Ask HN: Quitting my job without another one lined up | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Quitting my job without another one lined up

6 pointsrandostuff16 comments

Currently planning on quitting my job. I’m feeling really burnt out, but just seeking some feedback on my thoughts. Going to try and see if I can get some unpaid medical leave first, but if that doesn’t work out, I will be planning to give my notice. Trying to find work in the data engineering/analytics space. Switching from back-end development.

Stats for job applications so far: I have 2 yoe full time, 1 yoe with internships. If counting internships, then I have 3 yoe So far, I have submitted around 120 applications. I’ve had 8 callbacks, which I think is a pretty good response rate. So far, I usually get one recruiter reaching out to me per month as well. I get stuck on interviewing since I haven’t spent time prepping due to my mental health from work. Resigning would give me more time to focus on applications, studying for interviews, learning skills to transition to analytics, and also a much needed break (I think).

Savings plan: I’m planning to move back in with my parents which they’ve ok’d, but I have at least 2 years of savings not counting the move back.

Plan if can’t get a job within a year: Masters specializing in data engineering/science/analytics next fall which would include an internship, currently applying. If I can't get in, I’ll take part time courses, earn an analytics diploma from a local technical college and continue looking for work in the meantime. Timeline would be about 2.5 years for the part time diploma from today, 3 years for masters with an internship from today.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated :)

I'm more concerned by your feeling burned out after two years. It makes me wonder whether you have healthy working habits, and the social skills required to maintain your health - especially the ability to say "no."

This is a good plan, but what I would hate to have happen is you wind up back to this same place later and then be back to square one and wondering what to do next.

I've done it twice. I dreamed up the line, "I wanted to be able to concentrate on my job search rather than doing it on the down low while working". Maybe that'll be useful. I got jobs both times after quitting. But yes, you need finances to fall back on. It'd be best to keep your health insurance, if you're in the USA.

I am not in your industry, so the only form of wisdom I can offer is my first pass snap reaction as an outsider, if you are wondering if anything sticks out as obvious. I would just say making sure you are 100% sure you have the runway you need financially is important. It sounds like you are set there especially with your parents support (which is amazing by the way). But I would just urge caution and making sure that you're sure you have your safety net.

My other snap reaction is that I've never known someone to be wrong when making an effort to recognize and prioritize their well being the way you are.

Are you doing anything for yourself in the meantime? Like something getting you out of the house on a regular basis?

Right now, I think a move like this is risky unless you have a large runway. I know devs that have been looking for work for >6 months after layoffs, even after tens of interviews/callbacks. I would want at least a year of runway before I jumped ship without another lined up, which you do have. But I would suggest seeing if you can lower your workload first at $WORK, if you like your job at all. In the past, I've been honest with my CTO i.r.t. burnout, and if your CTO is a dev, they'll understand and have empathy, and if you're a contributing team member, they'll work with you. But ultimately, do what's best for your mental health.

forget about jobs completely.

you have enough money for the living at home scenario for a decade.

build things that you love. invent a business. make art!

the world would be a better place if we all did this more often.

linkedin is a dead end. the future is joyful tinkering in a garage laboratory.

never spend more than a few years at a time outside the garage lab. those skills rust fast in dead end jobs.

You seem to have enough savings and a social net (parents) to fall back to. Makes sense to prioritize mental health at this point. Good luck with the interviews. It might be good to tell recruiters a different story, e.g. you wanted to take care of your parents.

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