Ask HN: What steps and preparations should I make before quitting my job?

Hi HN.

I was hoping to turn to the wisdom of HN for advice. I am a software developer and for a while, I've felt unrecognized and pigeon holed on the "unsexy" projects. I've been told I was in line for a raise but was just waiting for approval. That was six months ago, when I asked what was happening I was told 'still waiting'.

Honestly, unsexy workhorse projects are completely fine by me personally I learn enough in my spare time - but they're a dead end with respect to promotion and growth.

From all the previous advice I've seen on Hacker News I know "If you hate your job, quit" is apparently the right answer.

Overcoming the fears though is a bit of a stumbling block. There's a lot of other wisdom that says "it's easier to find a job if you already have one", or "why not make your own job" (believe me, I'm trying!).

I'm getting calls, going on interviews, just not getting to that final stage of offer.

Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I got turned down for one that I really wanted just last Friday and this week has felt almost unbearable.

Seriously, today just as I got into the office, rather than getting straight down to work, I cried. (Thankfully I get in so much earlier than everyone else I had time to do that before anyone saw me).

I'm sitting here with the words catching in my throat. "Guys, I've got to move on" but I keep stopping at the point where that little voice in my head says "have you really thought about this?" (and my wife's voice calmly telling me that I should really have another job first).

I don't know really what to say. I'm just feeling a bit shit really. HN is sure to have that sort of collective wisdom that can help a guy out.