Do employers really despise candidates that are unemployed?

Question

I really want to quit my job, but I haven't found another job yet. I'd like to know if quitting before you get a new job will lower your chances or not. Please give me some insight.

I think I am financially ok for a 2-3 months without a job.

The reason I want to leave is my position is being taken by other people in another state. And although they could keep me to help out with other things, I want to explore other career opportunities. Plus, things are going really slow right now and I'm bored to death.

Answer 1

No, they don't despise candidates who are unemployed, but they ARE suspicious of them.

The suspicions are based on 2 assumptions that most employers automatically make:

1. Employers try to keep their best employees, so if no one tried to keep you, then you aren't a "best" employee.

Not a good assumption, as most of them know (because they don't really do anything to keep THEIR own best employees - if they even know who their "best employees" are). It's the assumption they make any way - I think it must be human nature.

2. If they hire you, you might quit your job working for them, too. If you quit a job, you are unreliable.

No one wants to invest a lot of time and energy in helping a new employee understand the employer and the job, and maybe learn new skills if they think the employee will leave. Then all the time invested in the employee is lost, "harvested" by the next employer (and the ungrateful employee).

Employers see the lost investment and "disloyal" employees who quit "good jobs" to take their skills else where, and they assume that you will do it again - but to them, next time.

That's just how people think.

From the employee perspective, you need to take care of yourself and your career (yes, you do - NO ONE else will!). And, you do that most intelligently by lining up a new job while you are still employed.

It's not an impossible situation. Just tricky.

Good luck!

Answer 2

In the current market, you have a good chance of getting rehired soon. Wait till February because that is when hiring picks up. Also, if you are unemployed, you have the advantage that you are readily available for interviews. So if there is something attractive about your experience for future employers, don't worry. Dump the job you don't like. I got rehired several times last year and got interviewed by four reputed employers after I was laid-off in October. The holiday season has been a problem; I have had to be satisfied with a part-time job till the employers decide.

Answer 3

Employers don't despise candidates that are unemployed, but given the choice, finding another job before you quit allows YOU the competitive advantage of being more selective. Imagine if desparation forced you to quit, and then greater desparation caused you to take a worse job. The updside to this strategy is you can console yourself with that notion that success is the best revenge and improve yourself without limiting your income.

Good luck regardless of what you do. Alot of people have found work when they are unemployed or employed.

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Answer 4

You could, but it wouldn't be very intelligent. How will you make ends meet with no job? I would wonder about any candidate that chooses to be unemployed and didn't think about the cash flow situation. It shows you lack responsibilty and the ability to think ahead. Start aggressively pursuing other jobs while you continue employment. Mail out resumes, even unsolicited. The worst they can do is ignore you.

Answer 5

It's possible. Your current employer may not give you a good review. Your prospective employer may wonder if you will jump ship on them. Also, if you are living on your own, you need money to support yourself. Stay where you are until you find a new job.

Answer 6

Unless you are in an unbearable situation, you should have something lined up. Honestly, if you came to an interview for one of my staff positions and told me you quit, I would not hear anything past those two words and would not invite you back for the job.

Answer 7

If you know who else will put food on the table you go right ahead and quit. Make sure your reason is justified as your employer will surely ask.

Answer 8

Being a hiring manager myself, I'd say it depends on why you quit and how honest you are about it. Don't walk out and then tell interviewer that you left on good terms, we do check.