Has anyone in here just quit a job, a permanent role? Lots of management changes and whole team now gone, has got quite stressful. Was contracting before so did not have the politics and constant filling.
If I did, no idea what to tell new employer.

It can be understandable to do so, but better not – be professional, even if they aren’t.

Get looking and work your notice.

Yup, my wife has.
Just came clean and said it wasn’t working out..

Yup. But I was in a position to basically retire.

Yep, Just had my last day. Feels good man.

Yes from my last two jobs. First one I’d a job lined up. Then, four years later, at that company there was a round of redundancies so I put in for VR which was accepted. I didn’t have another job lined up and had that summer off. Had a couple of interviews after a couple of months one of which resulted in my present job.

Nearly done it, my spineless boss got the stand in lackey to phone me to tell me that he didn’t think my test results were believable, that I’d deliberately fudged the figures or been slap dash!

I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry.

Mrs M had to talk me down from driving the works van with approx £100k’s worth of specialist RF test kit down the slipway into Sovereign Harbour.

I’d always work the notice but I suppose I meant quitting with nothing lined up.

I’ve done it before albeit quite early on in my working life.

Have a plan… Have a few dossing days but have a plan and do stuff, otherwise you’ll look back on it as wasted time. It’s quite a nice opportunity to do random stuff- voluntary work in a sector you’ve never worked in or dabble with something you’re interested in.

Didn’t find it affected job prospects at all afterwards, in fact it may have helped.

I’ve only ever left without another role to go to, and Mrs s has finished the same way her last two roles. It doesn’t mean just walking off but a dialogue of planned exit. Also helps to have built a fighting fund to go into the unknown with. In fact as I say to Mrs s I’d rather “invest” our savings in giving ourselves the opportunity to find a long term role that appeals than cling on to something that doesn’t while building resentment

Yes many years ago my then boss wrongly implied that I had been stealing. Told him politely that it was unfounded rubbish and that I was leaving there and then. Walked out the office before I lost my temper.

I did. Was an ambitious type in a senior position in Oz public service, had been invited down to Melbourne for discussion to appoint me to the more exalted ranks, but that meant leaving paradise (North Queensland).

Got back on the Friday, went into the office on Monday a bit despondent about the thought of the city. Considered the alternative of staying put, looked around at the old grey men in the office and thought “Eff that”.

Half an hour later I had boxed up my stuff, walked out, and posted my resignation.

Best thing I ever did. 🙂

Nope. Always had an escape to go to, even if it means planning this on the quiet.

Just wondering how it is explained to the potential next employer?

Yup – doing it right now. 2 months into 3 months notice. Nothing lined up. Might go contracting. Have 3-6 months contigency just in case. Main thing is your reputation and contacts. I’ve rarely got a job without knowing someone who vouched for me.

Caher – Member
Just wondering how it is explained to the potential next employer?

In my case there wasn’t one.

Gone from secure NHS employment to agency adhoc work. Benefits to both. Got more freedom, less stress but no security.

Done it, sort of twice in 20 years. First time I got fed up with management having been blamed for something not working when I said it would never work repeatedly. Left, did some gardening then went contracting. Ironically ended up contracting for my original employer at double my previous wage.

Second time I was working for a funky Californian software co who got bought by Dell and were ruined from a culture and stress perspective. Made me really physically and mentally ill. Took 6 weeks out signed off, then walked out the door. Picked up a contract role a week later. Haven’t really looked back.

In interviews I’ve been brutally honest. Nobody gives a monkeys.

In interviews I’ve been brutally honest. Nobody gives a monkeys.

This. The lack of bs quite possibly got me my current job.

Different context but I’ve given PhD places to people who have spent 5-10 years in an industry they had to leave. Thier honesty contributed to them getting the job. Be honest, in a constructive way, and in 99% of cases it will be fine.

work your notice

Nah, just send your boss this. Your requirement to work your notice will suddenly evaporate.

Yes but I did have it planned from about 5 years before quitting before jibbing my corporate nonsense management job.

I did this in October last year. Hated my job so just left with no other job to go to, instead I went to Nepal and SE asia for 3 months.

I found a job pretty quick when I came back. Obvs the gap in my cv was questioned to which I said, I wanted to achieve something so I climbed to Everest base camp and I wanted to learn about the Vietnam war and Pol Pot. I’m my opinion if a prospective employer looks down on me for that then I didn’t want to work for them. Just because I’m not earning it doesn’t mean I’m not learning or achieving. We are all entitled to achieve our personal ambitions.

Life is too short. Do what makes you happy. But consider the consequences of your actions first. Things will always work out in the end.

Yup, one previous job. Issues with the boss and my colleagues and general unhappiness at the way things were handled in the company meant my performance was dropping. A moment of clarity when it drinking with a mate showed me that a ‘quit or be fired’ situation was the most likely outcome, so I handed my notice in the next day. They accepted it and put me on gardening leave for the month.

I took two weeks off to clear my head, went round some agencies in the third week and had walked into a decent temp job, just to cover the bills, before my month was up. That was 7 years ago, I got made permanent off the back of the temp job, and am very happy where I am now.

yes but never without another job to go to

Got to work a lengthy notice period ? Just spend half of it (or more) on the Sick

Caher – Member
Just wondering how it is explained to the potential next employer?

However you want it to be. Can be as vague or as detailed as you like, sometimes honest is best, sometimes diplomatic is best. I went for vague and diplomatic.

If there isn’t a huge gap, it takes less explaining.