[J-dawg]

I did this in the UK and it felt like a huge deal. I wasn't yet a developer at the time, but I think my experience is still relevant. It seemed to really have an impact on interviews. The interviewer would end up asking a lot of questions about why I left the previous job (it was for quite innocent reasons), rather than the stuff I really wanted to be talking about, which puts the whole thing on a downer from the start. It affected me a lot, which meant I started to become very nervous before interviews, so performed badly, got even more nervous, etc. I pretty much have a phobia of interviews to this day (almost 10 years later) because of it.

I think the answer to the original question depends enormously on what type of person you are. If you're extremely confident in yourself, and in your skills, and you're naturally positive and optimistic then you should be fine.

If you have the sort of personality that tends towards introspection and self-doubt, then think very carefully before doing this. Think about how you'll feel after your 10th rejection, or when your savings are starting to run low. Will you still bounce back?

Finally, I've heard that some recruiters use your current employment status as a filtering criterion. So your CV might not even get looked at. This is insane, but I've heard it enough times to think it might be true.

[switch007]

This is my experience too in the UK. 6 months is border-line unemployable – expect at the very least a salary low-ball offer. I don't know many people in our industry in the UK who would take 3 months off and not worry about their career.

Most you can hope for is delaying the start date in a new position. But, again, they likely will ask your notice period and your end date, and be a bit suspicious of a a delayed start date.

[pyb]

I have the opposite experience in the UK. I have god knows how many gaps in my resume... for all sorts of reason. Probably part of the reason why I became a contractor ; as it's kinda part of the job. Anyway, interviewers have never raised it. Perhaps it's just that we don't apply to the same type of tech companies.

[bobdole1234]

Do more interviews. Jobs you're vaguely interested and qualified for, but aren't likely to switch for.

When everything isn't on the line, you can learn to relax and enjoy.

I try to never go more than a few months without a bit of practice, and now I'm head and shoulders above most people with my interview confidence.