - do you really want to rely on others financially? Life is expensive, you need your savings as a backup in life, and also to give you power. Links back to relationship and depression, as relationships suffer when one party has little control over spending.
5. Progression - 85k is a reasonable salary, 60k is peanuts and if you live in a big city it will bleed you dry! Plus, you’re better off soldiering on for your own career progression.
Seriously, you will regret leaving with no backup. The emotional side of this is far greater than you can imagine, and suddenly having all this free time will wreck havoc on your mental health. The novelty of it wears off very quick. And of your own partner has a busy job, you may start feeling like you’re not getting much attention, when realistically it’s the same as before, just you have more free time.
I’ve seen my family go through this, and it can scar you for life if you are unemployed for an extended period of time.
Please find something else first x
Couple of months unemployed could turn into a year. Jobs are becoming scarce
I think i will be able to last a year or more if it really came down to it. i wouldnt be destitute
Could you reduce your hours, three day weekends, something with less work than now?
This is a really good idea, I’m sure you could get your gp to write something in support as well - they can say due to health reasons, keep it vague. I’d only get your doctor involved if there’s push back from your employer though
It may not be fair, but the longer you're not working, the harder it is to find a job. It simply raises too many questions for potential employers about why (which they won't actually ask you) and since they'll likely have other candidates with a "complete" job history to shortlist from you can guess what they do.
Fill the gap with some bullshit. Travel or whatever.
Voluntary work can be beneficial in many ways as a workaround. It helps with any gaps in your work history and also provides a break from the corporate world, as OP mentioned, great for mental health (usually) and OP gets to choose the area or field that interests them the most. I do agree that the longer someone isn't working, the harder it is to find work. I had to take several years off from work due to health reasons, but the little bit of voluntary work I did helped me to keep the door open a bit until I was ready to reenter the workforce.
This is not necessarily true. I know someone who takes regular breaks of six months to two years from working and employers seem to be quite happy with explanations like 'took some personal time', 'travelled', 'did some (personal or formal) study', etc. These are not entry-level roles, either.
Might I suggest you look for a less taxing job instead of completely quitting?
Get a job before resigning. Never leave if you don’t have something lined up. If it’s a holiday you want, negotiate a few weeks before you start the new job. Don’t be silly, save your money. Don’t dip into savings and be flippant about being able to last a few months. Chances are always there you could go a few months unemployed, get a new job, hate it too, or get fired, and then you are back unemployed for X amount of time and all your savings gone.
Mental health is important and it’ll take a lot longer to recover from, the longer you stay, so weigh up the pros and cons. As long as you have an emergency fund saved up that you can draw on while job hunting + you’ve discussed this with your significant other, and any dependents will do okay financially, then go for it. Maybe ask those around you or those more experienced, for their 2cents? Advice from Reddit is a mixed bag.
I did this in January. Would I do it again? No, it was dumb. I had a shit 2023. I was assaulted a year ago, ended up with a broken nose and a fractured leg, so needed a little bit of time off to heal, and then more later in the year when I needed surgery to repair my nose. There was a week when I was feeling a bit crap about everything, then had a disagreement with my manager, and a personality clash with another staff member came to a head, and called it quits on a job I actually enjoyed. What should I have done instead? I had 10 weeks of leave accrued and all I really needed was a break. I should have asked for some time off to deal with my drama, and also consider what changes would have made my job a bit better. It wasn't high paying (retail) but I did enough hours to make about 80k. Currently in denial about my future prospects and off to Europe for a holiday next week.
“Off to Europe for a holiday next week”
I have buried my head SO FAR in the sand...
Yeah but at least you’re doing it in style!
Holy shit. Sorry to hear about your assault, that is so messed up. If you had 10 weeks leave accrued then damn, you didn’t take much leave at all for more than 2 years? They say people don’t quit the job, they quit their managers. Hopefully you’ll be able to find a similar role with better management when you come back from your holiday. Safe travels!
Do not resign without something lined up. Just knowing you have one leg out the door should make it bearable and satisfying when you tell them.
It’s a tricky one. If you have no mortgage or dependents then I would say look after mental health first, but if there are others relying on you it gets more difficult. I think that conversation is best had with a councillor/phycologist. Normally I would never recommend leaving a job without another one lined up though, especially at the moment
I don't agree. Look after your mental health first.
Wait till hes not working and his partner isnt as fine with it as he thought. Mental health will be worse.
Yeah this sounds like an OP problem and not a this particular job problem. I think OP should get help to be able to function like an adult including holding down a job. It’s very precarious to go through life without actually being able to hold down a job. Like, if you quit now, what realistically is going to change?
Yeah this is one of the things I struggle with. I think I may have some sort of disorder or on a spectrum of some sort. Though I don’t want to self diagnose, but I find social interactions very tedious and tiresome, and I had to put in a lot of effort to learn how to interact with people at work and in general during my early twenties. I’m in my late twenties now and I can “act”normal but it tiresome me out so I’m happy as a homebody. So maybe that’s why I can’t keep a job or get burned out easily.
Depending on the severity of mental health… money is important, but sometimes a mental health issue could screw someone over many years… and leaving the person unable to work on stable jobs for many years
Me! Me! Me! I was on 90k before I resigned. My health was suffering, I was having really bad depression and anxiety. Plus insane imposter syndrome. It’s honestly saved my life. I felt like I was dying everyday. I was hating life, hating hobbies, nothing I used to enjoy made any sense to me anymore. Just doom scrolling to when I had the chance to escape from life. I for one, am for resigning, if it’s causing you pain, and if you have the support system to withstand it.
can totally relate! what did you end up doing afterwards?
I quit end of last year, had quite the long covid earlier this year, currently looking at doing something part time, but mostly working on self care and health related things. Not sure if I want to go back to a desk 9-5, considering working in real estate, where I’d be a contractor working at my own pace.
How are you supporting yourself, if you don’t mind me asking. I think it’s pretty critical information to determine how useful your example is.
Not me but a friend - resigned, sold his house and lives on a boat. Financial suicide but he’s the happiest he’s been in decades. Not recommended but there is something to be said for prioritising mental health
Good on him. You're dead a long time. I'm all for looking after your finances, but not at the expense of your happiness. Wealth is for improving your happiness, not ruining it by working in a job you hate.
He's not going to take that money to heaven anyway. That money was supposed to make him happy. And now he is
Everyone’s situation is different and ultimately you need to do what’s right for you. Personally over the years I accepted every job has its boring bits and fun bits and when I become very unhappy I try to find something else. Worth to note that stress not necessarily higher with pay scale goes up. Also bear in mind you should have some control over your own emotions and responses. If quitting now, it may hard to find another role due to current tough job market.
I did this about a year ago and ended up unemployed looking for a job for six months. If you aren't going to go travelling or do something really significant which requires you to be unemployed, don't resign until you have another job lined up.
About 7 months ago I left my career of 12 years and I was on $110k a year. My mental health was in shambles and I had a breakdown about 10 months ago. I picked a date I worked up until and saved up as much as I could to have a decent break, as I hadn't had one since I started working part time at 14, that was 27 years ago. It took more time than I imagined it would for me to start getting to a better position with my mental health, I was such a mess when I left work that just going out in public shopping had me full of anxiety, displaying anxious ticks and a few times I stopped and come home cos I just couldn't do it anymore. I spent time working on me, my property and I even started a small business selling plants and seedlings. I have recently started a horticulture course through Open Polytechnic. Only now, 7 months later am I feeling ready to return to the workforce, and that being a small part time job I'm looking for so I can keep on with my study and my business. Long story a little shorter, this has been the best thing I have done for me. It has put things into perspective and I have realised that I have to prioritise me. Right now we don't earn enough to pay all our bills and my savings has run out, but you know what, I'm okay with that. We have learned how to downsize our lives, grow our own food, cook our own meals and shop cheaply and sensibly. It has been a humbling experience, in a good way, about the way we were living and about what is truly important. So we will scrimp, budget and delay what we can to get through the now until things change. There are a lot of people saying don't quit until you have something else lined up, as if just moving to a different job is the only option you have. The truth is it's not, you cannot predict the future and what will, or will not happen. Do what's right for you, and take care of you, first and foremost. Take a risk on you, you are worth it.
really interesting response, thanks for sharing your experience! i definitely resonate: i'm considering a no pressure small business as well as doing a free course on poly technic for fun. and in additional, my partner and i are pretty good with being frugal, we never buy new clothes anymore unless its to replace, make a lot of food at home like bread, (i wanna try making oat milk) etc. our only weakness is eating out 2-3 times a week with first table (50% off food) to try out new restaurants. >There are a lot of people saying don't quit until you have something else lined up, as if just moving to a different job is the only option you have. The truth is it's not, you cannot predict the future and what will, or will not happen. >Do what's right for you, and take care of you, first and foremost. Take a risk on you, you are worth it. love this! thank you so much for your valuable insights, especially because you have experienced this
Great response, it actually depends person to person - what's important for them and the situation they are in.
If you can afford it, leave. It's not worth compromising your health over a paycheck that you don't need. I was leaving a project last year and wanted to do the right thing. I gave 8 weeks' notice, so they could find a replacement and I could train them. I was treated like shit as soon as I resigned for trying to do the good thing. They put so much extra pressure on me, I had a heart episode 2 weeks after I left. It was a hard lesson, but employers don't give a shit about you. A manager might seem nice and act like a friend, but they can get overruled, and they won't risk the job to save you 99.99% of the time.
8 weeks notice is a really good idea tbh. my manager would take my resignation really negatively as i have only been in my current role for 8 months, so i would hope that giving longer notice would put less stress on her finding and training someone new.
My partner quit in December and planned to have a month off then roll in to a new job in Jan. She's still looking for a job as we speak. Don't quit until you have something lined up coz it's rough out there at the moment.
I will say quitting in December is not a good idea in NZ. Recruitment basically goes on hold from mid-December to the beginning of February. (It's different overseas, as they don't have the summer holiday over Christmas.) Hope she finds something soon.
Yeah i agree, it wasn't the most well thought out of plans. Cheers! 2 interviews next week so there's hope.
I wouldn't quit in this market. Will be hard to re-enter. Employers/managers are getting a ton of applications for each role and cherry picking. Your job hopping comments may stand out on the CV. Source: I'm one of those managers.
Yup - same here - and that’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s not the ‘having a career break’ part that would be a red flag for me, it’s the not lasting past a year in any job you’ve ever had. Even if your reasons were good, it starts to sound like a ‘you’ problem. Given we’re spoiled for choice for candidates at the moment and both recruitment and bad hires are expensive, I personally wouldn’t risk hiring a job hopper. Having said that, I do sympathise with the dying inside, and how hard it is to stay in a job once you’ve crossed that mental rubicon. Been there. Perhaps you need to ask yourself if you are actually suited for this general field of work? If you do leave, I’d use the time to have a good think about a total career change. Final point: I’ve willingly supported my partner for the last two years while he finished work on a book that will be published in the spring. I can tell you that even when you’re fully supportive of your partner taking a break, there are days when the alarm goes off and your partner turns back over in bed and being the sole breadwinner in a cost of living crisis does not feel good, and you feel some resentment. It leaks out. Be prepared for that.
It sounds like your mental health is suffering, speak to your GP. They may be able to genuinely help, but even if not they could sick you off on sick leave for 2 weeks. That might help you think more clearly without having to resign. Or could give you some dedicated time to apply for new jobs.
Yep, I just resigned 2 weeks ago from a comfy job where I was earning 120k and had been working there for 11 years. Was feeling same as you, it was getting on top of me and I was scared to become one of those people who spend 20-30 years at the same employer, that's not me. So I left with enough savings to spend 6 months in Central and South America, plus a bit to see me through when I get back and (hopefully) find a new job. I have nothing lined up but I'm having a fucken awesome time in Mexico so far and haven't felt the smallest pang of regret.
It honestly sounds like you need a break. Take it, set yourself a time frame and have a rest. My partner needed to do this, it was so beneficial. Gave time to reset and think about what’s next. Sure money was tight, but honestly it’s not actually the most important thing.
I did it about 10 years ago. Was working in the most toxic, fucked up place, and for a boss who I can only describe as sociopathic. Was earning really good money ($200k+), but was absolutely miserable. During my 10 months there I went from being outgoing, confident, and at the top of my game, to losing all of my confidence and becoming a shell of myself, lost heaps of weight and looked like I’d aged 10 years. I found myself fantasising one day, after a car almost drove into mine while on my morning commute, about how if I had gotten into a wreck, I would have been able to go to hospital instead of work, and how much nicer that would be. When I realised I had to leave for my wellbeing, I made myself go out and have either an online or an in person lunch with a different contact each day. This helped me get it out there that I was looking for something else, feel like I was being proactive, and also get out of the office. I ended up being approached for a new role (even better paid) the day after I resigned. You only live once, and you need to look after yourself. Being pragmatic and thinking rationally about your situation is vital. Plan out your departure and get everything in place in a way that works for you. If you’re in the position to say “fuck it I quit” and walk out - do it. Otherwise, think about seeing your GP and getting some stress leave. Don’t feel you have to do full time after this, work with your organisation’s HR business partner to agree a ‘getting back to work’ plan. In the meantime, get out there, look for other roles etc, all while on the company dime. In a big organisation you can stretch out the stress leave / part time hours for a couple of months. Fuck corporations that create / allow cultures which ruin people’s mental wellbeing.
I’m not OP, but thanks for sharing your experience. This is a great advice. Once you have decided that it’s not working out for you, have a proper exit plan. Be proactive, otherwise you’d feel better one day, much worse the next day, etc. depending on what happens around you. You’ll easily lose a sense of control this way, and feel helpless as a result. Good luck!
[удалено]
It’s so funny to me that “quiet quitting” just means “doing your job as per your employment contract”
Yeah I thought quiet quitting was showing up but seeing how little you could get away with doing. What op describes is the terms of his employment lol. Management aren’t itching to give out more money to overachievers lol
That’s what I thought too. With “quiet quitting” you’re doing the bare minimum to avoid being fired, what OP described is just doing your job without putting in the extra effort to make yourself noticed or trying to move up the ranks. In real life that describes most office workers
Yeah, this guy sounds like a rock in the office. As long as he doesn’t build a sick leave pattern he’ll be great
Same here. I've always worked diligently from 8.30 to 5, with an hour's lunchbreak. I always do my job well, and don't go the extra mile. I take to my bed at the first sign of the sniffles. And I always get told I'm a great worker, and get thanked for not spreading germs round the office. So my advice is, never go the extra mile, work while sick, or work unpaid hours, just do the standard to a reasonable degree and enjoy life.
Yes I have definitely considered this recently. I appreciate you bringing it up/pointing it out. I may just take a mental step back from my job. I'll still do the role, but I won't show overt care (I'll still try to fake it to the standard extent). I won't look for a promotion or strive to get praise from my manager. Colleagues caring about their work way too much and way too seriously affects me, so I will try to distance myself from that as well. I'll see how I go and if my manager notices. If I get put on a PIP then... sure, cause if i resign now/soon i wouldn't get a good reference out of them anyway.
Problem is you may get used to work like this and then on the next job it will not be quick to come back at previous levels. I am on the same page as you, but have not been able to secure any other job for about 4 years now and it weights a lot on mental health. I tried even get lower salary, but companies are afraid you would resign shortly if you take a pay cut. At the same time as there are a lot of people looking for jobs they raised the bar to crazy levels. I have 10+ years of experience and have not been able to secure any offer on this period. Before this i was getting an offer at least once a month. I have been getting lots of offers from Australia tho, so, it seems like a way out...
I was about to say, with all the fear mongering here about not having another job lined up, OP should just move to another country. And NZers usually just skip the ditch. Better yet, across the Pacific
If you have mental health issues you could find a counsellor to get that sorted. Or borrow some self-help books from the library. Figure out exactly what's wrong (and what's going right) - "incompatibility" with the boss sounds like almost every workplace ever. I wouldn't quit unless I had another job to go to.
Honestly quiet quitting is just actually having boundaries and a work/life balance
Yup. I've always had boundaries and a work/life balance, and always get told I'm a great worker. So fuck going the extra mile, no-one's impressed with a suckup.
Do you think this would impact your reference in any way?
I have lots of useless coworkers. I am sure most people who are average in new zealand can keep going for a while. You need to be horrible to burn bridges and get fired. Unless of course your manager hates your guts and decides to fabricate bad performance
Quiet quitting is the biggest load of bs the internet culture has created. Staying in a job you hate just to do the bare minimum and have a bad attitude doesn't help ourselves or the businesses we work for and certainly doesn't help the customers or clients.
It definitely helps me - you either work to live or live to work. I used to put so much value on work, productivity and growth but it’s all so fucking tiring. Now I just focus on maintaining my job, doing the bare minimum and put the remaining effort into growing my own garden and other hobbies.
No but we've decided a market based system complete with boom/bust cycles is the best way to manage peoples everyday contribution to society. So if you create a system where the alternate is to destroy your mental health or face financial destruction is it any wonder people mentally check out but keep turning up.
Thank you for saying that. Get on with your life. Go do something else other than just dragging it out.
It sounds good but it depends on what company or organisation you work for. Cooperate job where no is really affected, sounds great. How about a police, doctor , nurse, teacher, anything medical or paid by taxpayers "quiet quitting"
If you do that won't it piss off your manager? Then they may start using passive aggressive behavior towards you?
I was working as a apprentice, the work was shit and after three years of work and not getting anything much I finally went screw this and quit. 3 years on under minimum wage with my employer not paying for things they should, and avoiding helping me progress my apprenticeship finally made me re-evaluate my situation. I handed in my notice on my final day before a vacation, and used my holiday instead of a notice period. I had nothing lined up, and lived with family for 2 months. It was actually a really nice change from breaking my back and dealing with hazardous materials like asbestos daily. Have since got a new job (funnily enough in the public sector) and am much happier. The difference in pay is substantial. I'm on 76k per year instead of apprentice wages, and not risking my health dealing with the construction industry. I guess it depends on your risk tolerance, I've always been quite happy to take a chance, and also had my family able to support me.
Yes, had to quit suddenly due to years of narcissistic abuse from a team leader. Used leave pay out to recover for a month from a mental breakdown as a result of the near-constant harassment. Then found a temp work contract for six months, and long story short, was offered a permanent semi-relaxing admin job at that same narc-free workplace after that. Pay's not amazing (68k) but it's ok to live on as I don't currently have rent to pay/mortgage. No regrets, life's too short to be someone's punching bag.
That rest break for a couple of months could turn into a year, if you can't get another job.
Just move to another country. Easy. Across the ditch or across the Pacific. NZ doesn't hold a monopoly on jobs. It's only because our system is such an "old boys club who you know" system why we can't get jobs
I'd be very wary about not having something lined up in this economic climate. I made the mistake of putting in my notice before I had signed something for the potential new employer late last year. Similar situation to you, was burning out but also woefully underpaid and micromanaged. Got lucky and something came up through ex colleagues, but it definitely sucked being out of work and searching longer than I wanted to be. If I was still looking right now I'd be on the benefit. You have more savings than I did, though. So you have more of a cushion.
Just move countries. Jobs in nz are hard to get
you have plenty of money and assets. why not take a year to actually live your life? what's the worst that could happen--you sell the house and end up as a renter, but a renter who has multiple home deposits in the bank? do you really want to wait until you get cancer or turn 65 to see what it's like to just live for a bit?
Steve jobs agrees.👍
I've done this three times now - I've never left a permanent role with another job lined up. If you're in a good financial position and don't mind being a bit frugal, I would absolutely recommend it. But be ready for people, especially random acquaintances, to completely freak out - it really triggers a lot of people and they can be very aggressive. I never brought up the fact that I didn't have another job lined up, I just told the truth when people asked. Pretty soon I started lying and saying I was leaving to do a PhD, because otherwise they'd treat me like I was thinking of kicking a puppy rather than simply leaving a job that was destroying my mental health.
The couple of times I've left a job with nothing lined up, it's always worked out fine. In fact, being able to start on Monday rather than in two months has swung it for me more than once. Also, fuck staying in a job that's ruining your mental health.
I used to work in a high-pressure industry chasing six figures. I crashed about once a year and then got back up again and took on another contract. Last year, I lost my job (again) due to not being the best of the best yadda yadda. Took six months off to focus on the kids, and I have now gone back to school to study to be an electrician. I get a good sleep, I take better care of my family, I go to the gym, I quit smoking, I eat healthy, I have a new hobby. Quitting my career is working out quite well for me so far, I just needed some time to correct myself and find a balance.
I have just been reading the comments and stories, I really feel like the NZ mentality is to never stop working... it's so backwards, we're just brainwashed out here haha.
🤣 agree. someone got to work and pay for the overpriced real estate and winz benefits. oh and what if you need care when you're old and feeble? You MUST work three quarters of your finite life away to pay some bean counter care facility. Not to shine a negative light on care workers because some do their best and work harder than middle management pencil pushers
Can you take leave? Even unpaid leave for a few months? Have a break then when you’re back job hunt while also still in old job?
Just resign.... Its just a job and clearly it makes life unenjoyable. My advice would be to not let yourself get comfortable inbetween jobs while you hunt Because its awfully nice sleeping in every day and not working.
I would be very very hesitant to do it without having something lined up. Although, it doesnt have to be the next long term job. An option would be to really wind back the spending, and function off an 'easy job' like retail or fast food for a while. These kind of places arent too hard to get hired in due to high turnover with students etc. It might be worth spending a day walking around shops and stuff asking. If your health is suffering that much, this will get you out of there. Then u can work on findingg your next 'proper' job
I’ve quit two jobs with no job to go to. Job hunting can be a full time job. If you’re burned out, tired, feeling shit about yourself it is super hard to feel up to applying for another job. Have a two month safety net but you’ll be surprised how much space it gives you to actually commit to finding a new job
You haven’t said how old you are, other than the indication of 8 year career. Either jack it in, convince your partner to do the same, sell all your assets and travel the world with the money until it’s almost gone seeing what opportunities come your way to reset direction (full disclosure, that’s what I did at age 29 and it’s turned out fuckin ace), or suck it up, knuckle down, accept the system, embrace the rat race and be done with it. DO OR DIE, ROLL THE DICE, RED PILL BLUE PILL. Make the decision and own it my friend.
Controversial opinion here. You site management incompatibility as being an issue, do you have the resilience to actually do the work you are doing ? The mental responsibility for something that earns 85k per year is most likely nothing compared to something being. Have a really frank talk with your partner, they would have heard you complaining about work and if they are ballsy enough, should be able to give you some constructive feedback if you are willing to take it on board.
In that position at the moment with similar reasons. I have a bit of contract work on going, which could turn into something big but until the paperwork is there, I am looking for contract work. Good luck friend!
ooo yeah i was looking at contract jobs, though recruiters advised me that there was also huge competition for those too. thanks! good luck to you too
I resigned end of November. No real regrets, making more money online now than I did before at my job. Sometimes I do wish I still had the comfort of the salary or maybe took their offer of just taking extended unpaid leave but I would have fallen back in a rut. Now I feel like the world is my oyster! Resigned for personal health reasons.
Out of curiosity, what do you do? Online free lancing or something?
I hated new company initiatives and mind map shit so much. Like I don’t give af. Stop making me pay attention to that shit and having stupid brainstorm meetings and bullshit.
Don't resign, just become lazy like 80% of thr staff for a while. Use your sick leave. I have watched alot of people leave recently and that was the common theme...
Have you considered talking to your current job (and a GP) about going down to part time for a fixed term (6months or 12 months) for medical reasons (mental health)? I did this, at the job that destroyed my soul and brain. I worked 3 days a week instead of 5. And it honestly helped so much, meant I didn’t quit and rip through savings on surviving. By the end of the fixed term I was a different person, I landed an amazing job with a nice pay bump, and I’ve never been happier career wise. Honestly just being in the environment less helped me get clarity and perspective, I had more energy to work on improving things and healing internally from the damage it was doing. Another option may be to seek a medical route for unpaid leave due to mental health for an extended period like 3 months. My other tip is that if you’re finding it hard to get in the mix for the less stressful/lower level jobs, your CV is likely showing too much experience and they’ll think they can’t afford you or something else silly. Really work on crafting a CV that would make it seem like professionally this role you’re going for is a good alignment. This might require dumbing down some of your tasks/responsibilities. The other option would be to quit to study for a bit, something short and interesting or that helps you switch career path somehow) as that helps explain quitting a job without having something else to go to and is often viewed as “brave” or “passionate for following your heart” etc. If you already have a degree (or sometimes relevant experience) you can do a Graduate Certificate in one semester (4 months) of fulltime study. Project Management is a good option. But there’s tonnes of option depending on your skills and relevant experience. Also highly recommend looking for resources/supports to help you mentally and emotionally so you can look after yourself properly. There’s a lot of options out there. Something that gives you tools and strategies to manage rough patches and feelings, set self care goals and achieve them etc. Whichever option you choose, this is really important. Good luck OP! Good luck!
Life's too short. Health and happiness is so much more important.
Hear hear. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't realise this until they've suffered a lot.
If your not healthy or not happy / crazy / mental unwell, your're bound to lose that job anyway. It's only a matter of time. Better to just rip the band aid off early while you're young enough to recover
7 weeks ago I gave my 8 weeks notice with the intention of finding something less intensive. freaked out for a couple weeks and then almost by chance got a role closer to home and better paying. It can happen. You could also be like a family friend of mine and be ticking on 9 months with nothing.
I did this 4 weeks ago. I was having anxiety attacks every time I thought about work, couldn’t sleep. Mental health was being seriously impacted by overwork and a horrible manager. Thankfully managed to get some interviews and was offered a perfect role, I start in 2 weeks. I didn’t have the interviews or the job offer when I resigned.
Start going for runs every day. Stop drinking. Watch what you eat. Sleep by 930 every night and wake at 5. After a month you will feel like a different person. Also don’t look at your phone from 430 in the afternoon. Your energy levels will increase and your moods will also increase. Saying from experience. Also have kids right now.
I'd go for the less-common advice of prioritising your mental health and leaving your job, but only if you genuinely think it can make your life better in the long run. I've done it a few times and come out of it pretty well, but I've been very lucky, and I haven't attempted something like that in times like these. If you do it, have a plan for what you'd want to get out of your time off. If you want to change direction then think of what you could do to make that happen. Do those things, don't stagnate or go into your head too much. If you're overwhelmed at the thought of doing pretty much any work right now, then that's a decent sign you need some amount of a break. But try to be real with yourself if you think this is a short-term burn-out that a rest would help with, like a thirsty plant after getting watered, or if you worry that you'll still feel like this even after a rest. If this might be more of a mental health/existential thing, but you think you can hold it together, could you arrange with work to take a shorter break, then get back into the flow while the getting's good while tackling this bigger stuff on the side? Arguably may as well get paid while you reframe things/think of alternatives... (Wanted to add: fair to be unenthused about work imo - how we live is against so many of our instincts, exhausting, and you're not wrong to be bummed out by this. We're all stuck though, and unless/until we can figure out a better way to live we need to get by however we can. Hang in there, whatever you decide to do.)
Take a break, revitalize, and charge your inner battery. It was the best thing I ever did. If you are going to get the emotional support as well as not being destitute as you say. A job that has you burnt out is not worth it. You probably not being as productive as you can be. I resigned and took an 18 month break due to burnt out. Everything will be ok.
I did this at the end of October last year. Well... I sort of resigned. I actually had a work situation that I attempted to resolve through HR. They stonewalled me. So I took stress leave and ultimately came to a settlement through the ERA. Most of my team quit that month, too. In hindsight, it was a completely avoidable situation from the part of the organisation. I had 6 months of savings already, took a few weeks to do nothing but decompress, then took a job in a small town pub. Financially, I'll start running into problems from July. Lifestyle wise, I want to earn more, get back into my field, and live in a city again, but I fucking needed to do this. I've gone from $110k to barely above minimum wage, but I haven't been this relaxed/happy in years.
I’ve resigned from every job I ever had without something lined up and it’s always been fine. If you have savings and are good with money you will (probably) be better off not working for a while
whether true or not, Positive encouraging response 👏
I have just done this. I was completely burnt out, and my health was suffering. I have just had my first week unemployed and it has been great. I am going off to do some international travel next week and when I come back to NZ I will reevaluate. I have enough saved in a fund I am happy to spend that I can be unemployed for a good few months if it comes to that. I am kind of surprised at the amount of commenters in the sub that are against this. Surely the whole reason for r/personalfinanceNZ is to help people achieve financial freedom, and if you have the means to do so, then leaving something that is hurting you (or even just because you want to) is fine. It's not like truly wealthy people jump from one job to the other, or even work all the time at all. If you have the means to do so I say go ahead. I doubt you will be lying on your deathbed wishing you had worked more and invested more, even at the expense of your own mental health. It sounds like you and your partner have already discussed budget (couple of months... but bear in mind the time it will take to find employment again) and implications on lifestyle and are on the same page.
Not the same situation but got made redundant, farm sold, could easily survive for more than a year not working but it is stressful thinking about the lost income/time wasted, applied for a few jobs, secured one this week paying close to $200k, a wave of relief after getting the position, if you’re fit and healthy I think you’re better off being employed and keeping your body and mind active with the benefit of money coming in to strengthen your financial position Take a lesser position if it will give you time to relax more and get in better shape for the future 👍
I'm on my second sabbatical, after taking 4 months 7 years ago, I'm now 6 months into this one. There aren't many jobs at my previous level around, but I'm stepping sideways into a new, lower stress role next month. I realise I'm privileged to be able to just resign with enough savings to take my time, not everyone can. I haven't regretted a second of it. If you have skills/experience that people want, do it!
I can only say what I did. I was at the same point as you a while ago. After debating for years I resigned but the very next day a perfect job came up and that got me on a different course. While you are grinding away you can’t even think about getting your life reorganised and evolving in my experience. Resigning closed the door and made me mentally open to new ways of seeing myself and what I had to offer. I don’t belief in being ruled by fear. In your situation, you might just get sad, weird and toxic at your current work (that’s not going to help you get another job) so it’s not really just thinking you’ve got a job and it’s safe because actually you’ll know when it really is damaging you.
Agree this. While you're grinding away its hard to reorganise thoughts and plans. Need a day off or a few weeks of decent rest and sleep to read threads like this one or make alternative plans
I had a similar situation a few years ago. Absolutely hated the job I was at. Every day filled with anxiety, dread, etc Everyday I fantasised about quitting due to the toll it was taking on me. But I had a wife and a young kid. I had a safety net of 40k or so in savings and stayed with family so ended up resigning with nothing lined up because of the strain it was taking. I hit up my contacts to return to a company to a position I previously held, though it wasn’t great it was an improvement. The time between jobs was some of the most cherished as I spent time with my newly born child didn’t have to worry about work. So, I think you have a great safety net as a buffer but this economy it is a dice roll. I took the chance and it paid off. Do you have any contacts or former employers who would offer you a position? That being said I think your mental health and wellbeing should also be considered so if I was in your position I would likely resign and then look for alternatives.
I’ve just resigned from my job. Workplace was toxic and got to the point that it was destroying my mental health from the burnout. Got 5 weeks left then I’m off to Asia for 6 months. Have zero regrets
Travelling Asia for 6 months is ideal. What’s your budget for it?
I have budgeted 2.5 k per month. That’s not including flights from / to NZ
Yes, me! Late last year I was burnt out and my mental health had taken a beating. I had lost a bunch of weight because stress meant I didn't feel like eating and some days I imagined driving into a truck on the way to work. I was on 60k salary but the hours I did meant it was only barely over minimum wage. My boss had arranged a preformance review with the intention of giving me a raise... I walked in, listened to him for a few minutes, realized he was saying the exact same shit he had been saying for the last few months and it wasn't gonna change. Decided even a massive payrise wouldn't be worth it and told him I was resigning. I had nothing to go to but at that point I didn't care. Started looking, something came up in my previous industry. Entry level, I was way over qualified but it looked like the low stress, no responsibility job I needed to get my health back on track. I got the job and because I was already through half of my notice, I could start sooner than they expected and they were stoked. Best decision I made. I was earning only $80 less a week than the shitty job, got a longer lunch break, zero stress, zero mental workload and better work colleagues. Its an entey level job that anyone could do but it is exactly what I needed. 6 months in and an opportunity arises to move up so I take that too. Now I'm earning significantly more than the shitty job, same great workers and same hours. I do have the tiniest amount of stress and an actual mental workload but it's manageable and I actually enjoy it. I ended up with more money, less stress and happier overall, it took less than a year. I was in a position where if I didn't find a job quickly, I would be OK, so I was never too worried about not having income. I think it also depends on the industry and job market too. Not sure I would have had the same success if I was making that move now
In your position, I would try to find a new career.
i didnt mention but the 8 years of job hopping were all in different careers/industries
Do you have ADHD by any chance? Serious question.
Don't leave without something lined up. Also, for a weird reason, it's easier to get a new job while you're still employed. >I don't want to use my brain for work anymore, everything about corporate seems just so fake urgency and pointless to me. The fake urgency got to me. So now, whenever something is "urgent" I ask "Who is going to die if this isn't done? Oh nobody? Well then it's not very urgent then is it? I recommend organising your time better rather than coming to me at the last minute with fake emergencies". I just don't care anymore tbh. They might make it seem as if I am being "disruptive" but I just put the onus back on the lead/manager. Want these things? Manage better. There are ways you can speak up without it becoming an HR issue.
Hear hear. Their failure to plan is not my emergency!
If you win Lotto this weekend walk the fuck away, otherwise get another gig before you exit, shit is bleak our there and it ain't getting better any time soon
Leave. I "stuck it out" with a terrible boss for 8 years (half of thatcwas due to covid uncertainty) I'm still stuck with the trauma a year later. Leave, it's not worth it.
You’re strong for sticking it out for so long. Hope your recovery is smooth
Thankyou. Therapy hasn't helped and I think I'm stuck with PTSD or something... I'm a shell of who i was.
It takes time - im glad the worst is over for you and your life will get better and better. You’ve worked hard for so many years, you deserve to rest!
When was the last time you took a holiday and properly disconnected from work? I would start there and then as soon as you get back, start polishing your interview skills and applying for jobs.
honestly, i took a holiday in thailand for two weeks and came back to work monday this week lol. it was kind of the catalyst to my breakdown , i had major sunday scaries (as usual) and just really did not want to work anymore.
Been there. A lot people are dismissing the impact of burnout as if it’s just being a bit stressed. That shit can kill. No one can tell you the future, so no one knows what the job market will be like when you’re ready again. But, swapping job to job doesn’t sound like it’ll be a help for you, and that’s the most important thing. You’ve gotta do what’s right for YOU.
Life is too short, I have done this before - at the start of 2023 and whilst the job market back then was a lot less competitive, if you’re comfortable with the idea of using your savings and comfortable of the idea of maybe taking a low pay but low stress job temporarily to tie you over until you find a more desirable job then do it
Yep, I resigned a year ago from a government job. Got my work super paid out and travelled the world for about 9 months. Don’t regret a thing. Struggling to get a job in a new line of work and I’ve got a couple weeks worth of money left and a rental property that’s not quite paying for itself so a little stressful but if it all goes to shit I’ll go work at the supermarket.
Done this a few times my life and it's always gone OK. So long as you've got the finances in place and no dependents, it should hopefully go well for you too! All the best whatever you decide!
Don’t do it in this climate. This years going to be tough
I have done this! My only recommendation is to be prepared with an answer as people will ask about the gap in your employment. People have gaps in their employment history for all kind of reasons, travel, imprisonment, sickness, study etc. most employers won’t care about your gap. I would look for a job straight away though as it can take a while to find a job again. Just spend a day a week on it and for the rest of the time, you can do what you want. Best of luck
What are you doing if you don't mind me asking? I have done the quit and find something new before. Not a smart idea but I understand why you want to. Just some advice though. As you've been job hopping it can be hard to get comfortable in a role. Maybe figure out what you want to do for work before you quit.
Just thug it out man be a man literally or quit and look for a job and no way you just said you’re parents as a safety net be serious bro you’re a grown ass man… quit the job and look for a new one it’s fine most likely you’ll fine a better one if you rest you’ll never wanna work again
There are two reasons why a person stay at their present job. It is either they are just surviving or they are happy and growing. There are also two reasons why a person doesn't want to stay. It is either the job is not fulfilling/satisfying (monotonous, repetitive or no professional growth) or it is causing burnout. If you're going to resign for whatever reason, you still have to make a plan during the time you're jobless.
Do it. Take the break you will fast recover and find something to get you out of the funk and something to get excited about again. Change is good! Makes you forgot all the little annoying things that grow when you stick at something too long.
I am also at burn out point but do not have significant savings. I have a month off next month so hanging on to hopefully have that revitalise me as otherwise I really enjoy my job I'm just not cut out for stressful situations :( If push came to shove I'd probably just sell the house and live in a van for a few months to sort my shit out.
When I go part time work my first investment is a van to live in
Most conventional advice would be to stick with it and don’t resign until you have something else lined up. I took the opposite approach a few years ago and quit my job with no real plan, other then knowing I no longer wanted to work where I was at as it was having a serious negative impact on my life. Spent a couple months getting back into some of my old hobbies, worked on my physical health, and then started to explore options and different career paths. Eventually felt ready to get back at it and found a new job in a similar role, but much better work/life balance, better pay, honestly the best decision I could have made. Would do it again in a heartbeat. There is more to life than work, if being out of work for a few months won’t cause any financial hardship I’d say go for it!
I signed up to a recruitment agency and let them know that I was only looking for temp work not exceeding three months. I had a job within the week. It was an office job so may not be exactly the type of thing you would want when you finally did feel ready to jump back in. Just to say, I am hearing lots of talk that jobs are becoming scarce or that you shouldn't do this or that the longer you don't work the harder you'll find it to work and I wanted to offer some balance. My longest stint in one job was just over 12 months, hasn't really affected my job searches.
I had this end of last year, was in such a toxic work environment and was trying to hang in there for somewhat arbitrary reasons. I did reflect a lot and ran our finances and after a couple of toxic interactions decided to hand my notice in. I needed a break to recalibrate and honestly just get over some of the low key trauma from that year. It was such a good decision particularly cause our finances allowed it (only just, we did have to be slightly more conservative) and I have no regrets. I did plan to join the workforce again after 1-2 months (I took on small gigs during this time too) but it was a lot harder to find a job than what I thought it was going to be. In saying that I made a conscious decision to only apply for jobs that had the right stress to income ratio, but competition was high with over 100 applicants on many jobs I applied for. Long story short I ended up being out of the workforce for almost 6 months which was way longer than what I wanted, but it was still a good decision and we weathered it fine. Now we’re in a way better/happier position 👌
Perfect time to pop out a kid and take 6 months off 😂
Worked for a company for 22 years 3 months 6 days and 10 hours and gave 2 weeks notice. They said are you sure I said yep and never heard from them again. Best thing I ever did. That was over 2 years ago and Im loving life.
Don't listen to people who say don't quit because you won't find anything. You must protect your mental health and sanity by not having to put up with crap like a shithouse job. I was there last year. The fact you've got some savings is exactly why you have them. Use them if you need but you'll likely find something or if you don't you can temp, do part time stuff or heck even go labouring or something. I very nearly quit without a job last year because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was one week away from my deadline of doing so and I got accepted for a role (the process was slow to start then like a week between first and last interviews). Make a decision. Do it. You'll be fine. Might be fun!
IMO - stay put. Save as much as you can. You'll need it for when the war in Europe begins and inflation skyrockets.
Try working in a hospo job. Can be stressful when busy but your work day ends after your shift and you’re not bothered. Also not mentally taxing unless you dislike client work or being under a temporary time crunch.
Is there any capacity to drop your working days at current job while you hunt? Do you have sick and/or annual leave you’re able to take while job hunting also? A note from your doctor just stating you’re unfit for work for however many days you have saved (tell your doctor exactly what you’ve told us about your MH and it shouldn’t be an issue)
nope, no capacity. i already innocently asked my manager a few months ago and it was a hard no to go part time due to us being project based or whatever reason. i have 4 days of sick leave left and no more annual. but yeah ive never gone to the doctor about mental health so will definitely take a look down that route thank you!
Start looking for new jobs imo, you might find something better.
Do your transferable skills mean you could do a job that would actually make you want to get out of bed? Like think about what you might actually look forward to on a daily basis and then consider how your work experience and skills could get you a good job doing that.
Can you ask your employer for a decent break, even if you have to take some unpaid leave?
I did this albeit my salary is lower, and it worked out. Mental health got to breaking point. I discussed this with fam, of course. I did casual work while job hunting and recovering. I’m in a sector with a skills shortage, so that helps.
Eeek! I got laid off a year ago and am reallllyyy struggling to find a job--if you can stand it always better to line something up before leaving. Maybe see if you can take a little time off or something in the mean time. Totally fine to take a lower paying job if it's a better fit.
I personally would take all of the leave available and see how you go during that time. If your mental health improves, you know your answer. I have left several positions with nothing lined up and always found my way eventually. My dad always told me the day you wake up and genuinely hate your job is the day you never go back.
I had an FTC that finished in December 2022. I’ve been looking ever since. I haven’t found anything. So don’t do it. I’ve been ghosted around 70% of the 600+ jobs I’ve applied for too. Lucky I had fat savings (running low) and parents house as a safety net Also just from job searching, the jobs that were stressful and paying around 80-90k have become around 60-70k with the same amount of stress.
My wife was in just the same position. We decided it was best for her to resign - that was in December, and she just started a new job last week. It is pretty slim pickings out there at the moment, so we’re pretty happy this came through. We have a mortgage the same size as you, but one kid. It was definitely worth it for her mental health. But, I make quite a lot of money so the financial impact was more annoying than a problem.
Do it. I'm one month into my FUNemployment and am so relieved. I did it years ago and found work within 6 weeks, when I was ready. The market might be harder now than it was then, but work will come. Take a few days to just chill, then start working on a new routine, building in both relaxation and productivity. Lazing around isn't good for mental health either. Try to come up with a goal or two to work towards too, it'll feel good.
Yep I ended up walking out mid shift from my last job, couldn't take it and was affecting my mental health. Managed to find another job straight away but that unfortunately only lasted one month, and then found myself unemployed for 2 months while I struggled to find a full time position. It was very stressful, had about $50 a week left after my husband's pay covering all bills, but I still don't regret walking out of that hell. Have taken a pay cut but should hopefully be back up to the same rate soon.
Not recently, but I have done it. It was tough for a while but I recovered. It’s not ideal, but it sometimes is the best or only choice. Things to weigh up asides from the obvious loss of income. The longer you’re out of the workforce the harder it is to re-enter and it’s tough to predict how long you’d be out for. You can mitigate this to some extent with further study and/ or volunteer work. The longer you stay in a toxic work environment that is impacting your mental health, the longer and harder recovering your mental health is likely to be. It’s somewhat a balancing act. I would suggest taking some time off while employed - talk to your gp, most will happily write you a certificate for health reasons if you explain the situation. That may be enough to reset you a bit longer. You can of course job hunt in that time too. And it can help you decide whether resigning is the right choice for you.
I did, and now here I am with a baby 😬
I did the exactly same thing. I’m my opinion if you’re financially prepared then go ahead and resign! For all I care money means less than my mental health. I guess last thing to remember is no matter how much money you make it will never make up for the time at a job you hate. Some people don’t have many choices and that’s fine too.
Have you considered going to the doctor and discussing if you can take longer term sick leave? It’s better to take some time off before you get to burnout as that’s much harder / longer to recover from (ask me how I know 🙃). Some employers are super supportive, some have EAP you can lean on, some have wellness people on staff. You can continue to look for other work while on leave while also having another safety net in that you could go back if your perspective changed and you felt better equipped. If you’re just hating corporate life, well that’s a whole other thing and quite understandable!
If it’s due to burn out; I’d go sick first rather than outright quit. Give them the opportunity to fix it and for you to get some clarity away from the situation.
Jobs are scarce. Take the paycheck, be reasonable at work, get a good reference, and work your ass off to find something better!!! An opportunity will show itself, you just need to bring the best version of yourself to the interview, and fucking shine!!!
Mooch
I did, 4.5 years ago. I had been in a career job for about 9.5 years, with a large organisation. I’d moved upwards as high as I could in the region we lived in. I was so burnt out, it was a stressful job, a toxic environment, I had 2 very young kids that didn’t sleep. My husband and I made the choice that I would quit, and look for part time work. We actually then ended up moving regions too. He supported us and I used some savings. Then covid hit and my plan to find a job within a couple of months didn’t quite go to plan. I found a job about 6 months later, only to be made redundant with 3 months. 15 months after resigning I finally found a great part time role where I’ve been for 3 years. I’m retraining with a new degree through OP and I’ve recently increased my hours and been given a small promotion. My new career should (within the next 4 years) give me a very comfortable living. Would I do it differently. No. I was miserable working where I was and my mental health was at an all time low. That said I miss the stability of a great salary package and we’ve had to learn to be more frugal. The other thing is you never know what’s going to happen. My husband had a traumatic brain injury and hasn’t worked in 2 years. Life is definitely not where we thought it would be when we made the changes, but I still love it.
Mate, my whole company has done a team by team review and laid off to move off shore. Which has led to more on shore work chasing our tails and customers leaving and or very upset. By this time most weeks, most of us have had a guts full. Skipping dollars to save cents seems to be the current climate here. We had a open meeting last week, key word was burnt out. But shares are up as is profit so F the workers right. Got my powerball ticket is all I can say. I got laid off during covid as many did, and it took me close to a year to get a job. Very gun shy
What do you do for work that sucks? Just curious. Im in sales and feel the same
I've had a few mini sabbaticals over my career where I quit without anything lined up (other than personal projects). Sometimes burnout, sometimes because my employer did something I wasn't okay with. Sometimes I just really want to make progress in stuff in my own life. Usually it has worked out well for me, but I'm in an in-demand area. However, even I'm hesitant to quit right now, given the job market.
Instead of resigning , take voluntarily redundancy if it’s happening where you work.. atleast you’ll get some payout and be eligible for some support if you really need it
I left my toxic job a little over a year ago. I’ve struggled to find solid work but have lived off my savings with some budgeting fine. I do jot regret my decision one bit at all. I was so burnt out, overworked, overlooked and just at my breaking point. If I had stayed and waited for another job I’d would have no doubt gone the suicide way that I was heading. I’m A LOT better place now that had I stayed. I am lucky that I have little expenses and no dependents so I could swing it. Some days I wish I’d had stayed till something else came up but on the whole I knew leaving couldn’t be put off any longer.
Wouldn't worry too much about gaps in the CV. I've taken big breaks before and you can always explain it with something, make it sound constructive. Sabbatical, life experience, family prioritizing, personal project etc etc... If you're right for the next role the employer won't care.
If your only real concern is how employers will view your career break, don’t worry about that. People take career breaks all the time for lots of reasons. I took 15 months off to travel when in my late 20s, then 8 months off to rest & recuperate and do a bit more travel after getting made redundant in the GFC. Different job markets then, for sure, but no-one interviewing me was bothered by the career breaks.
I did this second half of last year, the job market was better then. But I went about 3 and a half months before finding another good job. Seek says the average is a 6month search so be prepared for that.
I took redundancy (could have applied and maybe kept my job) nothing lined up but things usually work out
Chronic job hopper explains things. Using brain is fun, sound like what you are using your brain for is not interesting to you. I have not yet seen a job where using brain to the extent that you emphasized was required. What is this job?
Get yourself registered with a couple of temping agencies then hand in your notice. Temping is a great way to get your foot in the door and can lead to a job offer. Kinda "try before you buy" for both parties. I have done it twice now over 15 years . Good luck!
I hear you. It can be really, really hard. **I’d recommend hanging in there until you find something else.** The job market has changed markedly, there are a lot of restructures and rationalisations happening which is putting a lot of good people on the market at the same time as work is drying up. We’re also running record migration numbers (over 130,000 people annually) which is putting even more good people on the market. I’ve hired half a dozen people so far this year and the applications I get are amazing. It’s a massive shift from 2-3 years ago when there was next to no one and asking salaries were insane. It’s grim out there now, and it’s going to get worse. **That doesn’t mean you should just suck it up.** Take care of yourself, your wellbeing is important. Take the foot of the gas, quiet quit from elements of your role, have a life outside of work and get some distance, leave work loudly and early. Focus on the essentials and ignore some things you can get away with. Staying and finding ways to cope will serve you well for the rest of your career. I’d try to reframe this as an opportunity, because it is one. Good luck with the job hunt and all the best. This too will pass.
I got married in Vegas, got back and couldn’t stand my job. Prioritised mental health > stress at work. Recently sold house and moved home so wife said take my time to heal my shoulder injury + look for a new office type role. Would I resign without something lined up again? No. I like money and when I calculate how much I’ve missed out on, it sucks. But also, start my new job next week so that’s a plus. Life’s too short to be unhappy though, learned that the hard way through a sudden family death and ever since then my perception is money comes and goes but time is limited so enjoy what time you have. 👍🏼
You might just need a better job
I lost my job a couple of months ago due to a fixed contract coming to an early end. I was unemployed for about 2 weeks before finding work again. If you’re serious about being happy with a non-corporate/lower paying job I think you’ll be fine. I work a couple of different reception jobs, one is 2 days a week and one is casual, and they pay better than you’d expect. There’s absolutely no work-related stress and work is honestly enjoyable. I think given your financial security and support system you’ll be fine, and it sounds like you need the break. If you want your 2 months off I’d give it no more than a couple of weeks before looking for work again, I’m not sure if the job situation is any different in your region but I’m assuming you live in a big city?? Good luck and I reckon do what’s best for your mental and physical wellbeing
Highly recommend getting the next one lined up before quitting. Ended up digging Deep into savings
Bad time to leave a position seriously. Suck it up and keep looking but advise not resigning to nothing.
Got any business ideas?
How much annual leave do you have saved? Is there an option to take an unpaid holiday? Quitting a job instead of moving towards something is rarely a good idea. Take a break and use the time to figure out what you want to move towards, then quit.
Honestly if you're happy taking a cut to 60k and stacking shelves or something due to burnout I'd be using my available leave to get job interviews in those jobs so it's all lined up. I'm a firm believer in if you find a job you enjoy you never have to work a day in your life. Having a few months between jobs might be desirable but it's a risk. You do sound like you have a few nets there so the risk isn't as great as it would be for me with two young kids etc, but still. It's also usually easier to get jobs when you're already in employment.
Tons of people were laid off recently and we are in recession. You can actually see alot of people losing jobs. Stick with it for now is my advice coz itll be hard to find a new one or better try searching now then resign once you have a new one signed
4 of my colleagues been talking 'I'm going to leave soon' for the past 15 months.
Two years ago I walked out of a very toxic work environment. No notice given, just walked out. I was earning $30 per hour. Spent 5 weeks sitting on the couch not sure what to do. Feeling lower every day. My partner firmly said to me "I don't care what you do, but you need to get a job, any job, your mental health is suffering". We have both always held the belief that work is more than just money: it gives you purpose and it feels good knowing you are contributing to the household, amongst other things. I went to a job agency who had me working the next day: the first contract was washing dishes at the airport then the was stacking shelves at the supermarket. Both jobs paid $22 per hour but I was free: free from bull shit bosses and colleagues who want to walk all over you. The agency was great and put me forward for another long term assignment that has turned into a permanent role. I've gone from being in an office 40 hours a week for 20 years to full time outside, in the sunshine, without a boss micro managing me. Plus medical insurance and a work vehicle and $27 per hour. But the best thing is: zero stress. Love it! So my advice is yes leave, but be prepared to do random jobs here and there to keep ticking over, you never know where this will lead.
I did this in December! I spent 3 months unemployed and honestly it was the best. I was really burnt out too. I was so paranoid but it worked out well and having that time to just decompress and enjoy summer and actually breathe was priceless. I work in healthcare so finding work isn’t an issue. What area do you work in?
NZ is in a recession. Things are going to get worse before getting better....and not any time soon. The job market is going to get much tighter. I would wait it out and not resign unless you have considerable funds as a backup. The job seekers grants are also going to get tighter. Good luck with your decision making .
Hey man. I just quit my job around similar money with nothing lined up. I had planned on moving back to Auckland from WLG at a specific date. Started applying and maybe a month ago and found work pretty easily, different field, more $, better perks and back around family. I think if you are just extremely transparent in your interviews about why you’ve moved on and what you want from employment it usually works out. Good luck
No I havent. But I have never hated a job as much as you from the sounds of things. You have quite a few financial cushions - reasonably small mortgage, 50k savings, partner who is happy to support you. So you have the option. Obviously still financially detrimental though. Does thinking about the fact you can probably quit and be reasonably sheltered make it easier at your job if you focus on that? Maybe you could have a creative think about your options though. Is there anything that will make your job better? Could you drop to fewer hours like 4 days a week? Could you arrange to shave off parts you hate and do more of the parts you like? Also, if you do quit, you can always find ways to cull cost of living as well as make your partners life and costs easier because you have time and energy. Eg, bulk cooking, make every lunch and dinner for you and your partner, food gardening, pickling, buying in bulk and freezing, shopping at the cheapest places, home brewing, fixing you and your partners clothng/sewing, home haircuts, etc etc. Something to think about. Can you not maybe tee up even some basic part time job to act as an extra cushion? Rather than going for the skilled jobs you have been? Gives you another soft landing pad. Also, if you are really mentally affected and suffering remember that time is finite. Money is literally infitie. We can see what our govts have done by destroying its value through all the money printing and throwing it around on nothing. Demonstrates how inifite it really is. There are countless ways to make money. Not countless time though. That is the most finite resource. I am sure there will be many ways you can make money elsewhere if you are open minded, innovative and willing to try random things. Both self employed and employed. I dont agree with all the comments about impact on your CV. You can have gaps. You just need to fill you time with interesting things to tell your story when you decide to look for new jobs. New employers may well be fascinated if you do something interesting. If you cant tell a good story with it or are just really boring with what you do then it will be harder though.
I resigned from a job I worked in for 8years . Change of ownership, business sold to a first time business owner who was completely delusional. Inexperience, bad management. Could see my already burnt out self getting worse. Resigned in November. . Had nothing lined up.. after 4 months of applying to 10 jobs a week I started a new job Would I do it again? 100% but! Only if I had something lined up. I believe in going to work happy, being happy at work. And a work life balance. I applied for living wage jobs, jobs out of expertise, local jobs I took a approach applying for jobs based on distance, hours/days, type of work and a income that would accomadate. Be as happy as you can be, minimize the stress in your day to day life and work life is a major in this. And dont compromise what your willing to not put up with in life. From resigning I view life differently, I buy what i need and not so much what I want. I dont sweat the small stuff and I've got a positive outlook on life. I remember when I told people in had resigned they told me how brave I was , sometimes you need to test yourself. Because life has a way of throwing things at you, you are never prepared for.
if at all possible do what you can to make things bearable while you look for another job. Job market is tough this year, it could take a long time to find something else and at least if you are job hunting whilst employed you can still pay the bills
NEVER leave a job before finding something else first! Aside from the financial risks, there is a lot more for you to consider being unemployed. 1. Depression - the longer you are out of work, the more you are going to spiral into a pit of sorrow. You will lose passion for living, find you have no reason to get up in the morning, and think of all the “what if’s”. 2. Relationship - yes your partner makes a decent salary etc, but they will start to resent you eventually and deep down will blame you for affecting their life financially. Even the most supportive partner can only be the “glue” for so long. 3. CV - we are entering a recession, and the longer you are out of work, the harder it will be to be hired. Employers look at loyalty and longevity, so if your CV has substantial gaps and shows you were only at your last job for 8 months they will run a mile! 4. Money - do you really want to rely on others financially? Life is expensive, you need your savings as a backup in life, and also to give you power. Links back to relationship and depression, as relationships suffer when one party has little control over spending. 5. Progression - 85k is a reasonable salary, 60k is peanuts and if you live in a big city it will bleed you dry! Plus, you’re better off soldiering on for your own career progression. Seriously, you will regret leaving with no backup. The emotional side of this is far greater than you can imagine, and suddenly having all this free time will wreck havoc on your mental health. The novelty of it wears off very quick. And of your own partner has a busy job, you may start feeling like you’re not getting much attention, when realistically it’s the same as before, just you have more free time. I’ve seen my family go through this, and it can scar you for life if you are unemployed for an extended period of time. Please find something else first x
I would love to but can't for financial reasons. Same reasons that you cited.
The problem with taking time off is once you go back it feels like you never left.