Quitting toxic job - good idea or bad idea?

Planet_Switzerland

Too much information.

Marcon

You do seem to be wedded to the toxicity concept, which was pretty much done to death in your recent thread here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6134608/why-are-most-if-not-all-workplaces-so-toxic#latest

The idea that quitting your current job will somehow magically make you more attractive to a new employer is daft. You may be stuck in a rut now, but if you leave without a job to go to, you'll then be stuck in limbo. There are thousands of other people who are available immediately, having been made redundant in recent months. 

Ultimately it's your decision, but ask yourself what you have in common with those who have gone on to 'bigger and better things'. Just 'hoping' that will happen isn't going to actually make it happen.

Fireflyaway

I was in a similar situation where I was so unhappy I felt sick, couldn't sleep and was eventually signed off with stress. It's not worth being so unhappy in a place you have to spend so much time at. Like you, I lost confidence applying for jobs and not hearing back, going to interviews and not being sucessful. It took quite a few interviews before I got a job. I think I started looking in February and started my new job in August. 
My advice would be to adjust your cv to make it as attractive as possible. Don't make it just a work history but highlight your acomplishments. Maybe do a short online course so you feel you are adding to your skills ( there are free ones with the Open University). Then importantly, don't be too picky. I started to consider jobs in locations I'd not considered and I dropped the salary range I was previously looking at. Less money in exchange for more happiness was the best decision I made!!
Personally at the moment I wouldn't quit. I know it's tempting, but there are fewer jobs and more people looking for work right now. It could take longer than usual. Unless you can survive on jobseekers after your savings run out, don't take the risk. 

Savvy_Sue

If your job is the kind of thing that agencies often supply temp staff for, I'd contact a few and ask how things are, would they be able to place you if you weren't working? Obviously take what they say with a large pinch of salt because agencies always sound very positive ... 

Ditzy_Mitzy

Is the job really that bad?  You've stated that, in your opinion, the management isn't giving you enough to do.  But that's hardly the worst thing that could happen to an employee, surely.  If anything it gives you the opportunity to really excel as you'll have time to produce work of outstanding quality.  You'll be secure from a work perspective, as there's nothing management can say that you've done wrong.  The issue appears to be one of believing your present role lacks prestige, and that there's little opportunity for promotion.  Such issues apply to the majority of jobs and affect the majority of employees.  A secure job that isn't too taxing and, we assume, pays the bills is something of a blessing - at least for most.  I wouldn't resign for the sake of it.

Moonshine42

My workplace was so bad that I made the decision in January to leave and started to look for jobs. Was almost given a job in March and then Lockdown was initiated and had to wait.
I also found the 3 months notice period a hindrance too, but just explained to any prospective employer that I wanted to honour my contract with my current employer & they agreed that they would wait for the right person for the role.
I never bad mouthed my current employer and said I was looking for a new challenge at interviews.
I handed in my notice before I had found employment (agreed with wife) as the job was wearing me down and I was unhappy at home, luckily for me I have now found employment and start straight after I have worked my notice.
I think if your current role is unbearable, and you have sufficient savings, go for it!
The pressure off my shoulders when  I handed in my notice was immense and I now feel like a new person.
Good luck!

motorguy

Planet_Switzerland said:

Marcon said:

You do seem to be wedded to the toxicity concept, which was pretty much done to death in your recent thread here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6134608/why-are-most-if-not-all-workplaces-so-toxic#latest

The idea that quitting your current job will somehow magically make you more attractive to a new employer is daft. You may be stuck in a rut now, but if you leave without a job to go to, you'll then be stuck in limbo. There are thousands of other people who are available immediately, having been made redundant in recent months. 

Ultimately it's your decision, but ask yourself what you have in common with those who have gone on to 'bigger and better things'. Just 'hoping' that will happen isn't going to actually make it happen.

Maybe labeling every workplace as toxic was OTT, but where I am definitely is. A few people do alright but most either leave or want to leave, full of politics etc, I could rant all day but that's not the point of this thread.

I know I won't magically be more attractive to a new employer by quitting. I'm thinking more of my mental well-being. I'm finding it hard to rebuild my confidence when I'm working in a job that makes me feel useless, but think that's what I need to do to get another job.

The question of what I have in common with other people is a good one. Will have a think about that.

You also need to think of the impact of not having a job on your mental wellbeing.  Its fine for the first week or two, but then many more worries will come in to play - paying bills for example, and perhaps feeling more worthless as you are unemployed and maybe getting knockbacks from employers.

You also need to consider how you'd answer a prospective employer at interview when they ask why you quit your last job - "to look after my mental health" may be quite noble and sensible but conversely it may be interpreted as "couldnt cope", particularly if you're up against other candidates who are in work and perhaps thriving in their role.

Is your feeling of worthlessness completely rooted in your job?  Do you feel like that outside of work too?  It may be something you should discuss with your doctor.

Finally, if you're applying for jobs and not getting offers, then you need to consider why?  You said on your other thread you've been turned down for 25+ jobs.  You need to think about why that may be?  Is everyone else wrong about you?  And if so, what are you articulating / not articulating that gives them that impression?

One thing i would add is i resigned from a really awful toxic job some years ago - my confidence was shot to pieces and i just had to throw in the towel (toxic manager), and ended up taking on a job at half the money.  Fortunately i was able to get by on that and the job was exactly what i needed - i really loved it and the people were really nice and my confidence soon returned.  After 18 months at that poorer paying job i got a great job on a decent pay and havent looked back since - so you might have to take a step back, to take a step forward in the medium term.

Dox

Planet_Switzerland said:

It is rooted in my job. I always used to have belief in my abilities, I thought I could be outstanding at my job given the chance. Now I don't even know what I'm good at anymore. 

What happens if you change job and the problems persist? What will you blame then?

theoretica

I really like maximising my options.  If you apply for jobs while you are in employment you have the potential of the new job and the security of the present one, obviously.  But I also have a mental list of different things I could do if my job vanished out from under me or I get bored of it - several fields I could look for a job in and different ways of making some money self employed either long term or as a stopgap.  So my suggestion to you would be to think now about what you could do if it looked like you were going to end your notice period before having a job you wanted lined up. 

[Deleted User]

I left a toxic workplace before finding another job, because I just couldn't bear it anymore.

As soon as I left, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I felt so much happier and lighter.

I think I went to interviews with a positive and happier energy, and that feeling of freedom.

If I had attended the interviews whilst still in my previous job, I think my energy would have been unhappy and negative, as that was what I was carrying with me from that toxic work environment, and the interviewers might have picked up on that.

I was scared that I wouldn't find another job, but I did - in fact, I turned down a couple of offers that didn't seem right.

I also think theoretica's advice about maximising options is great.

[Deleted User]

To give you an idea of staff turnover, there are around 500 people in my office and each week I get a list of starters and leavers. Every week at least 1 person is leaving and it's very rarely just 1 person. I'd say on average it's around 5 people a week.
Could you not ask for this fueling communication to stop?
All I know in a small company is you barely are informed of changes. It's probably worked well up to a point, but I'm currently the opposite on communication now because I'm uninformed of what is going on, no idea who is starting and when, it's safe to say I feel like a stranger in the company I work for.