Quitting job without another lined up

[SlyReaper]

I'm thinking of quitting my job without having another one lined up. Am I crazy for even considering it?

I'm suffering a serious crisis of motivation at work. I won't go into the details, but I find it both difficult AND uninteresting, because it doesn't fit with my skills and mindset at all. I never get to do anything that I'm actually good at. Everything's an uphill struggle, and I just can't bring myself to care about the outcome of what I'm doing.

I've applied for an internal transfer to something that would definitely be a better fit, but I know I'm not the only one applying for it, so it might not happen. If I don't get it, I'm thinking of just quitting my current role anyway.

I have enough savings to last me at least a year. Maybe a little less if I go travelling. I have no debts, and nobody but myself depending on me having an income. I think if I dedicate most of my time to job hunting (which I can't do while already holding a full time job), I shouldn't have too much trouble finding a new job long before I run out of savings. It's a risk, but I feel like if I don't role that die, I'm just going to be stuck in this unhappy situation into perpetuity.

Am I being silly? Will future prospective employers look unkindly on there being a gap in my CV?

 

[SlyReaper]

Have you talked about your current situation with your manager?

If you haven't, or you don't feel you can approach them about this subject, then you're definitely in the wrong job (or have the wrong manager, or both).

Gap in the CV is fine - if it comes up in interview just be honest about the reasons, I've never had any reason to reject someone just because of a non-employment gap.

My manager is aware I'm unhappy and knows I've applied for this internal transfer. He isn't thrilled, but seems sanguine enough about it - when I leave, he may be able to fill the role with someone more suited to that kind of work.

As for JSA, I'm not planning to rely on it. My "live for a year on savings" calculation doesn't factor in JSA at all, so if they give me anything at all, it's a bonus.

 

[SlyReaper]

One thing I didn't mention is, yes, I've been applying for external jobs too. Had one interview a couple of months ago, but wasn't offered the job. The main problem is I can't take calls from recruiters at sensible times because I'm at work. By the time I get home in the evenings, I'm too mentally exhausted to do much more than return missed calls.