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Geek Culture / Would you quit your job?

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D I G I T A L
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 15:14
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Hey everyone,

here's the deal. would you quit your job, without another job lined up?
ofcorse it depends on what you're doing, and how experienced you are.
say that you are an IT support engineer. with a 5 years experience. and some A+ and Linux training. and you've been working with a multinational cooperation. would you quit to find another job?
and YES, it's me!

ofcorse it always people saying "don't let go of the rope, until u find another rope to hold on to". But i say "Not always if you have a para-shoot"

i'm just asking for opinions.

thanks!

"4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions."
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Van B
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 16:35 Edited at: 6th Oct 2009 17:10
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No.

Simply because you only say you have 5 years experience plus some training - my concern is that there's so many IT teams been put out of work, you'd probably find that for the time being you'll be competing with degrees and more experience for any jobs out there.

If you are feeling the dredge, I know I would, I couldn't just do support, I need freedom to move IT however I like - but if you really can't stand it, why not think about studying for a degree - then once these choice IT jobs crop up you'll be in great shape. A big step to take, but it's easily the most career effective one. Maybe the faceless hordes who run the company you work for would consider either putting you through a degree, or at least allowing you the time to do it yourself - then once you have it, throw it in their face and demand about 40% more money, if not more.

I know how you feel, IT people get taken for granted at every juncture, think about what's best for you, and if that's leaving your job to study, or trying for a different job, or even a different career, then be bold and go for it - but you have to do it for the right, sensible, and thouroughly thought out reasons.


Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
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BatVink
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 16:37
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I have done it twice before. However I wouldn't recommend it in the current climate. Flying ropeless through the air is a buzz, but if there are no ropes at the other side it's a short-lived buzz.

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Ron Erickson
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 16:44
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Why would you quit? Why not look for another job while still being employed at your current one?


a.k.a WOLF!
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Fallout
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 18:40
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I've been very tempted, but money is a good incentive not to.

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TheComet
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 20:42
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Quote: ""Not always if you have a para-shoot""


Unless this happens:




No. Don't quit until you can grasp the other rope. It's not a good idea to just quit.

TheComet


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Grog Grueslayer
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 20:44
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Definitely not. There's no guarantee you'll find a better job before all your bills are due. You may hate your current job and/or your boss... but that job keeps you and your family fed.

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Kevin Picone
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 21:00
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Quote: "here's the deal. would you quit your job, without another job lined up?"


Yep.


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sprite
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 21:57
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Do not quit your job unless you have something lined up. At 5 years experience and your qualifactions your be lucking to get a entry job. The job market is stupid hard with all the people who have lost their jobs.

Take entry job where I work. Just got filled we had around 300 people applying and some of those people had 1st degree, cisco trained and 10+ years in the job. So if your job is safe stay until you have something.

I'll add something later on.
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D I G I T A L
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 22:15
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thanks alot everyone.
Ron Erickson, the reason i want to quit my job IS to find another job. The company im working with doesn't give you the time to breath. and it's effecting my private life. plus low salary, and weird training programs.
quitting without a secured job isn't easy. but i know this also depends on location.
what if i have a good budget to live with for 5 month until i find another job. i know nothing is guaranteed. It's one of those risky things you have to do in your life. sacrifice something for the better.
Don't you agree?

"4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions."
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Ron Erickson
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 22:27
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Quote: "Ron Erickson, the reason i want to quit my job IS to find another job. The company im working with doesn't give you the time to breath. and it's effecting my private life. plus low salary, and weird training programs. "


I don't understand that logic. How much time is required to find a new job that you can't do it while still working? Get your resume into some places. When you get called for an interview, then take time off of your current job to do what you need to do. If you don't have vacation time, then call off sick. What are they going to do, fire you? That is the worst that can happen and it's only the same result as if you quit in the first place. The difference is that you still have an income while searching. It's tough times out there.


a.k.a WOLF!
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Jeku
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Posted: 6th Oct 2009 23:37
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Quote: "here's the deal. would you quit your job, without another job lined up?"


If I lived at my parent's place and had no car, bills to pay, or girlfriend / wife, then maybe. Since I enjoy buying things and spending money, that would be difficult to do.


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Agent Dink
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 01:04
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Quote: "Ron Erickson, the reason i want to quit my job IS to find another job. The company im working with doesn't give you the time to breath. and it's effecting my private life. plus low salary, and weird training programs."


Do you by any chance work for MCPC?

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xplosys
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 06:52
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Besides the obvious things like ... loss of income, jobs are really tough to find right now, you'll be fighting much more experienced people for a position, it's crazy... you should know that employers are more likely to give you a job if you already have one and you're trying to move up.

How will you explain to your next prospective employer that you quit your last job, and will that make him comfortable hiring you?

Brian.

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D I G I T A L
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 11:14 Edited at: 7th Oct 2009 11:15
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Well Brian, how about a recommendation from my previous employer. The thing is i wanted to search for a job abroad. i need to travel from here to a better place.
ok guys. just to make everything clear. I'm in Sudan. u know, where the Darfur crisis, and hell! i'm sudanese. and i used to study in the UK. but somehow i came to this hell hole. don't know how. sad story i know.
anyways, i need to make a move. and i was thinking, either Dubai, or Oman. those are the best countries in the middle east for job hunting. specially in the IT industry.
i know guys, sorry i didn't tell u before. but life here is devastating.
It's no use finding another job in the same country.

"4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions."
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xplosys
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 14:54
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Completely understandable, but yes, you asked the wrong question.

Brian.

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 15:32
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Well that's a difficult one, I say, only give up your job if you have a means of supporting yourself without one - you don't necessarily know how long it'll be until you find another. I don't know what the situation for employment is for Sudan and the surrounding countries, but if you can get some time off of work, that's when you ought to be out looking. It shouldn't take you too long to send off CVs/Resumes and doing a little research, interviews would be your only real trouble if you find it difficult to get time off. So are you allowed to phone in sick? Or take a day off as 'holiday' time? Would a lie to get a day off be feasible?

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Dreamsenshi
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Posted: 7th Oct 2009 18:41
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Some places may be able to interview remotely. Two cents given!

Ultimately, I think it's a call only you can make. You'll probably hear pros and cons for both sides.



Your error is my treasure. =^--^=
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RUCCUS
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Posted: 8th Oct 2009 16:35
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If you're saying your employer would be willing to provide a recommendation to your new job, why wouldn't they be willing to give you the time to find the job? Thats like saying they dont want you to leave but if you do they'll help you out, doesn't make sense.

Stay with your job, put in the long hours at night if you have to to get your resume's out, do whatever it takes to find a new job while maintaining income. If after a month or so of trying and you still can't find something, maybe consider making the leap.
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Dazzag
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Posted: 9th Oct 2009 17:44 Edited at: 9th Oct 2009 17:50
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Dodgy time to do that without another job secured. And even then it's a bit worrying at the current time. 5 years at one place may be worth more than a few months at a new place when it comes to deciding who gets shown the door with a round of redundancies. LIFO and all that. Personally I wouldn't do it at the minute unless you do have another job lined up. And then only if it's considerably better than your current one, looks a pretty stable place (ie. no redundancies every 6 months), and has some pretty decent options in the contract (eg. 3 months notice). The industry is just hurting quite a lot at the minute and everyone is keeping their heads down. I know loads of people who have been made redundant recently in IT and it isn't getting any better at the minute. Employers are loving that side of things cos they can get you to work more for less money. Ho hum, it's how it is. Lets hope it changes soon.

As a comparison, a friend of mine was a programmer analyst (or whatever they call it these days. Is it Architect now? Hohoho ) that mainly did technical support. He got the boot (cut backs) from my company about 11 months ago now after working there for about 10 years. He is very experienced in C and C++ (at least 5 years of supporting and programming developments) but he has not got a job yet. Ok, so he is fairly fussy and has 2 years of salary saved up (plus major low mortgage), but I know quite a few similar examples.

Head down. Work harder and harder. Bend over and take whatever bosses give you (including company wide pay cuts - singled out pay cut is illegal here if job doesn't change) with a smile. Wait till the recession is over and the IT market is doing much better. Hopefully you haven't died of a work induced stroke/heart attack brought on by the stress of it all (I've seen it happen to a number of collegues, some in their 40s) by then. And then hopefully you can have better options.

Cheers

EDIT: Heh, just read that again and realised I sound a lot more down than I am. To be honest the only upside is if you have a lot of work on. I do at the minute and have to work all hours at the moment. Was getting me down quite a lot with PMs putting pressure on to complete work early (mainly because of skill shortage thanks to redundancies, but hey...) and then went to dentist today. I told her was quite stressed out because too much work and she said was a new one to her, as most of the people she sees there say they have been made redundant etc. Silver lining and all that. Chin up old boy etc.

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 9th Oct 2009 18:16
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I would tell someone else it's a stupid idea but I myself would do it in a heartbeat if I was unhappy.

I don't mean like walk out the door like a little brat, I would (and have) handed in months notice, etc etc leave on good terms get a reference...

But yeah. DON'T WALK OUT is probably the best advice but I know exactly how you feel.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 9th Oct 2009 18:20 Edited at: 9th Oct 2009 18:25
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Not saying I don't understand. Just at the minute, at least in the UK (don't know much about, erm, Wonder Land), it's very difficult out there. Most of us have mortgages, families, loans etc, and it's just not as easy as when you were 20 and the only dependencies were the local pub and the game shop.

Best advice I would have at the minute is don't leave unless you are shoved, and wait until the climate changes (say a year or so) before making a change. Plus don't forget the grass is always greener and all that.

Oh, and I don't know other people's ages etc, but the no.1 regret I have is not making my own software house straight away after college (almost did with a mate of mine just before Uni - making software packages - eg. accounts, stock control etc -, get this, for pubs and the like, oh and almost forgot something I was working on with Terry Pratchett - Discworld bloke - after Uni). No worries, live with parents, and if it worked then would be amazing. Working for yourself, if you get the work, is so much better financially than for other people. I didn't and always regretted it. Much harder now though if you ask me (early 90's were like golden times to do something from scratch).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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Libervurto
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Posted: 10th Oct 2009 10:23
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No way. What if you can't get a job for a while, then you'll struggle financially and have to explain to future bosses what you were doing all that time.

TGC Forum - converting error messages into sarcasm since 2002.
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Plystire
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Posted: 10th Oct 2009 11:52
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Well... I asked myself this very same question a couple years ago, and I can tell you exactly how it goes!!!


I still don't have a job! Hurray!!! [unmentionable]'ing market out there is rough to get back into if you don't exit on good terms (at the minimum). And as Obese pointed out, after a while the future potential employers will start wondering what you were doing the entire time.... and FAR be it from them to believe you were actually looking for a job.

But I always have bad luck with bosses.... I do my work and I behave like a good little employee should. I show up for work early and leave a little later. I provide useful input during meetings, etc, etc, etc... but for some weird reason, my boss never likes me.

Now, I'm not one to bow down to any man when push comes to shove, so when my boss came up to me with a "discrepency" on my timecard (which was utter bull), I refused to change it. The [unmentionable] knew he was blowing smoke, but told me to change my timecard! Wtf?? So, when I refused, he and another higher-up escorted me to my desk to gather my things, deleted my door passcode from the system, and saw me out into the rain.... picture perfect worst day ever.

Do I regret it? Well..... no, but then again I don't have a family to feed, mortgage to deal with, or anything like that. I am quite content taking care of my parents and helping them whenever they need help (and really... this is a full-time job in itself *sigh*)

I do have a break, though, because I'm in prime shape to work on starting a business of my own, seeing as how I have a lot of free-time and no financial issues at the moment to worry about.


If you got bills and payments to worry about, I wouldn't go this route because you never know what the market's going to do for ya.


The one and only,


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Libervurto
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Posted: 10th Oct 2009 13:57
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google ad thinks you should take an IT training course lol

TGC Forum - converting error messages into sarcasm since 2002.
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Plystire
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 00:33
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Well, I have tons of certifications, but right now that doesn't matter too much here because so does everyone else. I've even asked my interviewers (when they told me they went with someone else) what I could do to improve my standings, interview better, etc. and they more often than not come back with "We don't really have anything to say about your interviewing skills, sorry. Your qualifications are great, aside from your past experience." So... I'm stuck in between a rock and cliff needing experience to get a job but can't get experience without getting a job.

Moral of the story? Should have gone into a different field and kept this as just a hobby.


The one and only,


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Jeku
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 00:57
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Yah, I don't know how you people put up with IT work. It pays crap, it's often contract work, and the employees treat you like crap. I could never do it


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Agent Dink
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 04:59
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Well, I have no choice at the moment Jeku. Believe me. I want out... I need to find a graphics and web design company, lol.

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn Gorilda is lost!

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Phaelax
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 06:19
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Quote: "but I myself would do it in a heartbeat if I was unhappy"


And I'm sure you'll be much happier when you can't pay your bills because you no longer have any income.

I hate being an IT contractor, but I have no choice until I find something stable.

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Plystire
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 10:13
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Actually, Jeku, it all depends on your term of employment and who your employer is. My... second-to-last job actually paid very well comparatively. I was employed as an "entry-level programmer" but was making well over the usual pay for a mid-level. That's just the kind of employer I had.... shame my boss didn't like me, otherwise I would have stuck with that one.


The one and only,


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Dazzag
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 14:10 Edited at: 11th Oct 2009 14:14
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Quote: "Well, I have tons of certifications, but right now that doesn't matter too much here because so does everyone else"
Exactly, it's totally congested at the minute. Everybody and their dog has a CS degree with loads of experience. Well annoying. So the employers have you over a barrel (esp. with the current climate). Honestly when I was in school I was told, by the career adviser, to be a writer, journalist, or programmer, all of which suited me down to the ground massively. Some of my other mates were told to be builders, plumbers, and painters, mainly because they were not doing well at all in school. Nowadays most of my mates in IT are looking for totally different careers (my old IT manager is looking to become a fully qualified interior decorator for instance), and my old "loser" mates seem to all have great businesses (building, plumbing etc) where they are now at the age (mid 30s) where they do practically none of the hard work and rake in loads of cash. Would be ace to be in that position and create a software business from scratch in your spare time (and with the extra cash that you have by then). Should see some of their houses... ho hum....

Oh, and forgot to say, some of my unemployed IT mates (inc. my bird, who was a PM at HP for about 15 years before they ditched the 100 strong department) reckon that nowadays the money seems to be a lot lower for the same job, and that the requirements have gone through the roof. Whereas a few years ago an entry programmer job may have required good knowledge in say C++, pref. with say at least 2 years of work experience, nowadays it seems to up the number of languages, up the skill level you have with them, and then add a load of other stuff, all needing for definite lots of years of experience. Seems almost impossible to have that skillset, but with current times then there is always someone.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 14:58
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Quote: "And I'm sure you'll be much happier when you can't pay your bills because you no longer have any income."


Knock knock!
Who's there?
Savings!

I never said he should do it but I know I would do it anyway. I quit my last job to work for myself and have never looked back.

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Jeku
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 18:54 Edited at: 11th Oct 2009 18:57
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Quote: "I was employed as an "entry-level programmer""


Ah okay, well then it should be easier for you to find work. The thread author is in IT, so my point still stands for him

Quote: "Knock knock!
Who's there?
Savings!"


Ding-dong, global recession's at the door! Even if you have savings, it is the worst time in recent history to be out looking for a job now, and money only goes so far.


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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 11th Oct 2009 20:03
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Yeah which is why I say he shouldn't quit.

Butttt the thread asks would YOU quit your job, and I would. Which makes me a hypocrit!

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El Goorf
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I wouldnt have given up my job for the world, and never did i take it for granted, i always knew i was lucky to have it.

on wednesday im expected to be told the entire organisation (20,000) is being shut down by the gov for six months for the sake of saving £20million, which im sure the gov could also save by not claiming duck ponds, plasma tvs and prostitutes on expenses...

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D I G I T A L
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Posted: 15th Oct 2009 01:12
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see that's another issue! how will u know that the company that you work for "or going to work in" isn't stable.
you hear everyday big companies shutting down or bankrupted. even if you get an interview, and you ask them if their company is stable or not, they won't tell u they're not stable these days. alot of my mates got employed in good companies, after 6 month or so they're in the streets. and the IT department is the first to be kicked.
sometimes i see the days way back, when an IT programmer or technician was really something. Microsoft certificates were like a purple heart from a war hero. it's just sad.

"4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions."
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Dazzag
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Posted: 15th Oct 2009 10:31
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This is true, but there is a big difference between going to work for say Microsoft, and a company of 3 people with exciting possibilities that is currently running from someone's garage and a shedload of remortgages. Basically nothing is safe at the minute, but you can make an educated guess.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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