The Great Regret (Part You…)
In my last post, I described how The Great Resignation has turned into The Great Regret for a large number of people. They - maybe you? - left the financial security of their employment for a myriad of reasons, and yet, the outcomes they desired never manifested. If you are one of the approximately 25% who regrets that they left their job, read on for some ideas on how to set things back on track. (And if you’re still employed but thinking you might want to leave your current position, this could be helpful for you too.)
Know you are not alone. While it may not change much, you aren’t the only one who made a decision they feel bad about. And, in fact, feeling bad is actually quite normal. Change is scary, and it is almost always uncomfortable—at least at first.
Don’t panic! Breathe. Slowly… Then repeat. You’re going to be ok.
Maybe you can make this work. Check in with yourself to see if you’re really unhappy about where you are now or if it’s just discomfort from missing the old familiar thing while also having to deal with newness, change, and not fitting in (which absolutely sucks but is super-normal).
What needs to change to make the new thing work? Do you just need time to learn the ropes? Would it be helpful to have a work “buddy” who can answer your questions and teach you the ins and outs? Are you looking for a friend or mentor outside the company who can help you see what’s going on with internal politics – or who can help you see where you have skills you need to develop? And then, be sure to ask for what you need. (Your boss/company probably likes you. There’s a reason you were hired. Assume they want you to stay, and ask for what you need to make it work for you. They might say no, but they might say yes – or have an even better idea!)
Think also about why you left your old job. It wasn’t perfect—or you would have stayed. What parts of the old job needed to be different? Where was it rubbing you the wrong way? How would you address those areas if you were back there again? Does it help to know that this new discomfort is no worse than that old one was? (Now, do something about it!)
Maybe you can’t make this work…. If you absolutely can’t stand being where you are… Don’t stay there. There are still other jobs out in the world that you haven’t had. Go get one. (I know it’s not that easy, but it’s the only thing that works. You can’t just wait for something better to come to you.) Network with friends who like their job. Shadow them or ask them to set up informational interviews with others in their company – or with suppliers, distributers, etc. If you miss your old company, check in with them and see about returning. You can tell them you made a mistake (though try to be sure you really did and aren’t just looking for safety/security. It’s not fair to them for you to go back and to be unhappy again and want to leave again…).
Check your finances. If you left your job but haven’t taken a new one yet, a tightening job marketing can look terrifying. Know what you really truly need to survive, and make a plan. Budget what you have for what you need, and spend appropriately. Understand that you might need to settle – or to stick with what you have – for now. This isn’t a forever situation. Keep looking for what you want (or go out and make it happen. Side hustles are a great way to start).
You’ve got this! (But if you’d like to talk about it a little more anyway, I’m here. Just send a message through my contact page, and I’ll be in touch shortly.)