Regret moving companies

[MaudePie]

I’ve recently moved from one company to another ( same industry and area) and already really regret it!

Previous job was at one of the best and most prestigious companies in the industry, where I was paid really well, had a good part-time/wfh arrangement and had fantastic colleagues. The work was cutting-edge; however, it could involve extremely long hours and a lot of stress, plus there was very little (if any) opportunity for progression.

New job is in a company that is definitely a step down (which, I am now discovering, means the work is a lot less complex and interesting). This should mean that it will not involve such long hours or stress but the nature of the industry means it will happen from time to time. Salary is lower, which means I can’t afford to be part time and the childcare costs are crippling - however, there is supposedly a better chance of progression (at least that was the promise at interview... it now seems there are people in the queue ahead of me, which was not said at interview!).

I now think that I was so fixed on progression that I lost sight of how good I had it at the previous job and have ended up in a worse position, which I am now regretting. Am I being ridiculous? Is this just rose-tinted glasses or have I made a mistake?

It’s done now either way. Why not see how you feel in 6 months time? It’s all still very new. And if you’re ace at your job maybe you’ll jump the queue for progression.

Has your previous post been filled and did you leave on good terms?

It does sound like you’ve been a bit naive; why didn’t it occur to you that there would be others in the queue for progression before you?

Any new person needs to prove they can do the job they were recruited for before they can move on, otherwise the company would have recruited for the next position up.

I’d seriously consider going back to the old place based on what you’ve said.

Well of course there are people ahead of you in the queue. You can't seriously have thought you'd jump in and get promoted. You need to prove yourself for at least a couple of years.

The thing is it's done now, unless the old company will take you back, then you need to focus on making the best of it for now.

I’ve been exactly where you are. I left in my probation period.

A massive relief! I am so glad I left. My CV looks a bit strange but I can live with that.

Has your old position been filled? Is returning an option? I had a close friend who did something very similar. Realised within a week that she'd made a mistake and went back. So it can be done.

Your previous job sounds amazing, so i'm going to assume the position you left has already been filled. If that's the case you have 2 options

1. Keep going in this job, wow them and maybe you'll jump a few places in the queue

2. Look for a new job.

Ask for your old job back. Worst you can get is a no

Thanks all - yes, I was naive and stupidly made a hasty decision. There are some good points to my new job but overall outweighed by the good points of the old role (many of which I didn’t realise were important to me until experiencing the differences with my new role). My old role hasn’t been filled (part of a team) so going back might be an option. I’m going to give it a couple more weeks to make sure I’m not romanticising the old role (and avoid another hasty decision!) and if I still feel the same I will approach my old boss to see if it’s possible (I left on good terms and had glowing feedback before I left so fingers crossed...).