I quit my 6 figure 9-5 job without a backup plan

In July of last year, I quit my 6-figure corporate job without having another one lined up and chose to be unemployed for 6 months. I wanted to make this video to document why, how I prepared to give up my financial security, what I did during unemployment, and the lessons I learned along the way.

GO WATCH REBEKAH'S CHANNEL ❤️ @rebekahjoy

🌸 *TIMESTAMPS*
00:00 intro
00:58 my story & why I quit
10:34 how I prepared to be unemployed...
14:47 unemployment journey
17:14 recruiting for a new role
20:03 what I've learned
27:13 where I am now
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🌸 *LET'S CONNECT*
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[fromsarahjolie]

Thank you so much for being here and taking the time to listen!! ❤❤If you’re going through something similar, I’d love to hear about you story. Drop me a comment!! :-) 🫶

[Mrslykid]

I am 32, quit my 232k salary job cause:

1. I was only getting 4 hours of sleep from Monday to Friday.
2. I was having dreams about work and nightmare about if something bad happened at work that I wasn't able to resolve it under 10 mins
3. Even thought I was making more, I was not happy. I got a pay check but it didn't really make a difference.

Now I am on a path to starting my own business.

[climberguyr]

She quit a corporate job to go to another corporate job and started being an influencer in between.

[image]

Yep that's tech for you, you never feel like your done for work for the day or for the week because you are always thinking about work and the issues you are trying to solve

[stopit]

Please anyone watching and thinking of doing this without a massive emergency fund saved up, a great safety net (move back home with parents, rely on spouse's income etc) great networking connections or a guaranteed job (your own self sustaining business or other employment) lined up, THINK TWICE, LONG AND HARD before doing this also. THE JOB MARKET IS BRUTAL RIGHT NOW, people that have been fired or quit jobs are finding it's taking them up to 6 months or even longer to find another job. It can be good to take risks in life but in times like this, take VERY CALCULATED risks.

[redshift]

i started tech in 2006 and it took me 18 years to figure out that i’m done with tech. i felt since it’s good money, i “should” love this job. but i felt like you mentioned, a cog in the machine. i never felt more alive then when i became unemployed and enjoyed the simple things in life like being with family and friends, going outdoors, or focusing on doing things that i truly love.

[JohnVariously]

I have been watching a lot of these videos of young people being burned out by university or corporate culture or going through a lay-off. I am 70 yo and have been through it all…. I know your pain. There are no easy answers to any of this. I have been through it all back in the 70’s to the 90’s. Things are not all that different now … the tech is different but the human dynamics are the same…All I can say to you and others struggling is that you will likely all find a way to a good life. Appreciate all that you do have…. It helps.

[TessaMoore]

as someone who was part of the layoffs in tech last year, I second everything that you said in this video... while my leaving wasn't on my own terms, it was an incredible opportunity to take a break and re-evaluate that I want my life to look like. I went to one of Canada's top business schools and because of my experiences in corporate, I'm not sure that the 9-5 life is the right fit for me... and THAT'S

[camspocketdiary]

Thanks for sharing your story, I totally agree on so many levels. It’s not about the pay check for me but having a better work life balance.

[VictoriaHartford]

I feel like I am listening to myself talk lol 😂 this is crazy. I just left my 9-5pm last month, after feeling exactly like you did. Thank you for sharing your story!

[xDivenire]

thank you for sharing your journey! I had a similar experience as a product designer for a big tech company. tech is in absolute shambles; the dream has been shattered for sure.

[rebekahjoy]

I appreciate you so much for sharing your story and what you’ve learned! Everything happens for a reason and honestly I’m so hyped just listening to how everything worked out for you so wonderfully!! I’m so thankful for our friendship and am constantly inspired by you❤

[georginaydenov]

I love the underlying message and the energy of the video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🤗

[lucym]

this video is amazing. literally i cannot thank you enough. i'm in the process of quitting my toxic job and i seriously needed to hear all of this. thank you SO MUCH!!

[hs]

This is exactly where I’m at, down to the blog I want to invest time into! So so helpful to hear from someone on the other side and motivating to know it’ll all be ok 💗

[RotterStudios]

yep. Been in tech for 25 years and still am. I am very good at it, but the toxic people we deal with (in all job types) really makes it rough. It will wear you down. Would love to work at home for myself!

[dlbuybi]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I recently got unemployed and I feel like I could relate to so many things you were talking about, glad to hear that you’re enjoying your role now and wishing you all the best in everything ! ❤

[spark_]

Really related to your comments on corporate. Inspiring that you could get back into it after 6 months, that gives me hope as someone working on themselves for 4+ months.

[Guitarlife]

Thank you for sharing your story, it took me 12 years and 9 months to leave my last job, with a large portion of that time feeling like I wanted to leave. In fact I nearly quit 3 weeks in. It's terrifying, isn't it?

It's tough being out of work since August 2023, but the most empowering thing about this whole situation is, I'm actually okay, the world didn't come crashing down on me, life actually does go on. Bad managers can significantly affect our physical and mental health, we need to talk about this more. It's refreshing to hear that you have found a wonderful new place of work and are enjoying life 😊

I used to be an extremely creative person, I gave up on life, in fact it has been almost a decade since I've been able to write any music. Maybe with these changes I've made I can find myself again.

[ladyaridette]

I'm so glad your video came into my feed. I am currently in a situation where I have been at a job for 6 months while being underpaid because it was the first offer I got after graduating. The job is great, but the structure surrounding what I do is so poor that it causes more stress than it is worth. To make matters worse, I feel afraid to bring it up to my manager for fear of making my work life more stressful or suddenly getting fired. I'm glad you addressed these things as well as being real about the fear of the unknown; I feel empowered knowing that someone else has gone through something similar and ended up okay. I look forward to watching more of your videos, you seem like a very down to earth, honest person that I could learn a lot from. :)