Should You Quit Your Job Without Another Lined Up?

If you’ve ever wanted to quit your job and never look back, you’re not alone — many workers feel the urge at some point. But is quitting without another job lined up a good idea?

Well, that depends on several factors, career experts say, including the job market, how much cash you have and how long it could take for you to find another job.

» MORE: How to find a financial advisor who can help you decide

4 reasons to quit your job without another lined up

There are certain circumstances that may merit quitting your job without another lined up:

1. A supervisor has behaved inappropriately (e.g., abusive language, shouting or unwanted sexual advances or comments).

2. Your work conditions are unsafe or pose health risks.

3. You’re experiencing discrimination.

4. You’re being asked to break the law.

These are circumstances that may warrant legal action, according to the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission^[0]

8 questions to ask yourself before quitting your job

Reflect on all these factors, and consider whether quietly looking for another job — while remaining employed — is better than quitting without a plan.

• How will losing the income affect your ability to pay for housing and other basic needs?

• What would you lose by giving up your health insurance? How would you handle medications, specialized care or a surprise trip to the urgent care, for example?

• What would you lose by giving up your unvested stock options or restricted stock units? 

• How much would you lost by giving up your 401(k) match?

• Could your problems with your employer be solved if you talk to a manager or human resources department? 

• Have these issues been present for a while, or did they recently arise? 

• Would an internal transfer be possible, and if so, would that solve the problem?

• How long would it realistically take you to find another job?

Also evaluate your emotions. Your emotions are valid. But a decision made solely on how you’re feeling in the moment is rarely a wise one — and quitting your job without another lined up is a big financial decision.

» MORE: Read our guide to employee equity compensation

Preparing to quit your job without another lined up

Eliana Goldstein, a career coach based in New York City, recommends having enough money saved to survive for a minimum of three to four months after leaving your job. If you’re in a mid-level or senior-level position, you may need to have more on hand if you think it may take longer than three or four months to find a comparable job.

Before giving notice, consider:

• Can a spouse's income or other family member’s income cover 100% of the household expenses? 

• Does that person have a reasonable amount of job security right now? If their company or industry is experiencing layoffs, could you still pay for the mortgage, bills and groceries if they happen to lose their job after you quit? 

• Could you handle the consequences of taking on debt if necessary?

• Are there other ways you could make money while you look for another job?

• Will this delay your ability to retire on time?

» MORE: How to negotiate more vacation time

The upside of quitting without a job lined up

Financially speaking, many people can’t comfortably quit a job without having another job lined up. But if it’s feasible for you, the break could provide an opportunity for some “soul searching” about your goals and professional priorities, says Washington, D.C-based career expert Ayanna E. Jackson.

“You need that time to really disconnect from consistently being somewhere from 9 to 5,” Jackson says.

Jackson recommends using that time to take stock of your skills and passions and think about how you could best leverage them in your next job.