Articles From the Team

I hate my job! Should I quit now or wait until I’ve found a new one?

I hate my job! Should I quit now or wait until I’ve found a new one?

It’s a good question. A question that many people probably don’t think about enough or give it proper thought when faced with a situation that quite literally means you hate getting up in the morning because the thought of going to the office is seriously depressing.

As an experienced recruitment consultant my advice is don’t quit before you have secured alternative employment. No matter how bad the situation is, don’t quit. Here’s why:

• The situation may seem bad but try first to speak to your boss about it • By discussing your frustrations in a constructive manner you may resolve the situation or at the very least reach an agreement that buys you more time • If you quit with no job to go to the instant release from the dread of your job will be a real rush to the head, but how will you feel a few months later when you still haven’t found something new? • You are aren’t doing anything wrong by remaining employed and looking for a new job at the same time • You are more marketable and desirable as a candidate if you are employed

The final point is the one that doesn’t get enough attention from people who want to switch jobs. In my line of work I speak to people every day about their frustrations, why they would like to consider a change and what job they would like. Similarly, I speak to partners about why they want to recruit and what type of candidate they are looking for. In my experience whenever I have presented a candidate that has resigned with no job to go, it always raises an eyebrow. Rightly or wrongly the inference is what did they do wrong? Or, who did they upset?

I specialise in permanent recruitment and so there maybe locum recruiters out there who will disagree with me because for them an immediately available candidate is extremely attractive to a partner that needs resource ASAP. But in terms of permanent recruitment, employers like to see consistency on a CV. Explaining why somebody left their job without a new one to go to is always a difficult conversation that almost always ends up as thanks but no thanks.

Admittedly people who have been made redundant or left their job due to family reasons can be explained away more easily, but even then, prospective employers are often sceptical. The longer you remain unemployed (after all the jobs market for lawyers with a certain type of experience is ok, it certainly isn’t fantastic and largely still very tough for most of the others) the more difficult it gets and the more negative the questions become from those reviewing the CV.

So if at all possible, be brave, stick with your current job and talk to BCL Legal about your options before you do anything!