It can be tough to know what to do if you regret quitting a job. On the one hand, it might feel like you’ve made a huge mistake and that you must go back and fix things. But on the other hand, you may feel like it’s too late or that things have already progressed too far. So what should you do? Here are a few tips to help you figure out what’s best for you.

How to proceed if you regret leaving your job

You just left your dream job. What now? You probably think you’ll never work again. But don’t count out the possibility of getting back into the workforce. In fact, according to CareerBuilder, 44% of employees say they’ve returned to their previous employers within three months of resigning.

So how does one navigate such a tricky situation? There’s no single answer. Rather, it depends on many factors, including whether you’re willing to take a pay cut, whether you still enjoy working for your current boss, and whether you have another offer lined up. Before jumping back into the workforce, however, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Why did you quit?

If you regret quitting your job, you must consider why you left. Was there something specific that happened? Or was it just a general feeling that things weren’t working out? Whatever the reason, you’ll want to ensure that you don’t make the same mistake twice.

The most common reasons employees quit include:

A lack of respect

Poor communication

Lack of support

– Unclear expectations

While some of these issues can be resolved, others require a little extra thought. For example, if you feel like you aren’t being treated with the respect you deserve, maybe it’s worth asking whether you’re getting paid fairly. Are you earning enough money to live comfortably? Do you know how much you’re making compared to your peers?

2. Does returning seem like a terrible idea?

It’s natural to feel buyer’s remorse after quitting a job, especially if it was your first time doing it. Remind yourself that you made the best decision you could at the time based on your information.

Next, reach out to your former employer and see if there’s any possibility of getting your old job back. Suppose they’re willing to consider it. Great! If not, don’t take it personally. It doesn’t necessarily reflect on you as an employee; they may have moved on.

Finally, regardless of whether or not you can get your old job back, try to use this experience as a learning opportunity. What could you have done differently? What did you like and dislike about your old job? What do you want from your next job? Answering these questions will help you make better decisions in the future and avoid making the same mistake twice.

3. Did you increase your skill set?

If you aren’t actively looking to grow professionally, finding a new position where you can do just that could be hard. But if you’re open to learning something new, there are plenty of opportunities. And while some people might think that working for less money is better than working for more, you shouldn’t sacrifice quality over quantity.

4. Have you gotten along well with your superior?

I’ve been asked this question many times over the years. And while it sounds simple enough, there are several ways to answer.

The most important thing to remember is that “like” isn’t always synonymous with “love.”

I’d argue that liking your boss doesn’t even mean you’ll enjoy working for them every day. Sometimes we don’t connect. Or maybe they make us feel uncomfortable. Perhaps she is too demanding, controlling, or critical.

But regardless of what type of relationship you have with your boss, if you’re unhappy in your current position, it might be worth looking into another job opportunity.

5. Did you destroy any relationships when you left?

Think critically about how you behaved during your last days at the organization. Was there anything you said or did that could potentially damage your relationship with colleagues, managers, or clients?

There is no turning back if you behaved unfavorably after venting your displeasure. You never know what may have happened if you had maintained your composure. Be ready to handle difficult circumstances and uncomfortable queries.

If you burn bridges, you’re likely to encounter obstacles to getting hired again. Your reputation precedes you, so make sure you don’t give anyone reason to think less of you. And keep in mind that even if you didn’t act badly while you worked there, you still have a few months to mend fences with former coworkers.

Do you regret quitting? How to reclaim your job

Nobody’s perfect. We’re human beings, and sometimes we do things that hurt our careers or relationships. When that happens, we feel terrible about ourselves. We might even think about quitting.

But did you know that there are ways to recover from those mistakes? Some people return to their original employer and ask for their old jobs. So how do you do that? What if you don’t want to return to your former position? Is it possible to ask for your job back?

1. Start with a thoughtful email

If you want to return to work, you must make sure your old employer knows why you left. A thoughtful email is a great place to start. Start by thanking your former manager for allowing you to grow professionally.

Then, explain how much you enjoyed working there and what you learned during your time there. Finally, let them know you are interested in returning to work. This allows you to highlight something about the position you’d like to fill. You could even offer some advice or help out with projects.

2. Prepare an explanation

Before meeting with your former employer face-to-face, be sure you’ve got a good reason for wanting to return to work there.

It might help to write out a few reasons ahead of time. This enables you to think about what you’re trying to accomplish during the interview process.

You’ll likely be asked questions like, “Why did you leave?” and “What are your strengths?” But don’t just answer those questions; ensure you have a clear idea of how you can contribute to the organization.

If you’re looking for a way to show off your skills without appearing arrogant, consider sharing examples of your accomplishments. For example, if you’ve been working hard to improve customer satisfaction, tell them about specific projects where you helped customers solve problems.

3. Follow the company online

Social media isn’t just about staying connected; it’s also a great place to find out what companies are doing now.

Companies use social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook to promote themselves, connect with customers, and build relationships. Follow them if you want to know what a company is up to online.

You don’t have to join every account, either—focus on those with whom you have some relationship.

If you’ve been laid off, you might still have access to the old company email address. Use that to send messages directly to the person you worked with.

Ask questions and include any relevant information you found on social media. Be friendly and professional, and try to meet with someone there.

4. Review how you left

If you left on good terms, you might be able to take advantage of that fact. “When someone leaves on good terms, it gives you a chance to make amends,” says career coach Joanna Barsh. “You don’t want to burn bridges.”

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep tabs on what happened. Review how you left your job and see if anything could’ve been done differently. Your former boss might even be willing to help you out now that you’re looking for work.

5. Maintain connections with coworkers

If you want to keep up with what your former colleagues are doing now, reach out to them. It doesn’t matter how long ago you left the company. It’s still possible to maintain connections with coworkers. You may even find yourself working together again down the road. If you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas:

• Send a quick email to say hello.

• Ask about their current projects.

• Share articles or news stories related to work.

• Find something interesting that happened during your tenure there and ask about it.

• Follow them on social media.

• Attend industry events that interest you.

Key takeaway

If you regret quitting a job, you can do a few things. First, reach out to your old boss or colleagues and see if there is any way you can come back on a trial basis. This will allow you to test the waters and make sure that leaving was your best decision.

Second, update your resume and apply for jobs in your area of expertise. You may have to step down to get back up, but that’s okay – it’s better than being unemployed.

Finally, contact our team of resume experts for help crafting an attention-grabbing resume that will help you stand out from the competition. We can also provide career advice so that you can figure out what steps to take next in your career journey. Are you considering going back to a job you quit? Let us know in the comments!