Majority of People We Polled Want a New Job in 2023

Most respondents to our recent poll are planning a job change in 2023 (see table below). While our sample size is small, looking across the job market and with our industry insight, we do get the sense that many people are planning a career change this year.?

Will you be looking for a new job in 2023??

Working in recruitment we’re in the business of helping people to make job transitions. We’re passionate about finding candidates new positions that they can thrive in. However, it would be remiss of us not to caution against so called “shift shock”.

What is “Shift Shock”?

Coined by?The Muse?cofounder Kathryn Minshew, she outlined in?this ?article that “Shift Shock” is, “that feeling when you start a new job and realize, with either surprise or regret, that the position or company is very different from what you were led to believe.”

Early last year The Muse ran a Shift Shock survey with more than 72% of their 2,500 respondents expressing that they’ve experienced regret changing jobs. There’s no doubt it’s a common experience.

What to do if you regret changing jobs?

1.?Clarify how you’re feeling.?

It’s normal to feel out of your comfort zone and new job nerves. Starting a new role is hard. Sometimes you just need time to adjust and settle in. Check-in with yourself to identify if this is the case. The transition period is usually the toughest but hopefully you can see that it will get better. If this seems to be the case, then it’s worth giving your new job more time before deciding to quit.

2.?Talk with your employer.?

If you’ve identified that your new job has failed to meet your expectations, then it can often be beneficial to discuss your concerns with your employer. Sometimes talking things through with your new boss can make all the difference.

3.?Consider going back.?

Sometimes you’ll know for certain that the new role/company is not for you and you want out. Many people realise the grass isn’t always greener and that they were actually pretty happy at their old company. If this is the case, don’t presume that your old company won’t have you back, because many businesses are enthusiastic about former employees returning. Before approaching your old company, it’s important to think about the career implications of you returning, so you can decide whether it’s beneficial.

4.?Find another job BEFORE you quit.

If you’re not going to go back to your old job and you’re not going to stay in your new one, then you’ll be job searching again. It will be tempting to quit your current job right away. However, there are advantages to waiting till you find a new position before quitting, so long as it’s not to the detriment of your mental health. Sometimes landing a new job takes longer than you would like or expect and if you’re without work while searching, this may create financial pressure as well as leaving an employment gap on your resume.