Is it ever okay to just quit a job when you do not have another one lined up?

Answer 1

Absolutely. Just a few:

1) Retirement
2) Going to school and have financial means to go full time.
3) Job is causing serious physical or mental health issues
4) Injury/disability
5) If noone else is counting on your income, and you just feel like being a bum. Not hurting anyone but yourself.
6) Long-term career issues. Like a research professor working for a college that just lost accrediation. He has to quit or he'll never get another job.
7) Ethics issues - if the boss asks you to do something that is vastly against your moral compass. (Note: If it's illegal, you have other recourse)

-->Adam

Answer 2

Yes it's okay as in perfectly legal and doesn't offend anyone but it is VERY risky-- very.

It takes approximately one month to get a new job, but you can get one faster if you are already employed. Either way, it will still take about 3 weeks from your first search to your first interview.

I would not recommend leaving a job before having another one lined up, at least make sure there is a maximum of a week in between. Then, you'll have still a paycheck coming in every two weeks.

It also looks more professional for future employers and is better on your resume to have a job lined up. There's nothing worse than having a future employer see a gap of employment.

Answer 3

That one is a difficult situation. There are times when it is ok to quit a job without having another one, especially if there is some moral problems in you workplace. However, you have to be prepared enough to realize that without a job, you have no money, which means no gas in your car (or possibly no car at all), which means difficulty getting places where you could get another job. It's hard, but in the end... you need to do what makes you happy (career wise), or you won't want to keep any job. I'm going through that right now.

Answer 4

Sure, if there is a problem with your current job that you couldn't not stay for another minute. For example, if the job is dangerous. I've also quit a job for health reasons and because the boss put me in a no-win ethical dilemma.

Answer 5

Sure, if the job is unacceptable for some reason.

However, you need to live with the consequences of that action. You will not qualify for unemployment and you might have to justify quiting on your next job application (most interviewers assume the worst).

Answer 6

Only when:

1. You have no realistic alternatives (such as you are working 80 hours per week and have no time for the job search)

2. You have money saved up to cover expenses for several months.

Answer 7

With jobs hard to come by quiting without something else is not wise.

Answer 8

YES!!!

I quit my last job because of sexual harrassment, unfortunately the law regarding sexual harrassment is not clear in Pakistan so I had no legal recourse and I could either keep taking it or quit....guess what I did. :)