It depends.
Be it a sales rep or an office manager — both can be relieved to be set free from positions that weren't right for them. While it's never smart to get yourself thrown out because you lacked the courage to leave on your own accord, there is an argument for taking the time to search out what you really want. But if you don't have enough of a financial cushion, panic over money may force you into a premature decision.
Also, being unemployed can make you more insecure during interviews, especially if you fear an employer might try to take advantage of you as a result. However, no one can take advantage of you unless you let the person. Having confidence in your own abilities and worth is the best antidote against that happening.
If you burn bridges on your way out the door, you complicate your situation with poor references. This could make you pretty defensive in interviews, and you'll have to supply more positive references. If necessary, you'll have to let your former employers know that it's against the law for them to say anything that would interfere with your ability to find a new job. Know your rights here and, if necessary, exercise them.
Unemployed professionals aren't the only ones with sticky reference problems. Unless your bosses know you're looking for a new job, you won't be able to use their names as references. Plus, it's hard to activate the kind of network you need for an effective search if you must keep your job hunt secret. You may have to avoid a huge chunk of opportunities because you're afraid to reveal your search to key people who would otherwise be able to help you.
Besides quitting outright, you have two choices: You can discreetly tell certain trusted networking contacts that you're in the market, and ask them to please honor your confidence. Your second option is to tell your employer that you're looking. Although risky, this strategy has worked surprisingly well for some people. While some employers become furious at being abandoned, others have been known to respond more maturely.
Anyway, when it comes to changing jobs, there's always risk. It's up to you to choose which risks you prefer.
If you can start job hunting discreetly while still employed, you'll have more time to do the preparatory work it takes to research the job market, write a resume and probe your network. However, once you've gauged the market (and your marketability), you may want to risk leaving your job without having another. Why?
Looking for a job is a full-time job. To find a position in a company that's really right for you takes time, energy and commitment. That's not something you have in great reserve when you're still physically and emotionally committed to another position.
A retail store manager promised herself for more than a year that she'd look for a new position. But beyond responding to want ads, she was simply too tired at the end of the day to do the kind of networking she needed to be successful. Since she hoped to change careers into media sales, she needed extra time and energy for the task. She couldn't seem to mobilize herself to do more than the bare minimum, though.
Finally, she made a commitment to leave. Her plan included an interim job as a department store salesperson to keep some money coming in. Knowing she could meet her basic financial needs relieved a great burden. Once she was able to job hunt in earnest, she was incredibly aggressive in pursuing leads and successfully found a new position within two months.
