Do You Have Quitting Regret? Here’s How To Tell

A Joblist survey says that a whopping one in four employees who quit in the past year regret their decision to do so – and maybe you’re one of them. It can be hard to start a new job, especially if you have such high expectations that it will exceed the quality of your old job. So what’s causing this wave of quitting regret, and what can you do if you have it? Read on to find out.

What’s with the “shift shock”?

After all this time clamoring for a new gig, you might wonder why the grass wasn’t greener on the other side. Quitting regret is also known as “shift shock” – the jolt one gets from the adjustment period in a new job. The Muse found that 72% of people experience shift shock, which makes it a relatively average experience. Of those polled, 29% said their shift shock extends from the role itself to the actual company. But what about when that feeling never goes away?

The study also states that 41% of workers would take two to six months to settle in before looking elsewhere for a new job, and 48% would return to their old job to try and regain their former position. The report also found that younger generations are experiencing quitting regret slightly more than older generations, partially because their work expectations are entirely different. 

“This is a generational shift, driven by Gen Z and millennial candidates who are more likely to believe the employer-employee relationship should be a two-way street,” said Katherine Minshew, an Analyst at the Washington Post. “The pandemic has emphasized for many that life is short, which means candidates are less likely to stick around in unfulfilling jobs.”

80% of those polled state that if a new job doesn’t live up to their expectations, it’s alright to leave within the first six months – a far cry from the past, when one stayed at a job for a minimum of a year as a courtesy.

Why does it happen?

Shift shock that turns into quitting regret is becoming more common as the Great Resignation gets further and further away in the rearview mirror of your career. But it doesn’t come from anywhere – there are a few key reasons why workers are pining for their old roles, according to The Muse.

The job market

Some workers were so fed up with their jobs that they quit without having a new job lined up. And now, it’s even more complex than they anticipated to find a new one, which is the biggest reason for quitting regret. There’s also urgency in external factors, as many are concerned about an upcoming recession that could change the job landscape entirely – 60% of those looking for a job feel the pressure to find a new one before the job market changes. That means that workers want to find a job they can enjoy rather than looking when few options are left.

Their old coworkers

Getting on a new team means leaving behind your old one, and even if they had their quirks, they were still the faces you say day in and day out. Missing the people at their old company is the second largest reason why people feel quitting regret, says The Muse. And if you changed just because the content you were working on didn’t fit your interests or the pay wasn’t high enough, the absence of great coworkers can sting even more – you might feel like you abandoned them or left for the wrong reasons.

The new job itself

Another substantial reason people feel quitting regret is disappointment in the new job. Maybe they realized that their old job wasn’t so bad after all, or they were doing many of the same tasks. Another Joblist survey states that 42% of people agree that a new job isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but returning to their old job isn’t an option either. 

Ways to tackle shift shock

If you have just gotten into a new role and are experiencing some growing pains, don’t quit immediately. If you just put your mind to it, there could be some simple solutions to this complicated problem. Here are a few things to try before you say goodbye.

1. Find things you like

Look on the bright side! There’s a reason you left your old job and a reason you chose this one. What do you like about it? Is it the pay? The content of your work? The flexibility in your schedule? There must be at least a few pieces of a silver lining for you to appreciate, even if the role is not a lock-and-key fit.

2. Solutions for things you don’t

Problems in the workplace can seem overwhelming, but as long as you believe that solutions are possible, a sense of autonomy will grant you at least a little security in a transitional time. Do you need to get to know your team better? What about taking a workshop or two on a particular part of the work that has you stumped? Using ingenuity, you can learn to thrive in any experience like a stubborn but beautiful flower.

3. Get a mentor

There could be some things about your new company that you just don’t understand yet, and a great way to handle that is to get someone to show you the ropes. Whether you turn to your boss, a teammate, or a mentorship program within the company, there’s always someone to hold your hand in the first few months of a job. And if there isn’t, get some input from outside the company using your networking abilities.

4. Don’t leave on bad terms

If you’ve been through all the above options and nothing’s working, you can definitely leave – just don’t burn your bridges when you go. Feel free to be transparent about why you quit so soon after coming on board so that the company knows how it may improve. But don’t hurl insults, be rude to teammates, or berate managers on your way out, as an organization might have trouble taking your complaints seriously if you stomp out the door in a huff.