Heard someone say 'you should never leave a job without another lined up' but I found this stat that changed my mind

I was reading a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report that said people who quit without a new job actually found better pay increases on average than those who job hop directly. Something like a 12% bump versus 8% for the switchers. Has anyone else taken that risk and had it work out?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ben2mo ago

That stat about the 12% bump for people who quit cold is pretty wild honestly. I think a lot of people forget that job hopping can sometimes lock you into a certain pay range if you're not careful. Taking a break gave me time to really think about what I wanted next instead of just grabbing the first offer. Plus sometimes companies see you as desperate if you're already working and trying to jump. It's risky but that stat makes me think the gamble can pay off big time.

dakota1602mo ago

That 12% bump is no joke, and you hit on something real about the perception thing. Companies definitely treat you different if you're already settled in a role versus being totally unemployed. They think you're just shopping around, but if you're cold they know you're serious about leaving. The gamble part is true too because not everyone has the savings to float for months. But the people who do it right usually come out ahead because they're not in a corner taking the first garbage offer. Plus that break gives you space to actually negotiate hard without the clock ticking on your current job's patience. It's a move for people who can stomach the risk, but the payoff seems to be worth it for most who try it.

richardk2617d ago

YES exactly this. I quit my last job with nothing lined up and it was terrifying for like the first two weeks but then something just clicked. I had time to actually prep for interviews instead of sneaking around trying to take calls during lunch breaks. Also once I had that gap on my resume I noticed recruiters stopped trying to lowball me. They knew I wasn't going to jump at just anything. Ended up getting an offer way higher than I woulda gotten if I was still at my old desk stressed out and rushing. Its a gamble for sure but if you can swing it financially its the move.