Can I Leave My Job Before I Line Another One Up?

I get asked this one a lot. The person asking probably knows the answer, which is no. Let’s go through the questions a prospective employer will consider:

1. Performance. Were you let go because you couldn’t do the work?
2. Personality. Could you get along with others and adapt to demands?
3. Judgment. Do you have a realistic view of jobs and a realistic job satisfaction level?
4. Leverage. If the employer can get over 1-3, can he or she lowball you on compensation? Or do you have leverage, e.g., another offer?
5. Motivation. Consider how the gap will look on your resume. Remember: your goal is to have a clear narrative arc, where your job moves should be relatively straightforward and do not require a great deal of explanation.