From time to time, our recruiters get their resume with “gaps” when the specialist has not worked for some time. The duration of such a break varies mainly from 2 to 6 months. This phenomenon convinced us to figure out is it OK to quit nowhere, how to do it right and why employees do it at all.
Why Specialists are Leaving Nowhere
It is not at all new for recruiters to see such resumes, so we decided to find out the reasons for such a dismissal, so to speak, firsthand.
Olga Glibchuk, recruiter:
In 95% of cases, such dismissal goes nowhere to the benefit of the candidate. Of course, it is always interesting to know why people organize such a “vacation” for themselves, and we ask about it. The reasons can be very diverse, but most often I hear the following:
- I wanted to devote enough time to additional training in order to improve my qualifications.
- I had a professional burnout, I just wanted to rest.
- I realized that my previous job was not mine and decided to take the time to find myself.
- I graduated from a big difficult project, so I just took a “sabbatical” and traveled.
To be honest, in our recruiting department, such resumes do not come as much of a surprise at all. What’s wrong if a person wants to devote time to training and improve their qualifications? It’s cool! The specialist feels in his or her place, but wants to become the best, here it is not surprising that you need to quit for several months, because the work takes 9-10 hours a day, when is it still to study here? Professional burnout is a common phenomenon today, since one specialist performs many tasks at the same time and is much better if the specialist does not force himself or herself to work (this directly affects the result), but goes on vacation just to give himself or herself some rest.
Is it OK to Quit Nowhere?
As you can imagine, our company`s policy doesn’t mind “creative breaks” as long as they’re good for you! Here’s what our recruiter Olya told us:
Modern IT is multitasking and it really happens that a person simply “burns out” at work. In this case, dismissal is the best solution, even for a month or two. Just taking a week off is not enough. For several months, the specialist has a rest and is ready to come to a new workplace full of strength and motivation.
If an IT specialist wants to quit in order to undergo training and improve his or her qualifications, this is definitely a plus. This indicates that the specialist approaches everything thoroughly, and besides, he or she will be able to use the acquired knowledge in the future. So why not?
If the employee decides that the current place is not his or her and honestly admits this, it is a great advantage. After all, when a person is not in his or her place, he or she takes someone else’s place. It affects everything: behavior, mood, motivation, desire, and, of course, the result. Imagine the state of a person who goes to work just to go to work. Therefore, it is better to quit your job for a few months in order to find a place and an industry for yourself. We only encourage such openness and sincerity. It’s no secret that our company has a well-developed open door policy – each employee can come to the manager with a request for development in another field.
Heavy projects are not just empty words. After them, you really need a break. Serious large projects almost always have clear deadlines and a lot of responsibility. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with going on “creative journeys” for a certain period of time and returning with full enthusiasm.
How to Properly Quit
One must be able not only to find a job correctly but also to quit. Especially if you are not just moving to another job, but going on a “sabbatical”. Our recruiter Olya knows how to properly quit and shared her tips:
The dismissal process is as normal as the employment process. In IT companies, these processes never end, but you need to be able to properly quit! The rules for regular layoffs are not particularly different from layoffs for “free float”:
- Give notice of your intention to quit as early as possible, ideally a month or two, so that a candidate can be found to replace you.
- First, warn your manager and explain the reason. You may be asked to return to work in a few months!
- Then tell the HR manager about it. It is important that HR understands the reason for your dismissal, perhaps you want to leave because you are not satisfied with the atmosphere in the team and then HR will deal with this situation.
- Prepare all the necessary developments for transfer to a new specialist.
All of these rules apply to both dismissal situations. The difference most often lies in the fact that a specialist who leaves for nowhere can foresee this and warn in advance.
Will I be Hired After the Break?
Quitting nowhere – is OK! Don’t worry about being ashamed in upcoming interviews after the break. In the dynamic world of IT, such an alignment we are no longer surprising. If you are looking for a new place of work after “sabbatical”, take a look at vacancies, there is definitely something for you. Our company is developing at a frantic pace and we will be glad to see another first-class specialist in the team!
