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Quitting a job without anything lined up for the first time. Looking for advice!

Jewell147·Nov 23, 2021

Posted in:Advice

I just quit my job without another lined up. I'd love to hear any thougts/advice on ow to approach this period. Would love to hear if anyone can relate.

I am 28 years old, single and moved to Amsterdam from Canada for a data science job with a startup. It's been a challenging year but I trust that I grew and learned from it. I struggled a lot with the culture and this is one of the main reasons I am leaving. My work has been such a large part of my identity that it is a bit of a blow but I'm processing and believe that the future is bright for me despite this experience.

This is my first unplanned break in my adult life. I don't have to worry about rent, kids, or other expenses or responsibilities. I'd love to hear any advice, thoughts or experiences you can relate to as I navigate the next few months.

My immediate plan is to travel and search for jobs really slowly and deliberately. I will travel in the first few weeks but have no clear plans after that.

Should I make a reading list?
Should I set travel goals?
Should I work on a job hunt game plan?

natalienzeyimana·Nov 23, 2021

Hi,I can relate (https://www.harbour.today/bayside/originstory).If you can, let go of "should". It sounds like the call is coming from within - perhaps to pivot towards a more aligned/ true-to-who-you-really-are way of living. It might help to go back to basics:- Reconnect with your body - I'd recommend YogaVision - https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaVision108/videos- Journal daily - see what comes up and review weekly- Wait, listen to what your soul is trying to tell you, and be really, really, patient with yourselfIt's much better to find a job once you've taken the time to anchor and get clear; otherwise the cycle will inevitably repeat (in my experience)..Happy to chat more!

teresaman·Nov 23, 2021

"This is my first unplanned break in my adult life." ← yes!! Congratulations on taking this well deserved break, and my advice would be to travel the first couple weeks and really, really take in the experiences without being in job search mode. It'll detract your time off and the rest that you really need.As you're travelling, it may also be great to bring a journal with you to reflect upon where you are (physically, emotionally). In many ways these introspection can also help give you clarity on what you are looking for in your next move!

callanblountfleming·Nov 24, 2021

Your plan sounds amazing- congratulations! Agree with others on traveling and journaling, taking time to tune in and listen. There are also some awesome resources out there to go through deliberate job crafting- it's such a gift to be able to do so. Maybe if it resonates with you- think about yourself a few years from now looking back on this time and what you'd like to be able to say you did or got out of it? What would you be proud of? Setting that vision could help with some backward planning! I'm a big fan of the book Designing Your Life for "the job hunt game" as you call it. I went through a big reset about 5 years ago in my career, and it was very helpful and inspired my current work with people crafting their next career move. Happy to chat more about other resources that could be useful. Most importantly- enjoy this time!

ellenmalfliet·Nov 29, 2021

Congrats and welkom! What kind of background do you have & what type of job are you looking for?

carlychalmers·Nov 29, 2021

I did an unplanned break around the same age when my job was made redundant. I also didn't have many costs to worry about (although sadly couldn't legally travel abroad without risking losing my EI - fellow Canadian here).I worked a few part-time jobs but for the most part just enjoyed my life for nine months: reading books in the park, going to the art gallery or ballet on weekday afternoons, having lunches with friends. I also remember being very deliberate about applying for jobs, doing lots of networking, and career researching. But if I could go back, I'd take time to reflect on my whole life and figure out if going back to full-time employment is even what I want to do. It's been a few years and I have a few life goals I'll probably never get to accomplish now due to timing of various things (and a pandemic...). I guess my advice would be that during this time look at what you want to accomplish next in life, not just your career.

rachelserwetz·Nov 29, 2021

-Should I make a reading list? YES!-Should I set travel goals? YES!-Should I work on a job hunt game plan? Before you job search, I'd consider ensuring you feel 100% certain about your next steps/direction. I'd recommend pursuing career exploration, which is a process that is distinct from and a precursor to the job search, including a series of steps of practical learning and self-reflection in order to compare, contrast, and clarify which career path you are confident in pursuing. THAT is the process whereby you can confidently narrow in on which role, industry and environment is the best fit for you. In fact, I've helped numerous professionals to figure out, clarify, and pursue their ideal career direction. While pivots might seem big and scary, they're often more feasible than you think, but you at least deserve to identify which path would be the best fit for you first, and then determine what your strategy, approach or next steps would be. By having a coach there to guide your process, you'll understand what steps to take, when, and how to do each step effectively so that you're not swimming in exploration without reaching an outcome of clarity.By the way, I'm Rachel Serwetz, a Career Exploration Coach (iamwoken.com), and I'm happy to chat further if you'd like! (calendly.com/woken/demo)

SGC85·Dec 27, 2021

This is such an exciting and rewarding part of your life/career journey! I can relate not only to having quit without a new gig lined up in 2018, and also on the reading, traveling and job search planning and strategy! Happy to chat through the highlights and lowlights, as well as iterating on the "plan". Feel free to DM me if you'd like to do a virtual coffee chat; I'm based in San Francisco!On the 3 bullet points you listed above:- Reading list: Managing this through Goodreads and borrowing books using an e-book library, such as Libby (Overdrive)! I was averaging a book a week back in 2019 -- 46 books! -- as well as listening to podcasts and other digital content that helped me grow personally and professionally!- Traveling: Traveling internationally for extended periods and being immersed in the food, culture and language were one of the best parts of my career sabbatical -- I still have a 600+ day streak on Duolingo and am in the diamond league ;)- Job hunting: Defining and gaining clarity in my career strategy and planning... and iterating as I go! Practice interviewing, negotiating, and boundaries. Know when to walk away and don't negotiate against yourself nor bend your requirements during those low moments in your search!