This is such a difficult thing to balance.

Sometimes it makes sense to take a job that's not your ideal one, because it's at least a step in the right direction.

Other times you find yourself in one bad position because you were so desperate to get yourself out of another, when a much better position was waiting just around the corner.

The problem is you can never know, and like holding a bomb you have to risk the waiting, passing up opportunities in the hopes of some grander one that may be a complete fantasy.

This is made only worse if you don't have a job and you have friends or family or some network around you supporting you but persistently asking "Have you found a job yet?" "Why don't you do this, or this, or this." Responding — especially if they're financially supporting you — with "I'm waiting for my dream job" or "I'm trying to create my path" is not an easy thing to do.

All the more reason why your advice to quit while you're ahead is a valuable piece of it. If you're in a good position, start looking for a better one.

It's much easier to find opportunities when you're already far above the ground.