Leaving without a job lined up?

[Gold]

It's a bad move.

You are always more attractive to an employer if you are already working, and you have more leverage when you are employed. Also, it sounded like you did this without any plan. This may be unfairly harsh, but that would cause me to call your judgment into question. If you were going to quit because you wanted to write a book, maybe I could say, well, you are young, you can try something like this.

I could understand being discouraged at your job or not wanting to be so far away from home.

The suggestion about putting in the time looking for a job that you would if you were working is a good one. My other suggestion is to look for work rather than a job. What do I mean by that? Look for freelance work or other opportunities that will benefit your career rather than just looking for a job.

 

[TopNotch1127]

I don't mean to bag on T_N, but why do you still want to be in the business? You have a few threads complaining about the low pay and lack of social life. Plus, I think it would be tough to get a gig in Chicago without enough experience.

See, I don't want a job in the "business." I've been looking for copywriter, publications writer, communication specialists positions ... anything I can still use my journalism degree for without working for a newspaper. I don't have the money to go back, and to be completely honest with all of ya, don't care to go back to college. Been there, done that.

 

[Ace]

I don't mean to bag on T_N, but why do you still want to be in the business? You have a few threads complaining about the low pay and lack of social life. Plus, I think it would be tough to get a gig in Chicago without enough experience.

See, I don't want a job in the "business." I've been looking for copywriter, publications writer, communication specialists positions ... anything I can still use my journalism degree for without working for a newspaper. I don't have the money to go back, and to be completely honest with all of ya, don't care to go back to college. Been there, done that.

So where do you look for a copywriter job?

 

[Tom Petty]

I don't mean to bag on T_N, but why do you still want to be in the business? You have a few threads complaining about the low pay and lack of social life. Plus, I think it would be tough to get a gig in Chicago without enough experience.

chicago is overrated.

 

[PTOWN]

TN, did the same thing you are doing almost two years ago. Sick of the paper I was working at after spending just about 2 years there, so I came home. It's taken awhile but I am landing interviews in other professions. And while I haven't gotten a full-time job yet I'm still way happier here. I'm getting married in December, and I have money saved up from living at home. Soon enough you'll land a job. Just adapt your resume to what the job your going after entails. Most jobs require good verbal and written communication skills, so play that aspect up. Plus your in a fairly large job market. But give yourself at least a year or two before you find a job you really want. There's no rush. Your single and unattached, so do what you want. Leaving will be the best move you've made yet. I believe Random House has an office in Chicago. Might be worth trying to land an internship or part-time gig there.

 

[Chi City 81]

I don't mean to bag on T_N, but why do you still want to be in the business? You have a few threads complaining about the low pay and lack of social life. Plus, I think it would be tough to get a gig in Chicago without enough experience.

chicago is overrated.

I hate you, Tomas.

 

[jimnorden]

sometimes you just gotta take a chance ... something will work. you're young enough to do it.

 

[Tom Petty]

I don't mean to bag on T_N, but why do you still want to be in the business? You have a few threads complaining about the low pay and lack of social life. Plus, I think it would be tough to get a gig in Chicago without enough experience.

chicago is overrated.

I hate you, Tomas.

honest, i was thinking of you when i wrote that.

 

[Angola!]

TN, did the same thing you are doing almost two years ago. Sick of the paper I was working at after spending just about 2 years there, so I came home. It's taken awhile but I am landing interviews in other professions. And while I haven't gotten a full-time job yet I'm still way happier here. I'm getting married in December, and I have money saved up from living at home. Soon enough you'll land a job. Just adapt your resume to what the job your going after entails. Most jobs require good verbal and written communication skills, so play that aspect up. Plus your in a fairly large job market. But give yourself at least a year or two before you find a job you really want. There's no rush. Your single and unattached, so do what you want. Leaving will be the best move you've made yet. I believe Random House has an office in Chicago. Might be worth trying to land an internship or part-time gig there.

I don't know what kind of situation you are in, but going two years without a full-time job is crazy. Unless you have a lot of connections in a market it will be hard to freelance enough to support yourself.
Plus, my parents would be willing to take me in to a point, but two years? If I went home at the age of 27 and told my parents I'd be living with them for two years they would let me in the door and then encourage me nonstop to move out.
Your parents have lives also and when you graduated from college it didn't necessarily involve you living at home.

 

[mike311gd]

I've never done it, sir, and even though I've thought of it several times -- especially over the last few weeks -- I haven't pulled the trigger. But if you've got a good support system backing your decision, like your parents, I think you'll be OK. You're young enough (and I apologize if this sounds condescending from a 24-year-old fool like myself) where I don't think you'll be hurt much by this step. If your heart's not in it all the way, either at your job or in the industry, it's best to take some time away from it to reevaluate your stance.

Best of luck, kid. Something better will come along.

 

[2underpar]

the world needs ditchdiggers, too

 

[anonymousprick]

Leaving without something lined up is something you can pull off once in a career. Any potential employer with a brain in his or her head understands that good people can fall into circumstances that merit walking out. Someone who doesn't understand this is someone you don't want to work for anyway.

Do it more than once, though, and a pattern emerges.

Nearly everyone I personally know who had the balls to walk out on a bad situation with nothing lined up ended up with something better, and it some cases it led to their big break.

 

[Joe Williams]

Nearly everyone I personally know who had the balls to walk out on a bad situation with nothing lined up ended up with something better, and it some cases it led to their big break.

Words to live by, at least once. It is very good for the soul.

 

[HejiraHenry]

I have done it before, but I can't recommend it.

I may do it again, but I still can't recommend it.

 

[zagoshe]

This is a tough one -- and it is at a tough time.

I'd say the odds of finding something better in the current climate are very long -- but it is not impossible. I wouldn't do it -- but I'm not 24 and single either.

I hope you have at least some free lance gigs or something steady, perhaps out of the industry, to fall back on.

 

[buckweaver]

I have done it before, but I can't recommend it.

I may do it again, but I still can't recommend it.

Well said. Ditto for me.

 

[User 4755]

I've done it twice and am always open to doing it again if I'm put in a no-win spot...wouldn't advise it unless you've got a really nice rainy day fund built up and are prepared to ride it out and leave the business for a while. Fortunately, I have the good rainy day fund, which makes it a lot easier.

 

[PTOWN]

TN, did the same thing you are doing almost two years ago. Sick of the paper I was working at after spending just about 2 years there, so I came home. It's taken awhile but I am landing interviews in other professions. And while I haven't gotten a full-time job yet I'm still way happier here. I'm getting married in December, and I have money saved up from living at home. Soon enough you'll land a job. Just adapt your resume to what the job your going after entails. Most jobs require good verbal and written communication skills, so play that aspect up. Plus your in a fairly large job market. But give yourself at least a year or two before you find a job you really want. There's no rush. Your single and unattached, so do what you want. Leaving will be the best move you've made yet. I believe Random House has an office in Chicago. Might be worth trying to land an internship or part-time gig there.

I don't know what kind of situation you are in, but going two years without a full-time job is crazy. Unless you have a lot of connections in a market it will be hard to freelance enough to support yourself.
Plus, my parents would be willing to take me in to a point, but two years? If I went home at the age of 27 and told my parents I'd be living with them for two years they would let me in the door and then encourage me nonstop to move out.
Your parents have lives also and when you graduated from college it didn't necessarily involve you living at home.

Well I work 40 hours a week I'm just not considered full-time. I'm pretty sure just about every mid-sized daily and up does this. And I could easily move out if I wanted to, but my parents like having me around. I guess your parents are just dicks.

 

[forever_town]

Well I work 40 hours a week I'm just not considered full-time. I'm pretty sure just about every mid-sized daily and up does this. And I could easily move out if I wanted to, but my parents like having me around. I guess your parents are just dicks.

No, Angola! said his parents might take him back but encourage him to move out incessantly.

They'd be dicks if they left him on the streets to die.

 

[KuwaitLady]

Exercise patience in seeking employment. Maybe, you should have had a job lined up. Any way, NOTHING beats FAMILY, and being around FAMILY. When any thing goes wrong or you're in need of help, it's your FAMILY that normally comes to the rescue. A family that prays together, stays together. It's more than likely a big deal for your parents to have you back in the fold. Jobs are nice, family is better!