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Why You Should Never Quit Your Job Before Finding A New One

By Perminus Wainaina

Are you thinking about quitting your job without another one lined up?

Having practiced HR for over eight years, I can comfortably tell you that most of the time quitting your job without another in the picture is suicidal. Not only is the job market unpredictable, but employers don’t take it well with someone who is constantly job hopping.

Unless the job is a risk to your health, your life is in danger or your employer requires you to do something that is illegal, you should never quit your job before you get another.

Kenyan employers find you more appealing if you already have a job as it means that you are indispensable. Again, there is no job that is perfect and quitting because you think the grass is greener on the other side may not always be the case.

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1. No guarantee when you will find another job

The job market in Kenya as it is now is competitive and very unpredictable. Companies are retrenching every now and then with the mere goal of remaining afloat amidst the economic turbulences.

You have therefore no idea how long it will take before you land a new job. It could be days, weeks, months or even years. If it takes longer, you will be creating employment gaps which will be very hard to explain on your CV.

Kenyan employers are a bit skeptical about employing someone who has been out of the job market for long. So instead of quitting, find ways to handle the challenges within your current job as you look for another one.

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2. It’s a tougher job market

You may not love your job now, but that doesn’t mean that you should throw in the towel.

Naturally, employers find you more attractive if you have a job already. It means that someone else it willing to pay you for a job.

Quitting your job all of a sudden to stay at home and do the job hunting there will make your job search even tougher. You will be competing with the thousands of others who are jobless, some more qualified than you are. You would rather hold on, continue building your experience while still apply for other jobs.

3. A lot of explaining

One of the toughest questions job seekers have to answer during an interview isWhy did you leave your last job?”

If you are constantly job hopping, you will have a tough time convincing the recruiter your reasons for doing so.

Employers have a lot to lose if they give you a job and you leave within the first few months and it will be hard convincing them that you will not leave this job like you did the last one.

4. No more salary

This is an obvious one, but something that you should put into consideration before quitting your job.

Yes, you may not be working for the money, but it will be tougher to survive without a salary at the end of the day.

Again, you have not idea how long it will last before you get a new job.

Things To Do Instead Of Quitting Now Without A Job Lined Up

1. Find contacts outside your job

Establish contacts outside your workplace who can help you find another job. Never, however, use your current employer’s time to look for a new job.

Employers basically don’t take it well when they realize you are slacking at your job to look or another. However, as long as it’s on your own time, you are free to network as much as you can.

Network with recruiters, like Corporate Staffing Services as these ones are the best go to people to help you land a new job.

2. Increase your visibility on LinkedIn/ Review Your CV

Just like when you were looking for that job, personal branding at this stage is just as important.

Now that you already have experience, updating your LinkedIn profile will make you more visible to employers.

Most of the time, finding a new job is as easy as updating your CV as well. Have an expert review your CV to determine if it is worthy of the current job market and help you tailor it to the job you are applying for.

3. Select key target employers

Now that you already know what you want to do, it’s time to think about where you want to work.

Develop some criteria, like location, industry, size of the company just whatever matters to you then select the companies that meet this criteria and apply for jobs there.

4. Network with key industry players

Before you call it quits, start networking with relevant individuals in your chosen industry. Attend events where you are likely to meet key industry players.

Having the right people by your side will make your job hunting highly likely to succeed.

5. Start saving

As I mentioned, you are not sure how long it will take you to find a new job. If it becomes too unbearable you may need to just quit and you therefore need to have something to live off on before your next paycheck.

Being stuck in a job you hate is never a good feeling, but at times you need to toughen up and hold on to that job if you have nothing else lined up. The job market in Kenya today is competitive and as it is employers prefer someone who already has a job than one who does not. So before you say you are done, hold on a little bit longer, apply for other jobs and only when you are sure you have another job lined up can you quit.

Perminus Wainaina is a Certified HR Consultant, Career Coach and Managing Partner of Corporate Staffing Services, a leading recruitment firm in Kenya. As a career coach, Perminus works with experienced professionals in helping them determine and achieve what they want in their career. Click here for more on career coaching.

27 Comments

  1. Thank you very much for the great advice. As u said no job is perfect, therefore the need to think it over before making the quit decision.

  2. Thanks alot Mr Wainaina for that great advice.
    Have been following you and I like your wisdom.

  3. thank you CSS, but is it ok for me to quit when am moving to a new place? like example: from Mombasa to Nairobi ,due to some personal issues that i can’t escape? thank you once again

  4. I am currently in the same situation Mr. Wainaina but still not yet in a good conclusion whether to quit or not. Kindly advise

  5. Thanks for your advice.
    I lost my job in the year 2012 went to business failed there miserably. Left with no option i went back to my employer for direct sales job. I can never advice anybody to leave there jobs without another.

  6. The writer is talking about quiting a job before you secure one.
    Firing does not amount to quiting because it is involuntary while quiting is voluntary.

  7. Thank you for this great article you have done but am wondering are you considering law firms in recruiting advocates please consider because I have been having a hard time

  8. The answer to the question as to why I quit my job has not been given out clearly here, kindly provide me with the right answer especially when it is a case where I was fired.

  9. Great advice, have been thinking of doing it for sometime now. Its good I have read this before i took that step.

  10. Thanks very much for your advice. I found encouraging and helpful ,but for me I don’t have a job.

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