A step-by-step guide to quitting a job when you don't have another one lined up

"Don't quit your job until you have another one lined up." It's one of the cardinal rules of job hunting and career management - you may have heard your parents, teachers or career counselor say the same thing to you.

They're right for a reason. There's a lot of uncertainty in today's job market and securing a job after leaving an old one sounds practical and wise"”it is about securing your future after all.

As with everything else in life, with all its twists and turns, the truth is that not everything can be solved by applying the same old rules. Sudden changes in lifestyle and priorities inevitably force everyone to change their plans and go off course.

Fortunately, there are measures that one can take to make this transition period easier to thread.

1. Keep your finances in check

Before resigning from your job, make sure you have enough cash to last you for at least four to six months"”it may take you this long to secure another gig so your savings should be sufficient for this time period. Make it a point to save part of your monthly earnings to an emergency fund to cover for you when the need arises.

To add more to your funds, try cutting back on your expenses. Getting a part-time job can also help build up your savings a lot faster.

2. Relax and take some time off first

Surprised to hear this piece of advice? After constantly getting reminded to not leave a job until you have secured a new one, this tip may sound outrageous to you but do hear us out first.

Employees who leave their posts without another one lined up often do so because they feel overwhelmed with their jobs. Others quit right away because they want to escape a toxic workplace environment.

That's what happened to Jessica (surname not provided) of Creative Dwelling, she says, "My current situation was actively making me miserable. I got a tight, anxious feeling in my chest every time I thought about having to go to work. And the misery that I felt during the day carried over into every other aspect of my life…It was becoming increasingly obvious that something had to change…So I decided to kick my security to the curb. I handed in my two weeks notice, with nary a job offer in sight."

If you're in a similar situation, starting work so soon may not be advisable. You need to take some time off to de-stress to deal with work burnout. Likewise, you need to make sure you are in tip top shape when starting a new career and taking a break will help you do just that. If you have enough savings to help tide you over, use this time to just focus on yourself and reflect on your career goals.

3. Start looking for a job now*

Once you've recovered and replenished your batteries, the next thing to do is to get on the job hunting trail. Depending on your situation (Do you live with your parents or by yourself? Do you have a family to support?), you need to pick yourself up and start looking for a job as soon as you can. Get moving and start sending out those resumes, visit job hunting sites and join networking events. Hopefully, your break gave you ample time to plan out your career and help you find the best job for you.

4. Do the hustle

While waiting for that call from your dream company, make sure you're doing things that will help build your credentials and boost your chances of getting the right job. Start with aggressively promoting yourself online"”use your social media connections to let people know you are looking for a job. Increase the chances of you getting hired by using the Internet to your advantage. Aside from using social media for your job hunting, why don't you try building yourself an online portfolio to show recruiters your skills and qualifications? Think of skills that you can offer or promote online (custom writing or graphic design, perhaps?) and use that to help you earn a little bit of cash during this time.

Volunteering is also a good way to spend your time while in between jobs. Not only will you be doing good deeds for your fellowmen but you're also building essentials skills and experiences that you can use to seek out better opportunities for yourself. It's a win-win situation!

5. Hope for the best, expect the worst

Finally, keeping yourself optimistic in spite of everything is a great way to cope with this sudden setback. Believe in your abilities and know that you won't be unemployed forever. Good things come to those who believe in them so continue living your life with a positive attitude.

It always pays to be prepared for the future though so do your best at promoting yourself, take chances and go for the jobs that you really want. This is not the time to slack off.

Remember these tips and you'll soon find the perfect job for you. Good luck! 

* If, after your break, you found yourself making the decision to (1) go back to school, (2) extend your sabbatical to go travel or (3) become a stay-at-home parent, etc. your journey now ends here. We're glad you were able to figure out what you want to do with your life. Best wishes to you from JobStreet.com!

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About SEEK Asia

JobStreet.com and jobsDB are part of SEEK Asia, which is the leading online employment market place in Asia. SEEK Asia covers 7 countries namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. SEEK Asia is the extension of the Australian Securities Exchange listed company called SEEK. The company's purpose is to help improve people's lives through a better career. SEEK Asia's database consist of over 500,000 corporate hirers and over 24 million candidates.

For more information about this article, or to schedule an interview with JobStreet.com Philippines, please call Mark Nichol Turija, Content Marketing Specialist, at 286-6222.