Quitting and taking 6 months off

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Kushina

Golden Member
Nov 22, 2010
1,598
2
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So my manager left the company and we have a new one now. The job isn't what was promised, and discussions aren't getting it anywhere. I'm thinking about quitting, taking 6 months off, studying/honing my skills and then going for a higher level position.

Plus the manager can't manage worth a damn or form relationships with the clients worth a damn. He's great at bending over though.

Would it be bad to take those 6 months off? I do IT work, pretty basic desktop engineer/sys admin stuff. If I leave I doubt I'll be able to list these guys as a reference though, but I do have 6 month reviews and all that and their pretty good. As well as various 100% satisfaction surveys for the past few months. I've been at this place for 7 months, previous position was about 1.5 years (that's all the IT experience I have). Resume does clearly show that I learned and moved up fast. But I feel like this move is going to make me look like a job hopper.
 
IndyColtsFan

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
33,655
688
126
That would be a very bad idea IMO. You're probably not going to get a higher-level position after 6 months of not working just because you got some certs.

Have your current company pay for training if you can and then look for another job.
 
z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
Crap I thought you meant taking 6 months off from posting here. I was really happy until I actually read this.
 
Tombstone1881

Tombstone1881

Senior member
Aug 8, 2014
486
161
116
gorcorps said:
Don't leave a job before you have another one.
Click to expand...

This. Most definitely.
And aim for a job position that you know you can handle. You can't start at the top. Sure, everybody wants to move up, but you have to pay your dues and put in your time to gain experience, especially in this day and economy.
You also will want to show continuous employment, especially in the fast changing world of computer technology.

I've been in the computer industry for more than 30 years. When Windows 95 came out, I couldn't handle fighting with "plug and play" which constantly misread devices, and you had to fight like hell to get the right drivers in for the devices. In frustration, I quit for about a year. Just in that one year, computing evolved so much that when I got back into the game, I felt like a kid fresh out of ITT, in that I had to learn so much of the evolved technology.
 
C

cbrunny

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2007
6,791
406
126
Nitti said:
So my manager left the company and we have a new one now. The job isn't what was promised, and discussions aren't getting it anywhere. I'm thinking about quitting, taking 6 months off, studying/honing my skills and then going for a higher level position.

Plus the manager can't manage worth a damn or form relationships with the clients worth a damn. He's great at bending over though.

Would it be bad to take those 6 months off? I do IT work, pretty basic desktop engineer/sys admin stuff. If I leave I doubt I'll be able to list these guys as a reference though, but I do have 6 month reviews and all that and their pretty good. As well as various 100% satisfaction surveys for the past few months. I've been at this place for 7 months, previous position was about 1.5 years (that's all the IT experience I have). Resume does clearly show that I learned and moved up fast. But I feel like this move is going to make me look like a job hopper.
Click to expand...

What others have said.. don't quit until you have a new job. But more importantly, how can you just "take" 6 months off? In my head that just sounds like pure insanity.
 
Hayabusa Rider

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
cbrunny said:
What others have said.. don't quit until you have a new job. But more importantly, how can you just "take" 6 months off? In my head that just sounds like pure insanity.
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If he has that much he needs to aggressively invest.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,664
6,546
126
sounds like you are a dime a dozen IT guy, and a 6 month gap in your resume with no work will make it that much harder to find another position.
 
K

Kushina

Golden Member
Nov 22, 2010
1,598
2
81
z1ggy said:
Crap I thought you meant taking 6 months off from posting here. I was really happy until I actually read this.
Click to expand...
:biggrin:

cbrunny said:
What others have said.. don't quit until you have a new job. But more importantly, how can you just "take" 6 months off? In my head that just sounds like pure insanity.
Click to expand...

The place is just holding me back and giving me headaches. Pretty sure were going to lose this contract next year. If I can land a job after the 6 months, the extra money will be worth it, it'll be a sys admin/desktop engineer kind of role. I won't have to be in the office pay will be much better, and I can do pre-med in peace.

6 months doesn't change that much, but you can learn alot in 6 months. I've lost knowledge working for companies. And yeah been meaning to look into investing.


Also..... everything that comes out these days is purchased in beta
 
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M

Merad

Platinum Member
May 31, 2010
2,586
19
81
Bad bad bad idea. A 6 month unemployment period can really hurt you right now. Even if it was by choice.
 
Imp

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Quitting without a job in hand is not a good idea, but...

You may do things differently once you're desperate. Keeping a job that sucks, which I've done for years, feels really safe and may keep you there for longer than you "should" stay.
 
brianmanahan

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,637
6,016
136
mnewsham said:
That's what I was thinking, if you can afford to take 6 months off, you probably aren't investing properly.
Click to expand...

not if you invest in taxable accounts. i could afford to take 5 years off if i wanted, but of course id never do that.
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,797
7,339
136
Genx87 said:
Easier to negotiate a position when you are working imo.
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Yup. If you are working, you are viewed as valuable. If you are not working...the question becomes "well why not?" Sometimes it's circumstances (ex. company fails & everyone loses their jobs), but sometimes it's because you're not hireable.
 
brianmanahan

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,637
6,016
136
OP i have really wanted to take time off in the past as well (maybe 3 months for travel while i am in my 30s). but it is just too risky.
 
JEDIYoda

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
Nitti said:
but I do have 6 month reviews and all that and their pretty good.
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I know where you are coming from! Do you have your reviews in writing? or copies of your reviews?

If so let your reviews speak for themselves. I would take copies of my reviews to any job interview that I might have. Most interviewers understand why you might not be able to use your last job as a reference. Good Luck!!
 
amdhunter

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
Obama's in office. Jobs are plenty these days. Take time off, there is plenty of work available that will be waiting for you.

Especially for IT jobs - can't fill them fast enough. :thumbsup:
 
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