Any escapee worth their salt needs a solid strategy behind them. It's no good thinking what you will do ten minutes after you've quit; this is a plan you need to roll out in the two months or so before you give in your notice. Your plan should take into account the following issues:

How long will it take to get another job? "People sometimes quit their jobs with nothing lined up, thinking that they’ll have a new one in a few months," says management adviser Allison Green. "But in this job market, job searches can take a year or even longer. Many people only realize that once they’ve already quit and it's too late. In most circumstances, you shouldn’t quit without another job lined up."

Can you afford to quit? "You can’t tell your creditors to call back next April," says careers expert J. Maureen Henderson. "If you’re going to take ditch your day job without a new gig lined up, make sure you have at least a few months’ worth of expenses saved." Bear in mind that leaving your job voluntarily may mean you aren't eligible for unemployment support, so don't rely on the government to back you up. See more here. You should also consider the loss of benefits such as sickness or maternity cover that would come with quitting your job.

How will it look on your CV? A role can take up to a year to settle into properly. Have you given the job enough time to grow into it? Employers like flexibility but they don't like a CV peppered with multiple short-term positions, suggesting inconsistency and a tendency to job-hopping. Nor do they like unexplained gaps; if you can afford to take some time out, make sure you factor in something productive like voluntary work to talk about.

Focus on your experience: As far as future experiences go, think about how you can play to your strengths - rather than getting carried away by the idea of a fantasy role. "Think less about the job titles and dream companies and more about your skill set and experience," says top US recruiter Kimberly Bishop.

And lastly, don't burn bridges. You need all the friends you can get going forward, so make sure you stage a graceful exit and don't leave in the middle of a major project.

Don't whatever you do run out the door shrieking with delight - save that for celebratory drinks...

Words: Anna Brech, Photos: ThinkStock

Should you quit your unsatisfying job? These six questions will make your decision