Episode 58: Regret or Adjustment? How to Handle New Job Anxiety

Starting a new job and already questioning your decision? In this episode of Leaving the Nest, we explore the common signs of new job regret, how to tell if what you’re feeling is just part of the adjustment period, and how to navigate the uncertainty with confidence and professionalism.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by a new office environment, struggling with your manager’s style, or just missing your old routine, this episode will help you break it down. We’ll walk through how to:

• Identify the real reasons behind new job discomfort
• Give yourself a realistic 90-day window before making any big moves
• Reframe your mindset using tools like gratitude, reflection, and conversation
• Know when to stay and grow — or when it’s time to move on (gracefully)
  

This episode is perfect for recent grads, young professionals, or anyone facing career change anxiety. Learn how to stay grounded, build self-awareness, and avoid burning bridges when career doubts creep in.

Sometimes the best conversations happen when you throw out the script and just see where things go, and that’s what I’m doing in this episode of Leaving the Nest! 

You’ll hear that the “wheel of topics” decides to acknowledge the fact that starting a new job can feel overwhelming. You have new coworkers, new management styles, unfamiliar commutes, and all the anxieties that come with leaving your comfort zone. But I’ll highlight how, rather than rushing into decisions, it's important to give yourself time to adjust. Determine whether the discomfort is just temporary or something deeper.

We also discuss some practical ways to reframe the experience: remembering why you left your last job, focusing on the excitement that made you accept this one, and even writing out reminders of what you didn’t like about your old position. There is so much value in talking things out with the right people - trusted friends, partners, or even your manager, who likely wants you to succeed just as much as you do.

Most of all, though, we strongly urge professionalism. Whether you decide to stay or eventually move on, how you handle the situation truly matters. Burned bridges can close doors, while respectful conversations can open new ones.

If you’ve ever felt uneasy in a new role, or are going through it right now, this episode offers both reassurance and actionable advice, and we remind listeners that new job regret is common, often temporary, and always worth approaching with patience, honesty, and perspective!

Key Takeaways: 

• Identify the root cause of new job regret, whether it be coworkers, management, commute, or overall discomfort.
• Give yourself at least three months before making major decisions about leaving.
• Revisit why you left your old job and what excited you about the prospect of this new one.
• Talk it out with the right people such as trusted friends, your manager, or your recruiter.
• If leaving does become necessary, do it respectfully to avoid burning bridges and protect future opportunities.

Thanks again for listening to Leaving The Nest! To find your next job, visit us at ROCS Grad Staffing. If you are a business in need of help staffing entry-level positions in your office, please reach out to Kathleen directly at Kathleen@rocsjobs.com. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please call Kathleen at 703-579-6677.

Connect with the ROCS Grad Staffing Team:

• ‍Visit our Website: ROCS Grad Staffing‍
• Give us a call at: 703-579-6677‍
• Send us an email: info@rocsjobs.com‍
• Connect with Kathleen: Kathleen@rocsjobs.com - LinkedIn

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• ‍ROCS Facebook Page‍
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• ROCS Grad Staffing LinkedIn Company Page