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What to do if you regret quitting your job?

You've been at your new job for a few months and things aren't going as you hoped. The work doesn't match the job description, you're at odds with your manager, and the company expects everyone to work overtime. You thought it would be an improvement over your previous job, but it's not – and you wish you'd never quit.

During the Great Quit of 2021, more workers than ever before voluntarily quit their jobs to seek more meaningful work and a better work-life balance. But not everyone found what they were looking for. According to a 2023 survey of 825 employees and 354 employers, 80% of employees who left their jobs during this period later regretted it.

“There are a number of factors that can lead to you regretting quitting your job,” says Eloise Skinner, career expert, author and psychotherapist. “Perhaps you had high expectations for the new chapter of your life that were not met in reality, or you thought you could get a new job in a different field that didn't materialize.”

Some people may miss things about their previous job, such as community, cultural values, routine, challenges or opportunities. They may earn less or miss the company benefits of their old employer.

“You may also regret no longer having the identity of your previous role – especially if you changed careers completely rather than staying in the same industry,” says Skinner.

Read more: Can you really trust HR to solve a problem at work?

“Regret can be a difficult emotion because it is connected to so many other things – nostalgia, grief, longing, sadness and frustration. I would say that you usually feel regret when you reflect on a particular decision and wish you had acted differently.”

First, it is important to think about why you are unhappy in your new job.

“A reflective path might help you figure out why you regret quitting your job,” says Skinner.

“What values ​​were fulfilled in the past and are no longer fulfilled now? How could you reproduce or recreate those values ​​in a new career or job? Or more generally, how can you use your positive experiences in the previous job to inspire you as you look for the next step?”

If your schedule isn't working, you can ask for a change in your work hours or flexible hours. You may be able to ask for a raise in the future or ask for more opportunities or different projects.

If the position doesn't match the advertised role, talk to your manager. It may be helpful to have the original job posting handy, as well as the tasks or responsibilities you'll be performing on a daily basis, so you can compare the two.

Read more: Should you ever take career advice from TikTok influencers?

And remember that it can take some time to settle into a new job. You may not start to enjoy your role until you feel comfortable in your new surroundings.

“In general, and especially if you are making a significant change in direction, I would say it might be worth waiting a few weeks before deciding how you feel about the process – your initial experiences might be closely tied to shock, adjustment and transition, and it might take a while before you can gain a fuller perspective.”

Another option is to try to get your old job back, if it's available. According to a 2022 international survey, nearly 20% of workers who quit their jobs during the pandemic have now returned to their old employers.

However, it's common to romanticize life in your old job – but there will be a reason, or maybe even several reasons, why you quit. The problems you faced may not change even if you get your job back.

Read more: Why employees may be inclined to quit quietly

“It really depends on the company and the individual's situation. But if you want your old job back, you can contact your old supervisor, boss or closest confidant at your previous company and ask if you can meet them for a casual coffee,” advises Skinner.

“Talk to them about your experiences since you left, the things you liked about your previous job and the things you miss. Ask if they think it's possible to start a conversation about you returning – if you're open to it, you could even suggest you start again in a different role or position,” she adds.

“If you know anyone else in the company who has left and rejoined, reach out to them as well to talk to them.”

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