[batmaniam]

You will be extremely lowballed at any offer you get, with the company not willing to budge. I've personally seen this happen to several colleagues of mine. Even their recruiters just shrugged and said it was all they could get for them.

Definitely start interviewing, but in order to do so you will have to stop working unpaid overtime for your company. Since you're already leaving anyway, promotions or looking to get ahead of your peers is out the window, so focus on yourself, and not your work. That's the most important step! Keep it 9-5.

[fred_is_fred]

I can offer a counter example to this - I was laid off and by choice didn't even look for a month. I had no issue negotiating offers. Part of the key is not disclosing (ever) current or previous salaries.

[batmaniam]

Nowadays, a lot of recruiters ask for salaries. And even if you don't provide one, they will base it off of known salaries of other employees of that company (or your region). So they know the baseline, even if you don't provide the recruiters with one.

Increasing, the hiring landscape is becoming more hostile to us. I guess you got lucky (congrats), but I would not count on that. Companies are always out looking for cheap employees, and the power dynamic is almost entirely in the favor of companies. So I would really encourage (for OP) to make careful plans, backup plans, rather than rely on luck itself.

Also OP, we get you're exhausted from overworking. It's also ok to take vacation before you start your interview journey. Recharge a little, it'll make a huge difference when you're going into an interview headstrong rather than tired out.

[fred_is_fred]

The job market has swung wildly in favor of the employees in the last 6 months, I know this because I'm trying to hire right now.