Do You Take Time Between Jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends. If my health insurance is good through the rest of the month, I might take a few weeks off. My last transition, insurance was terminated on my last day of employment, so I was on eggshells the 6 days before my next start date.

You can retroactively sign up for COBRA for about 60 days after you leave your old job

[Anonymous]

I give myself a week or two minimum just to clear my head. Ideally would like to decompress for a month or so but usually when a company hires you they have an immediate need and would like to get you going asap.

[Anonymous]

Oh man--I took six weeks in between grad school and my first job, and they were glorious. Took another month in between moving from that first job to my second. And I took off the entire summer before I started grad school! Rented a room and traipsed about all of Southern England. I have so many fond memories of that trip.

But, I was lucky in a lot of ways to have those opportunities, so I can understand people who can't take that time due to finances or insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends. If my health insurance is good through the rest of the month, I might take a few weeks off. My last transition, insurance was terminated on my last day of employment, so I was on eggshells the 6 days before my next start date.

You can retroactively sign up for COBRA for about 60 days after you leave your old job

[Anonymous]

I would theoretically love to, but Dh and I have both been stymied for a variety of reasons.

The two primary ones:
- employer needed someone NOW to fill a particular role, and they confirmed many times during the interview process that i'd be free to start pronto.
- Clients/reputation in the market. This has impacted both me and my husband. I'm a lawyer with client relations. You literally can't just take a month off and come back. Those clients will find other places to go. Similarly, DH started a new product line for a company. One of his assets were his contacts in the market, and if he'd taken 2 weeks off, it would have impacted his momentum in the industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends. If my health insurance is good through the rest of the month, I might take a few weeks off. My last transition, insurance was terminated on my last day of employment, so I was on eggshells the 6 days before my next start date.

You can retroactively sign up for COBRA for about 60 days after you leave your old job

I know. It’s still expensive and a hassle though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends. If my health insurance is good through the rest of the month, I might take a few weeks off. My last transition, insurance was terminated on my last day of employment, so I was on eggshells the 6 days before my next start date.

You can retroactively sign up for COBRA for about 60 days after you leave your old job

I know. It’s still expensive and a hassle though.

If you are just taking a couple weeks off between jobs, you don't have to do any cobra paperwork or pay anything. On the off chance you need to go to the hospital in those two weeks, you can retroactively do the paperwork and pay the premium. If not, you don't have to do anything.

[Anonymous]

Even if I made a lot of money, I come from a background of instability so I'd still not take time off between jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends. If my health insurance is good through the rest of the month, I might take a few weeks off. My last transition, insurance was terminated on my last day of employment, so I was on eggshells the 6 days before my next start date.

You can retroactively sign up for COBRA for about 60 days after you leave your old job

I know. It’s still expensive and a hassle though.

During the pandemic rules are changing. I thought I read it included retroactive opt in beyond 60 days, and at lower rates? Can’t remember if it was in the actual relief package or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I give myself a week or two minimum just to clear my head. Ideally would like to decompress for a month or so but usually when a company hires you they have an immediate need and would like to get you going asap.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people LOVE what they do for a living.

I don't believe that. That is rare.

[Anonymous]

People are so money hungry. A PP didn't want to leave a week's wages on the table. Gag.

You would be horrified that I work PT and have my entire life.

[Anonymous]

One of my former colleagues took a month off after after leaving our company. He used that time to take a long road trip around the country, visiting friends and family.

5 days into the road trip, he died in a car accident. I always wondered if he had life insurance coverage. I know it's none of my business and I would never ask, but even just the question was enough that I'd think twice about taking time between jobs if there was any doubt about insurance benefits of any kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my former colleagues took a month off after after leaving our company. He used that time to take a long road trip around the country, visiting friends and family.

5 days into the road trip, he died in a car accident. I always wondered if he had life insurance coverage. I know it's none of my business and I would never ask, but even just the question was enough that I'd think twice about taking time between jobs if there was any doubt about insurance benefits of any kind.

Who cares if he had life insurance? Jobs usually provide very little life insurance anyway.

[Anonymous]

I am pondering this right now. I am expecting an offer this week. The new job doesn’t need me until may. But the current job is insanely busy and I don’t know that I can get someone trained in the next 2 weeks. I may actually stick with current until the new job starts. But damn would I love a couple weeks to myself!