Quitting job at 24. Advice appreciated.

[hokies2688]

I have been thinking about this for a few months now and wanted to get some outside perspective. I’m 24 and live in the suburbs of DC making almost $65k/year working for a large mortgage company. Besides renting a house and utilities ($1000/month) and gas ($100/month) I have no other expenses except food. My work life is pretty boring and the future at the company is bleak as the government might shut us down anyway in a few years. I’m tired of sitting in a cube and doing meaningless work that I don’t care about. I enjoy living in the area as most of my high school and college friends are here, but the lifestyle of happy hours and endless weekend barhopping shenanigans is getting repetitive. Since I still have no idea what I want to do with life, I’ve been thinking about moving down to Charleston, SC and living with a couple friends there. Rent would be about $500/month and my only expenses would be food. I could pick up a bartending gig and still bring in close to $3k a month. I do love working (I’ve had a job since I was legally allowed to) and would probably pick up as many shifts as possible because I’d be enjoying it. This would still let me easily fund my Roth as well as an IRA while I’m still saving extra cash. I’d probably do this for a year while I enjoy the sunshine and relaxed lifestyle of Charleston while hopefully figuring out what I want to do with my life. Whether it be open a bar somewhere or go back and get my MBA, I honestly just don’t have any clue. It seems that this would be the only time I’d every be able to do this and if I hate it, I can always move back and find another job. Does anyone have any advice, opinions, or suggestions that they’d like to share? Has anyone ever done anything like this? Thanks in advance!

[bjl584]

The best advice that I can give you is to not quit your current job until you have another job waiting in the wings. Unless you have a sustantial amount of money saved (1 to 2 years worth of salary) then simply quitting your career and moving isn't a good idea. Even if it is a gig tending bar, I would be sure 100% that a job is waiting for me before I quit my current job and moved.

[snafu]

Since you're interested in returning to school for an MBA, what area is of particular interest? For example you could get a Financial Planner credential since these courses are designed for individuals in the workforce. Before making any important decisions you might benefit from Vocational Aptitude testing to highlight your best skill sets.

1st polish up your resume and read up on interview suggestions. You can check on-line for employment/career opportunities in SC that would advance your area of interest or skill sets. I suggest using any vacation time to check out cost of living, housing, entertainment/night scene and meet with 'head hunters' who have contacts not readily available to John Doe and whose job it is to advance your name to potential employers.

It occurs to me if you're so bored with your day job, you might grab some bartender employment in DC [nights/weekends'] and use sums for Cramer type investments that have some risk but high probability of capital gain. [Have a look at Starbucks {SBUX} since 11/30/2011]

[hokies2688]

The purpose of moving was to not actually work a desk job for at least a year. I can live with a friend down there for a bit and have zero expenses except for food for a few months while getting a bartending job. The problem with doing this in Virginia is that you have to be licensed by taking a class. In South Carolina, that is not necessary. I agree with the idea of finding a job before I go down, but because my expenses are almost nothing and I have six months of money in an efund at my current expense level, I feel I should be fine. The whole point of moving down there for a bit is to escape the constant hustle and bustle of DC and escape corporate life. I just feel that so many kids my age get these jobs and just try to make the best of the 9-5 life. In my opinion, it makes sense to take advantage of the fact that I was lucky enough not to have debt and go do something I'd enjoy for a bit. Am I just not facing the reality of having to work? I just don't think I'd be happy working a normal 9-5 and trying to move up the corporate ladder.

[YLTL_Dan]

Hokie -

I totally understand where you're coming from as I've been there myself. I'm 30 years old and have nearly left the corporate job 5-6 times now. The excitement and fulfillment one can find in college makes it tough to transition to an outside world that's not always so exciting. However, this doesn't mean you need to settle in a boring life as you've discussed.

The biggest thing holding you back right now is that you don't know what's next. I took a consulting job out of college that provided some great opportunities. I stayed there for 7 years but almost quit to take another job (3 times), go to graduate school, go to law school, and to join the peace corps. I finally left for another corporate job doing something I like, making more money, and providing the work/life balance I'm looking for. I'm happy in my job now, but I'm still not settling.

Sometimes quitting and starting over at something new seems like the best way out. It sounds sexy, and it's always the role played by the heroes in movies. However, this often leaves people career-less, broke, and even more unhappy. Now, I try to use my full-time job as a tool to help me get where I want in life. On the side, I'm pursuing my passion of helping others through blogging and speaking about personal finance. I've been working and thinking about this for 3-4 years, but I'm finally taking action.

Don't look to your job to provide you total fulfillment. Start pursuing your interests on the side while you're making and saving great money. I always think about the "starving artist" and how oftentimes they can't help anyone else because they're too busy trying to feed themselves. I don't want to be that guy.

Just my two cents, hope it helps!

[LuckyRobin]

Personally, I'd save up enough until you had a full year's worth of expenses, line up a bartending job in SC, and then I'd go ahead and do it. You're young, you have no responsibilites, no spouse and no children, so if not now, when? You know, kids used to take a year off to find themselves, whether it be right after high school or right after college, and I often think it was the best thing they ever did. That isn't the norm anymore because most people can't afford it as they come out of college so ridiculously debt ridden they can't. You're not in that position. But still, I would line up the job first, because what if you get down there and they look at your resume and decide you are too over-qualified for the job? I've heard of out of work lawyers who couldn't get a fast food job for that very reason. Better to hedge your bets.

[cschin4]

Now is the time to experiment with your life. Take some chances. Backpack across Europe. Live on a dime. Jump in and go for it. Enjoy. You are young and have years ahead of you to work a traditional job. The time is now.

[MonkeyMama]

Now is the time to experiment with your life. Take some chances. Backpack across Europe. Live on a dime. Jump in and go for it. Enjoy. You are young and have years ahead of you to work a traditional job. The time is now.

Agreed.

No - I have never done anything like that, but you are young and you have a plan. I say go ahead and enjoy. For reference, I am of the extremely practical variety, and probably why I never did anything like this - nor have I ever *wanted* to - but I suppose I also look back on my youth as pretty carefree compared to older married/with children years. So I feel a huge element of "if you don't do it now - maybe you never will." Probably more to the point: I strongly believe that life is too short to be stuck in a job you don't enjoy.

Of course, I also have a few friends who make good money bartending, so it sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Make sure you line up a job before you quit, is the only thing I would say. (Especially in this economy).

[herdjohnson]

I would say go for it, with the caveat being, don't burn your bridges when you leave.

[woodie96]

I think this comment speaks volumes...

"I’m tired of sitting in a cube and doing meaningless work that I don’t care about."

The key to life and true happiness in employment is finding something you enjoy doing, while also making a living while doing it.

So many people are in jobs they hate going to every day, but to survive, struggle through it.

Please make sure you have enough saved up before you depart for the south. I'm not sure on the state of the economy down there, but like others have said. I think I would have at least a years worth saved up (at current beltway amounts) before I left. Also, keep those bridges intact,because you never know when you may need them, or a good reference to do something similar to the mortgage industry.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Basically, I am in the "go for it!" camp.

However one little word in your post bothers me just a bit. You said, "I just feel that so many kids my age get these jobs and just try to make the best of the 9-5 life."

If you think of yourself as a kid and if you think you are making a life decision to accommodate desires as a kid, I encourage you to think again. At 24, you should give yourself more credit. An adult can choose a more relaxed, carefree lifestyle, one which includes more sociability even at work. An adult can move somewhere else, live with friends for a while, take risks. Don't choose to extend your childhood forever, but do be an adult who makes deliberate choices to live the way you think is right for you.

And by the way, if you are going to live with friends, you probably should chip in not just on food but on rent and utilities.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Do it. That was the time to do things you wouldn't do now. Now my DH won't quit because of medical insurance but 10 years ago we had jobs that we liked (small startups) with barely any income because it was FUN. Some kind of crazy work but who cared? We made enough to survive but I wouldn't do it now.

Taking risks before you have any major responsibilities is the thing to do. Find something to make you happy.

[NetSkyBlue]

Lack of health insurance is what would scare me. One accident or illness could bankrupt you.

[PMMM]

I too would go for it. I've always dreamed of doing that but had a family early in life. My kids are grown now but I'm now too old to "go for it" and even though I don't particularly like my job I have been at it for 18 years and am trapped by the wages. DANG!!

[breathemusic]

While I would agree that if you're miserable in your job, then it sounds like you need to look for another line of work, I hestitate to just jump on the "do it!" bandwagon. Is there not some in between that would make you happy? Some other career style line of work that wouldn't feel so stuffy but would allow you to live a more fulfilling life?

Given the current economy, I think I'd just be worried about what happens after that year is up. Is working for a year as a bartender going to bring you any closer to realizing what you want to do with your life? Or just leave you in the same position but a year older and now with a year gap in your resume where the best thing you can claim is "bartender" rather than quality work experience.

Ultimately it's your life, and your decision, and you're young so now really is the time to live life and figure things out... but just make sure that whatever you decide to do, is actually going to bring you closer to figuring out what you really want in the end. Best of luck!