You can weigh up all the pros and cons of a big decision at work and still end up regretting your choice. You might decide to quit your job for a new role, only to wish you hadn’t, or you may move to a different department but miss your old team.
Regret is something many of us face. A 2025 survey by Resume Now found that 66% of workers report career regrets, including not asking for raises, neglecting work-life balance, and staying in a job too long. But regretting a decision isn’t the only issue, even more importantly, it can be hard to know exactly what to do.
In 2022, researchers at King’s College London and the University of Reading found that people respond to career regret in a variety of ways. While some change jobs or undergo training to switch careers, others favour distractions like holidays. But while going away can relieve stress in the short-term, it doesn’t resolve the cause of the problem.
“I often see people regret the choices that were made for the wrong reasons, such as fear, impatience, even ego,” says Victoria McLean, a career coach, and CEO & founder of career consultancy City CV.
“It could be jumping into a job that looks prestigious, but ends up being a bit more than you can chew, or tilts the work-life balance scales in a way you’re unhappy with. I’ve had people tell me they grabbed the first job that came along because they were too afraid to wait for the right opportunity, only to discover they’d traded short-term stability for long-term dissatisfaction: less pay, less purpose, or an industry they just didn’t enjoy.”
One wrong move can feel like you’ve derailed your whole career, but that’s simply not the case. “Every career is just a series of experiments – you test, you adjust, you learn what fits,” says McLean. “I always tell clients: a bad decision is data. It gives you insight into what energises you, what drains you, and what boundaries you need to set next time.”
Reframing the experience can help you manage the negative feelings that crop up when you regret a decision.
Kasia Siwosz, a life and career coach, says regret can complicate your ability to move forward in a positive direction, so it’s important to learn from the experience instead of seeing it as a failure.
“I encourage my clients to do a ‘post-decision audit’ – what did you learn about yourself from this situation? What expectations were not met, and were they realistic to begin with?,” she says.
“Sometimes, you can rework your situation today by engaging in candid conversation with leadership or adjusting your position to better employ your strengths. Otherwise, start plotting your next move intentionally. An error can be a turning point if you use it as an opportunity.”
Connar Wolford, the student success lead at TargetJobs, recommends thinking critically about why you regret your decision.
“Look at what exactly is making you unhappy, is it the people, the workload, or the role? Knowing the real cause helps you decide if the issue can be changed,” he says. “Seek advice – talk to mentors, colleagues, or friends who can help you get a different view and look at solutions you may have missed.”
Wolford also suggests taking motivating steps to improve your current situation. “Ask for feedback or more information on your role, or request further training or different targets/projects that are better matched to your interests. Build connections at work, sometimes it’s the team dynamic, not the job that needs adapting.”
A 2025 survey by Resume Now found that 66% of workers report career regrets. ·Daniel de la Hoz via Getty Images
You could also speak to your old employer if you’re thinking of returning to a previous job.
“It’s not a faux pas and it happens far more often than people admit,” says McLean. “If you’re staying put for now, whether that’s in an old job where you feel undervalued or a new job that just isn’t clicking, try to shift from silent frustration to active problem-solving.”
Rather than throwing in the towel straight away in a new role, give things time to settle.
“I’d always give a new role a fair chance – around three to six months – unless it’s fundamentally misaligned with your ethics or wellbeing,” says McLean.
“The early stages of any job can be uncomfortable; you’re learning the ropes, navigating personalities, and most stressful of all, trying to prove yourself. That’s normal friction, not necessarily a sign that you’ve fudged it.”
However, if you’re forcing yourself through every day, it might be a sign that the job isn’t right for you. If you’re waking up anxious, feeling physically depleted, or losing confidence in your own ability, the environment may be undermining you.
“I also look for what I call the growth pause – that moment when you realise you’re no longer learning, no longer curious, when your drive turns into pure endurance and the role feels smaller than your potential.”
Changing direction again doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every successful career involves figuring out what’s right and what isn’t, so don’t panic.
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