The way the market is right now wouldn’t recommend taking a break unless you are at the top of your skillset . It is better to take a vacation while on the job which can help if that option is available. Job search can be highly unpredictable unless you are mentally prepared for it don’t quit . Also make sure you have enough funds in your account to support you for a year atleast considering the current market

Principal Engineer

Job hunt / search is hard nowadays and want to know the impact of it , if we would remain jobless for a while like 36 months?

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

Job hunt / search is hard nowadays and want to know the impact of it , if we would remain jobless for a while like 3-6 months?

Want to understand consequences of taking break ?

Software Developer

Want to understand consequences of taking break ?- Grapevine

Is it advisable to take a break to switch jobs if you have a hard time preparing while having one ? How significant will be the impact on my profile. Financially I am well placed and can afford to take one.

Details for context: 
YOE - 3 yrs
Profile - Software Engineer (duh)
Techstack - C#, .NET, SQL server, JS.
Current Pay - ~20 LPA.

Take a break or not ?

Software Engineer

How is the 6-8 months career break seen by recruiters? I am exhausted and burnt out with currently juggling between work and health. 
I was hoping to take 6-8 months break and then resume work by applying for jobs. So was wondering how is the job market in India now? And will it be a wise decision to quit?

Career break

I worked as a SWE for 2.5 years at an Indian MNC, I honestly didn't like the project as my daily work used to on a legacy technology, My manager never approved me (or anyone for that matter) to move to a different project with good tech stack and challenging workspace. So, resignation was my only choice without any backup offer, which I chose and later I unfortunately had to undergo a surgery, My doctor had advised me to take 3 months break from everything and stay home. It's been 6 monts since I left my job, currently I am revising the concepts of Java (Core & Advanced), SQL, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap along with Spring Boot. My problem is do recruiters consider my profile, even if I get an opportunity, do recruiters consider my salary negotiation, and does my career break affect the hiring process? Please guide me. Thank you in advance!

Have a career break of 6 Months (& counting), Request your guidance.

Founder

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

Hi Viners,
My elder brother who used to work in strategy got laid off in July. He had a fixed pay of 35 and total CTC of 42. ( 2 lakh annual esops, 5 lakh variable). He has a pretty good runway and not worried about the finances since currently at home and no rent/ other metro city expenses. He has been working as an external consultant since December and making 3 lakh per month as fees.

Yesterday he received an full time offer from a startup with Fixed pay 32, 1 lakh retention, 1 lakh performance bonus and 4 lakh annual esops at the last valuation.

The startup is yet to raise series B but the role he is getting is a strategy and ops planning role along with PnL responsibility in 3-6 months.

HR told him that the salary would get revised once they recieve series B but he knows that stuff is usually just lip service. Glassdoor reviews also show that the workload will be high and might have to work on public holidays as well.

Would you advice to take this?

Would you take a paycut?

Growth Manager

Are good companies not preferring people with career breaks even if they fully qualify for the roles ? And if no, then please suggest some good companies that recruit people regardless of their career break. 
F.Y.I I was a Business Analyst in my previous company and looking for BA roles.

Career break and job search

Welcome to Business Roles's Private Community

Goin through a mid-career crisis atm.
Overall exp 18 yrs in a mnc bank drawing close to 60 laks CTC. But the growth is stymied and don’t hv visibility of what’s the Development path and how can I get there. Mulling to take a break and prioritise but have some leverage to manage and kids savings.

Wife is working atm but draws significantly lower than me so will have lifestyle challenges if I quit. 

Open to hear suggestions from folks if you’ve had similar experiences and how you managed it?

Mid-career crisis!

Senior Program Manager

I am 26M with close to 3 years of work experience and a MBA from a tier 1 college. I make decent salary, however I am not really enjoying my job. I am also depressed from working very hard the past 5 years with graduation, Covid and job Etc. I just want to take a few months off and focus on my mental/physical health. I also want to prepare for Product roles and try out some business/freelancing ideas I have.

My concern is how Career gaps are treated like a stigma in the industry. Like what was the use of working so hard and getting qualifications, if I cannot take a few months in between jobs to focus on myself. Can someone help me get some perspective?

Is a career break really that bad in this country?

Project Manager

For some context: I have about 4.5 YoE & 3 years directly in product along with Master’s level qualification. Primarily have worked with early stage start ups and have experienced similar challenges in each so avoiding this segment and red flag companies (taking Glassdoor, ambition box reviews as the basis here)
But a few people/seniors are suggesting to consider any opportunity with any kind of company as the market is bad. 

So wanted some perspective on the risk of career gap on resume vs being stuck in a similar company and going through the same job search process maybe 6 months or a year down the line? What would be a better trade off? 

P.S: Currently I am able to focus on overall up skilling and whatever is needed to clear job interviews and have decent financial security & runway. 

Any advice/perspectives are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Affected by layoffs but being picky about next role

Product Manager

I am thinking of leaving my current job and focus on myself, getting to know myself better etc. Currently I have enough money saved for my expenses for next 6-8 months. 
   Everyone I have asked about this say don't leave your job if you don't have another lined up, in this tech winter. I understand their view point. It aligns with what my parents think as well.

Is there anyone who has had done this in the past? Do you recommend this route? Are the consequences far too severe? Does anyone have a different opinion from one stated above?

Anyone ever left job without having another job lying around for their mental peace?

I'm in the same boat, on the verge of quitting, and will most probably take the leap next month.  
 Thanks for the thread. A lot of insights. It has made me confident that I'm not doing anything stupid.

Consultant

Few months back I was put under pip. It's a well known org and I had been only with them for 1.5 months and in probation when they did this. Their reason: 'its just a hygiene thing' and that I'm 'too introverted' and should 'interact more than just focusing on work.' 

I'm certain it might be because of team biasness and bootlicking since manager claimed my work has no issues during our meeting. 

Fast forward to 3 months later, I'm yet to receive a pip plan or a judgement criteria or any written communication for the same. I'm not sure if I have any job security or when will the pip end (all attempts to get clarity on this were refuted). 

What should I do? Should I wait for things to become clear or quit. It's been only 6 months and I'm worried switching so early will look bad 😔 on my cv. My notice is 90 days.

Pip without a professional reason

Content Strategist

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

was neglecting my mental health for long time...due to unrealistic deadlines and pressure today got a panic attack at work felt light headed and almost passed out.. currently i am not having any offer in hand so should i quit?.. don't want to my physical health to deteriorate more but i am really confused..not having any responsibility as such..having around 5 6 months corpus and can shift to my home and save more but still that uncertainty and fear is there which is making me miserable day by day

Got panic attack

Analyst

I want to quit my job and take a break. 

I Have been contemplating to do the same for almost an year but decided not to do it. So many things have happened since then

1. Layoff wave started in india
2. Got married
3. Had to move back to bangalore from hometown

Reason I want to quit is I don't feel like working , feeling bored and work doesn't interest me that much. 

I want to take a break chill for a bit but don't have guts to do the same considering market conditions ( what if I don't get a job when I am back in the market😅) 

Please give any advice on how to tackle this situation or if someone has gone through the same, would love to hear your experience. 

Also how is the product hiring currently in India? 

PS:  I do have a good runway for 4-5 months considering all expenses but I am scared to take the step

How is the market currently for product managers?

Test Engineer

I just need a little break. Want to introspect on what I want in life. Have not travelled a lot, want to do that. 

I have a good enough run way to sustain for 4-5 months. 

Do you think it's a good idea? 
Has anyone taken a break for a quarter or more?

Is it a good idea to resign without an offer?

My current job is consuming me completely. I don't get to upskill myself. Therefore, I am stuck in this vicious cycle where I want to leave my organization to work in a better environment along with skilled colleagues. However, to do this, I will have to upskill myself.

Would love to hear your experience if you have been in a similar situation. How did things turn out for you eventually?

People who have left a job without another lined up, how have things worked out for you?

I'll set the context here.

I was suppose to join a new organisation in the start of the year but it went on a hiring freeze immediately after my notice ended with my then employer.

I ended up accepting the first offer that came my way. It was not of my desired profile but it was better than being jobless.

Now, couple of months into the new job, I realize this is a very toxic place to be. Dormant founders only caring about money, rampant nepotism, no clear path for career growth.

It is becoming difficult to sustain at this place. I've been trying but now I can feel my mental health dwindling because of it. I dread going to office everyday. But again, in this job market, atleast I have a job.

The product role I mentioned is still on pipeline but no one knows when the freeze will end. My hiring manager and HR are pushing for my candidature (according to them) but management isn't allowing them to move ahead with new hires.

Now my question is, should I quit my job and try finding my desire role (which seem like a humongous task) or stay put and wait for a offer to come and then leave my current employer?

I'm torn. I dread going to office everyday. I don't know how much do I have it in me to keep continuing but I'm pushing my limits.

Want some advice from fellow grapeviners here. TIA!

Should I leave my toxic work environment with no backup in a job market like this?

Hello good folks of grapevine, I am very confused with my situation right now. I am currently working at a consumer tech unicorn in a strategy role but really burnt out with the working environment. I have no clarity on my roles and responsibilities which keeps changing every week. I am not learning much either. I am planning to quit without any offer in hand (notice period is 2 months, I have enough to survive 5-6 months). I am an IIT-IIM graduate (old ones). Total YOE ~ 4.5 years across strategy consulting, project management and strategy at current startup. Please suggest. Folks who have quit without any offer in hand, how did it work out for you?

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