Background: late 30s, have 13+ years of experience in data analysis/research. Have a few Fortune 500 companies on my resume. I’ve quit jobs with nothing lined up twice before and managed to find work again fairly quickly, but that was 5+ years ago.
I am currently working at a job I hate (started earlier this year) and my mental health has declined so much that I’m feeling physical symptoms – chest pains, arrhythmia, shortness of breath, etc. My boss is pressuring me to do a presentation next month and I got a panic attack over the weekend just thinking about it.
I am happy to say that I’ve managed to apply for 4 jobs and have gotten 2 interviews (one is TBD, the other I rescinded from because the job sounded the same as what I do now but at half the pay). However, I’m so burnt out that I struggle even filling out applications and don’t think I represent myself well in interviews. I would like to take a few months off to refresh my brain and get my health in order. It would be great to get my 2 weeks in before the presentation have to do. I don’t expect many companies to be making hiring decisions until the new year anyway.
But would I be making a huge mistake quitting with nothing lined up in today’s market? FWIW, I have enough in savings to last for 6 months but I am the current breadwinner in my household and my spouse doesn’t make enough to support us long term.