I'm 24, single, hate my job and hate the city.

Start applying for jobs in places you would rather live/work. You have nothing to lose.

Just quitting without a job might be a poor choice though, although some fields are more forgiving of this than others (for example if you are a nurse, this isn't really an issue).

I've quit a few times to travel. It's not good for career advancement though.

Yep, at age 27 I searched for and found a job interview for my position in Colorado. Gave notice at work, packed everything I needed into a car and headed west knowing damn well I had better get the job. I did, still here 8 years later.

In today's crazy employment environment, do everything you can to avoid having a gap in your resume. Go back to school or get another job where you would like to end up. I ditched a dark cold dying Midwestern city and a go-nowhere career when I was 29 for the South and grad school. Best thing I ever did. The younger you can make a move the better.

Like another poster said, try to get your next job lined up before you quit this one. $15K won't go as far as you think, especially if you move to an expensive place to start your search. Good luck.

If you are going to do it, 24 is the right age.

At my age and obligations, I'd find a job first, but at 24 I might just quit. As long as you are willing to work starbucks or chipotle and don't mind living in fleabags or out of your car until you find something more suitable. $15k does not go that far depending on where your idea location is.

Its OK to quit, move and try to find another job.

However, it you intend to quit, move, and look for another career that's not the best way. Find another position first, then move.

If you quit, do it on pure hate

Moving just about anywhere would be cheaper than where I am right now, besides NY and San Fran (you can probably take an educated guess now).

I agree that I should probably find a job first, but it is very difficult to find the time to search and interview.

I would love to move to Austin. Anyone have any experience there? I hear it is a great city for young adults.

Go for it....I was in a similar position in 2012. I was 2 years out of college, had been at the same job for 2 years that I hated, hated where I lived and was in a pretty miserable cycle. I had thought about moving for a couple months, then out of the blue I woke up one day and said what the heck I'm going for it. Packed everything I could into my car in about an hour and left the rest of my stuff and drove 43 hrs north west. By far the best decision in my life. I didn't have a job or anything. I had just enough money to pay for the gas to get west and food. Once I got out there I was completely broke but it was incredibly exciting seeing doors open. I felt like I was at the right place at the right time. Literally when there was nothing else a door would open. I was much happier and started to really enjoy my life again. I felt like the move had me come alive again. I had escaped the hopeless cycle of funding a life style I didn't wanna live. Take a risk if your heart is telling you to go. You will be surprised how everything works out!

If you are going to do it, do it now. Gets tougher the older you get.

But before you do. Know what you want. Know the industry/career you want, and know the region you want to live in.

Once you know this, find out how to do this, start at the very bottom is ok as long as you are in a good position to gain experience.

The freedom of being 24 is that you can live off of nothing and have no responsibilities. This is why people always say "you can be anything you want to be".

Quit now. At 24 with no kids, no wife, a job you hate, and not even any pets, you can quit on pure hate.

You'll never be less entangled again.

Junk Master wrote:

Quit now. At 24 with no kids, no wife, a job you hate, and not even any pets, you can quit on pure hate.

You'll never be less entangled again.

The things I would be leaving behind are really great group of friends and a very supportive family. While I hate my job and this lifestyle, I would really miss all of them...

not ready for the cold wrote:

Moving just about anywhere would be cheaper than where I am right now, besides NY and San Fran (you can probably take an educated guess now).

I agree that I should probably find a job first, but it is very difficult to find the time to search and interview.

I would love to move to Austin. Anyone have any experience there? I hear it is a great city for young adults.

You claim you hate your locale, then tell us how difficult it is to "find the time" to change.

How many times have you been to Austin? Go more frequently.

Get into a roommate situation in Austin, then start looking for work there. Yes, you are going to have to make a few trips before transitioning seamlessly from your current job to the next one in Austin-area.

Having the freedom to pursue your desires can be such a burden. Change or don't change. No excuses.

pop_pop!_v2.1.1 wrote:

not ready for the cold wrote:

Moving just about anywhere would be cheaper than where I am right now, besides NY and San Fran (you can probably take an educated guess now).

I agree that I should probably find a job first, but it is very difficult to find the time to search and interview.

I would love to move to Austin. Anyone have any experience there? I hear it is a great city for young adults.

You claim you hate your locale, then tell us how difficult it is to "find the time" to change.

I really don't see how these two are related? Yes I hate my locale and yes I do not have very much time to conduct a job search. I work a lot.

You speak like you're an expert in this topic yet I am taking nothing away from your advice. Thank you, now go back to trolling the boards and bashing Rupp.

I did this at age 23, but I wouldn't recommend it. Looking back, it was pretty stupid and risky. I was lucky to get another job in the new city within a couple months but it was stressful. This was before the stock market crashed in 2008, I wouldn't do it now. 15k sounds like a lot but it disappears quickly if you have no income. I applied to 21 places, had 7 interviews and got 3 offers. Two of the offers were much lower than what I made previously so I took the third one which worked out until I was laid off in 2011. I have since switched careers and am grateful to have a job now, but I still don't know how good my job security is.

You need to be more focused on where you want to go. You're saying, "Maybe Austin?" without extensive research. Start now. Get it down to about 3 cities where you'd consider moving and then start looking for a new job. In the meantime, enjoy Beantown! (I'm guess that's where you're at. I just moved to AZ from Boston and I love it).

Go west young man wrote:

You need to be more focused on where you want to go. You're saying, "Maybe Austin?" without extensive research. Start now. Get it down to about 3 cities where you'd consider moving and then start looking for a new job. In the meantime, enjoy Beantown! (I'm guess that's where you're at. I just moved to AZ from Boston and I love it).

Good guess, you're right. I probably should do some research but the thought of spontaneously moving somewhere else excites me. Don't think I could go through with it though.

I think I've definitely narrowed it down to Austin. Anyone know of any good companies down there (please do not say flotrack)

not ready for the cold wrote:

Did any of you ever have the balls to just quit your job and move?

I'm still in my first job out of college. I truly hate what I'm doing and hate where I live. I have about $15k saved. Should I just up and move? What is your experience?

Quit tomorrow and start putting the wheels in motion to get the #^^% out of the city. You're destroying your health doing what you're doing now:

1) Stress is awful for health (no brainer)

2) Living in the city is awful for health (air pollution, added stress, mold exposure from old buildings)

3) Living in northern climates in the winter is bad for health (the research is there on this - go find it if you're interested)

Rent a room somewhere warm for a few months as you figure out your next step. Austin is dirt cheap. A buddy of mine is paying something ridiculous like $240 a month for a nice room there. As long as you don't spend frivolously on rent, $15,000 can last you for a full year. Plus, no matter where you go, there is always work. Be an uber driver if after six weeks you don't find anything right away

Life's too short to wake up at 6 am and walk to a crowded train in 20 degree weather.