{"id":12001,"date":"2026-11-06T09:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T08:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/?p=12001"},"modified":"2026-11-06T09:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T08:01:00","slug":"if-only-i-had-two-out-of-three-people-regret-their-career-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/if-only-i-had-two-out-of-three-people-regret-their-career-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;If only I had&#8230;&#8221;: Two out of three people regret their career choice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>Do you regret your professional decisions and your career path? Two out of three people do. Discover what we regret most often\u2014and how you can turn that regret into opportunity.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Regret seems to have been banished from the professional sphere today. The modern career-driven individual\u2014constantly optimized, well-connected, and flexible\u2014does not admit to regretting professional decisions. Instead, they prefer to say, &#8220;<strong>I learned from it<\/strong>,&#8221; or &#8220;<strong>It got me to where I am today.<\/strong>&#8221; To express regret sounds too heavy, too definitive\u2014almost like a personal flaw one would have to acknowledge in oneself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet every professional decision carries the potential that, at some point, we might look back on it with a sigh or a slight shake of the head. After all, let\u2019s be honest: there is so much one could come to regret. Perhaps a <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeits-abc.de\/jobwechsel-oder-kompletter-berufswechsel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">career change or a new job<\/a> that one ultimately didn\u2019t dare to pursue. A <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeits-abc.de\/gehaltsverhandlung\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">salary negotiation<\/a> where one gambled a bit too high. Or a project for which one should have truly fought\u2014or into which one should have really poured one\u2019s all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then there is that other kind of regret\u2014the regret of having done too much. The <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeits-abc.de\/ueberstunden-das-darf-der-arbeitgeber-verlangen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">overtime hours<\/a> that left one a little more exhausted each week. The vacation taken too late. Or those evenings spent prioritizing a laptop over one\u2019s family, in the hope of making it up to them \u201clater.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-von-gehalt-bis-jobwahl-das-bereuen-arbeitnehmer-weltweit-am-meisten\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">From salary to career choices: What employees around the world regret the most<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A survey by Resume Now sheds light on just how widespread professional regret\u2014or second thoughts about one\u2019s chosen career path\u2014truly is. The study surveyed 1,000 employees from the U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany to identify the most common regrets people have regarding their professional lives. The findings are revealing\u2014and show that many of us grapple with the same issues:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>66% of participants stated that they regret at least one professional decision.<\/li>\n<li>60% regret never having asked for a pay raise.<\/li>\n<li>59 % regretting not having given priority to work-life balance.<\/li>\n<li>58 % wished they hadn\u2019t stayed in an unsatisfying job for so long.<\/li>\n<li>Likewise, 58% wish they had negotiated better when starting their careers.<\/li>\n<li>50 % even regret having chosen the wrong career path.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results are revealing \u2013 and show that many of us struggle with the same issues. But what exactly lies behind this?<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #F0F0F1; border-left: 5px solid #AB5355; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; width: 95%;\">\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">What do people regret most often in their careers?<\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">According to an international survey by Resume Now, 66 percent of employees regret at least one career-related decision. The most common regret\u2014cited by 60 percent of respondents\u2014is not having asked for a pay raise. 59 percent regret having placed too little importance on their work-life balance. 58 percent each regret either staying in an unsatisfying job for too long or failing to negotiate better terms when starting their careers. 50 percent believe they chose the wrong career path.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-element u-richtext\">\n<p class=\"typo-body-md typo-body-lg@lg\">\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-wir-bereuen-im-job-vor-allem-das-was-wir-nicht-getan-haben\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In our jobs, what we regret most is what we didn\u2019t do.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Professional regret can be traced back to one central pattern: missed opportunities. It stems from the things we did not do\u2014whether out of fear, uncertainty, or even complacency. The most common reasons are:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not having asked for a salary increase (60%): Many of us hesitate to talk about money with our superiors. The fear of rejection\u2014or the feeling that we are<strong>n\u2019t <\/strong>contributing enough to justify higher pay\u2014leads us to remain silent.<\/li>\n<li>Failing to prioritize work-life balance (59%): We work ourselves to the point of exhaustion, sacrificing free time, family, and rest for the sake of deadlines and projects that, in hindsight, weren\u2019t actually that important. In the end, the question remains: What was it all for?<strong><\/strong>\n <\/li>\n<li>Having stayed in an unhappy job for too long (58%): The perceived security of a steady position and a decent salary often keeps people from taking a leap into the unknown. Yet, all too frequently, we realize too late that this security has come at a high price\u2014paid for with our time, our energy, and, at times, our health.<strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Failing to negotiate salary at the start of a job (58%): Those just beginning their careers, in particular, tend to sell themselves short\u2014often prioritizing simply securing the position above all else. However, this initial modesty proves costly over the years, as subsequent salary increases remain small and insignificant.<strong><\/strong>\n <\/li>\n<li><strong>Failing to negotiate salary at the start of a job (58%): Those just beginning their careers, in particular, tend to sell themselves short\u2014often prioritizing simply securing the position above everything else. However, this initial modesty proves costly over the years, as subsequent salary increases remain small and insignificant.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"background: #F0F0F1; border-left: 5px solid #AB5355; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; width: 95%;\">\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Why do people often regret missed career opportunities?<\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Professional regret often stems from decisions that were not made due to fear, uncertainty, or a strong need for security. This includes failing to negotiate a salary, not taking the leap to change jobs, or remaining in an unfulfilling position for too long. According to the cited survey, 58 percent of people regret having stayed in a job, while only 38 percent regret having left one. While inaction may offer short-term protection against risk, in the long run, it can intensify the feeling that an important opportunity has been missed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-wann-erreicht-berufliche-reue-ihren-hohepunkt\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When does professional regret reach its peak?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is particularly striking that the nature of regret shifts over the course of one\u2019s professional life. According to the survey, such regrets peak mid-career: <strong>70% of millennials <\/strong>(born between 1981 and 1996) and <strong>69% of Generation X <\/strong>(born between 1965 and 1980) regret at least one decision. Many harbor high expectations for their careers\u2014seeking purpose, flexibility, and financial success. When these expectations go unmet, something is left missing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generation Z (born after 1997) also proves to be ambitious, yet pragmatic: two-thirds of this age group already regret not having given enough space to work-life balance\u2014and are actively taking steps to change that.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-wie-fuhlt-sich-berufliche-reue-an\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does professional regret feel like?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regret is more of a quiet companion. It\u2019s the soft sigh on a Sunday evening, as the work week approaches like a dark shadow. It\u2019s the glance toward your children, already fast asleep, while you\u2019re still staring at your laptop. Or the sigh that escapes you when you think back to your last pay raise\u2014which, naturally, turned out to be far too meager.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-was-wir-aus-reue-lernen-konnen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What we can learn from remorse<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that regret doesn\u2019t have to be a constant companion. It can also motivate us to do things differently\u2014starting <strong>today<\/strong>, not tomorrow. After all, change begins with small but concrete steps. Here are a few approaches for how you can turn your regret into something positive:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Regularly question your professional decisions:<\/strong> Are you satisfied with your current job? Does your career feel right to you? Do you enjoy going to work, and do you feel motivated when you do?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Learn to stand up for yourself<\/strong>: whether it concerns your salary, working hours, or opportunities for development\u2014the better you understand your own worth, the more effectively you will be able to advocate for yourself.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dare to take risks<\/strong>: according to the study, more people regret having stayed in a job (58%) than regret having quit one (38%).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set clear priorities:<\/strong> what is truly important to you? The more your decisions align with your values, the less you will question them later on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #F0F0F1; border-left: 5px solid #AB5355; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; width: 95%;\">\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">How can professional regret lead to change?<\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Professional regret can reveal which needs, values, or goals have been overlooked along one\u2019s career path thus far. The first step is to identify the specific trigger: Is it a matter of salary, professional development, working conditions, health, or a lack of purpose? From this, one can derive a manageable next action\u2014such as having a conversation with a manager, pursuing further training, negotiating a salary, or exploring alternative career paths. Regret becomes productive when looking back with remorse shifts into making a concrete decision for the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure, feeling remorse is uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but it can also be a gift. It shows us where we can grow, where we should be braver, and where we need to make a change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps now is the time to set off on a new path\u2014a path where you no longer ask yourself, &#8220;<strong>What if?<\/strong>&#8221; Because one thing is certain: it is never too late to change direction and turn regret into an opportunity.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"arbei-865238429\" class=\"arbei-exit-test-gruppe-unter-artikel arbei-entity-placement\">About the author<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p class=\"bio\"><em>With over 16 years of experience in the retail sector, Anne Borrmann (KarriereLady) has successfully advanced from an apprentice to a leadership role. She is passionate about nurturing talent and fostering strategic career development. As an experienced trainer and manager, she shares her extensive expertise in areas such as leadership, professional training, and career planning. Through practical tips and valuable insights, she helps you shape your professional path in a focused and successful way.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeits-abc.de\/karriere-reue-berufliche-entscheidungen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arbeits-abc.de<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you regret your professional decisions and your career path? Two out of three people do. Discover what we regret [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1088],"tags":[1277,1276,1278],"class_list":["post-12001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-and-job-applications","tag-career-change","tag-jobcareer","tag-regretting-a-job-change"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empiricus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}