The pandemic is waning here in the United States (At least for now), the work Market is slowly showing signs of recovery, and millions of workers have fled their jobs in what many headlines call “The big resignation. ”You might be one of those workers who settle up for what you want from work, and although it can be easy to get lost in romance, closing the door on a chapter in your professional life – especially when your job is in place hated – you should have a few things about the time between your old job and what’s next.
How to switch between jobs
While it is advisable to have another job before going out, some people prefer to live more dangerously. If you quit because of a repressive boss or an adamant demand that resulted in burnout, then chances are you made the right decision despite missing the safety net. You are likely jumping into the void exploring new opportunities and pursuing areas of personal growth. According to career coach Nancy Leighton, make this clear to anyone with whom you will be interviewing in the future.
She said to Lifehacker:
If you quit a job before you have another, you need to explain really well why you made that decision. For example, it may not be because of your terrible boss, but because you were interested in volunteering or taking classes to explore another interest and / or possible career change.
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Leighton notes, as reflected in previous Lifehacker coverage, Never quit your job without a plan. Part of that plan, she says, may be developing new skills and pursuing areas of professional interest that have long interested you but haven’t had the opportunity to familiarize yourself with. “Remember that the longer you become vacant between jobs, the less desirable you are as a candidate, unless you are working on gaining new skills through additional training or volunteer work.”
However, be prepared that your sabbatical will be longer than expected, even if the job market is strong.
Half a year is the time threshold that “does not require excessive explanation” for a future employer.
How long can you take a break from work?
“Don’t take too much time,” says Marc cenedella, the founder of the Leet Resumes résumé service. “While the current market is very strong, people who choose to stay more than a few months may be at a disadvantage in the near future.”
These drawbacks are both traditional – it’s easier to find a job when you have a job – and time-dependent. “While the labor market is doing really well (unemployment is back at the March 2020 level),” says Leighton, “there is also a lot of movement now and the same rules always apply in areas where there is a lot of competition.”
To this end, Cenedella recommends that an ideal break should be around two to three months, but should never be longer than six months. Half a year is the time threshold that “does not require excessive explanation” for a future employer.
But always plan and budget accordingly. If you plan to take three months off work, allocate a budget for about six months because, well, things happen. “Sometimes the best plans don’t go as planned,” says Leighton. After all, when you quit a job that stole your zest for life, you’ll want to look out for a job that you think you will at least enjoy.
The benefits you get from a job are also a big factor so quitting if it means foregoing health insurance is not really advisable. Being able to pay for health care out of pocket – which is notoriously expensive and could be a strain on your budget – is one thing, but foregoing health care may only be possible for those who are beyond theirs after leaving Spouses can complete a plan.
Part of quitting a job requires understanding that unemployment isn’t just about sleeping in and attending matinees.
How to charge after finishing a job
Part of quitting a job requires understanding that unemployment isn’t just about sleeping in and attending matinees. Certainly you can, and probably should, but the concept of “recharge” is best understood as a process of reorientation. Think long and hard about where your career should go. If you’ve quit your job and gone nowhere, you owe it to yourself to ponder this big, scary, and exciting question.
Learning something new, whether it be doing something through volunteering or taking classes that introduce you to another profession, is certainly one way to achieve it. Hopefully it will help you not only feel charged, but also ready to tackle whatever lies ahead.
