Does anyone ever miss their previous job after leaving?

19 Comments

1. Rosalind GathersSeptember 8,2023 at 12:25PM UTC

   If the work environment was toxic you did the right thing to leave. Create opportunities to connect with former colleagues outside of work. No two jobs are the same, continue seeking one that you enjoy and try not to compare the next one to the last. You left for a reason

2. Peace OutSeptember 8,2023 at 12:39PM UTC

   To a certain extent maybe? (Almost) always the people, rarely the job. In two specific instances, it was more a regret of the new job I left the old job for. Mistakes. Mistakes I learned from, but still mistakes.

   The good part is, if it's more the people you miss than the job, there is nothing wrong with maintaining contact with them on a personal level (and professional level as well).

3. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 1:44PM UTC

   I once left a really good job because of poor pay and expensive benefits. I had a fabulous manager, great coworkers, I was really great at my job, and positive work environment.

   Then I took a higher paying job that got my foot in the door for a more stable career. However within 3 months of the job, I HATED the work environment. Employees were very abusive and people just accepted it/didn’t do anything about it. I had major regrets and tried getting my old job back. I resigned that job after 6 months and took a new job. Oh my gosh, toxic job and toxic job after that. I honestly would grew my pay each job and received better benefits. A toxic environment does not outweigh pay any day, in my opinion.

   Lesson I learned, I should not have left a job I loved in the first place for more pay/stable career.

4. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 2:42PM UTC

   Yes, absolutely! I’ve left good jobs and some not so great jobs for better opportunities and have experienced a little bit of regret missing my work friends and the camaraderie of old coworkers. But I think it is normal to feel that nostalgia. Don’t have any regrets for making what sounds like the right decision. You are going to continue to grow and find new and great opportunities. You will be in higher positions and make a better salary and along the way you will meet and make new friends!

5. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 3:08PM UTC

   Sure, you can always miss people, but need to remember the toxicity aspects. It's natural.

6. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 6:32PM UTC

   Yes, but... a toxic workplace is no place for anyone and those friendships if true will continue long after the work relationship ends. Good for you for moving on.

7. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 7:35PM UTC

   I will miss some people, but those are the ones I stay in touch with. Miss a toxic environment? Big NOPE.

8. kay JackSeptember 12,2023 at 12:20PM UTC

   Exactly . Mines was like hell on earth.

9. kay JackSeptember 12,2023 at 12:20PM UTC

   I don't miss ONE day of my old job . It was like walking on hot coals barefoot every day . I miss some of my co workers but stay in contact with the ones I am friends with .

10. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:43PM UTC

    i have had the same experience, OP. Although, I don’t miss working for my former employers, I do miss knowing the job, inside and out. I miss the co-workers. I also miss the clients.

    If I were to give you (unsolicited) advice, it would be that you’ll make new work friends and that your new role will get more comfortable to you every day you work there. Please go easy on yourself. ❤️

11. Cynthia Armistead NewmanSeptember 12,2023 at 12:59PM UTC

    I changed jobs last year. I miss the people I was close to at work every day. Four of us at the previous company had a private Slack conversation going all the time. I'm connected to one of them via Facebook, but that's nothing like our previous level of interaction.

    I haven't really connected to anyone in my current company like that, but people at this one don't seem to do Slack socializing.

12. Chelsey UhrigSeptember 12,2023 at 1:29PM UTC

    I left my dream job due to them switching my supervisor and the new one making my life a living hell… literally to the point where I went into a depression whirlwind for almost a year and gained almost 60 lbs. It was horrible. I got a “temporary” (how I thought it was going to be) job until I got another job I could love again. Well, I got laid off in February and still am. It’s been really hard and everytime I think about my dream job I get down. But I’m making so many changes in my life right now, including getting physically fit and healthy again. And at least I’ve learned a lesson from this- don’t give so much to an employer.

13. Lorelei ReyesSeptember 12,2023 at 2:14PM UTC

    I totally get it. Leaving a job that you liked but the mental abuse that you got be proud of yourself that you left.?. Do not get paid to be talked down to.

14. Shelby CSeptember 12,2023 at 3:22PM UTC

    Yes! It can almost be like a grief process depending upon where you are in your life as how it relates to the company.

    For example, I left my first "real job" in Corporate America because my ex demanded that my career come after his job. I decided to honor my husband and leave, but for YEARS my heart was still with my first employer. In my entire career, I never had a company environment that met my needs and brought out the best in my like they did. The last position I had there was one of the best positions I've ever held as well. I'm autistic and have ADHD. It's hard to find the perfect match, but they literally made that position for me because they believed in my potential.

    A couple of years later, I began working at a small, family-owned business that was extremely unhealthy and dysfunctional. If you name something bad about a company, I probably witnessed it there. With that said, under horrible conditions, I bonded with my co-workers that weren't part of the family. I left twenty years ago, but I'm still close to a lot of the other outsiders and we will be forever.

15. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 4:17PM UTC

    No. I wish I could just retire. I haven't missed any of my previous jobs. I've only missed a couple of coworkers and I try to stay in touch with them on Facebook.

16. Dianna DeeleySeptember 12,2023 at 6:05PM UTC

    I loved my last position. I'd like nothing better than to have another like it.

17. Julie ESeptember 12,2023 at 7:41PM UTC

    I miss aspects of my last job but not most of the people. I loved attending networking events and getting a chance to be creative but that’s about it. I worked with several toxic people and the motto was if no one complains you’re doing a decent job. There was no training. It was baptism by fire.

18. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 9:00PM UTC

    I can relate to your situation I left a job I loved after 6 years but it was a toxic environment and I had to make a tough decision and put myself first. I gave all my energy to this job. I miss most of my team but make sure I stay in touch with those I miss. If I’m having a hard day at my new job I start feeling a sense of regret for leaving my old a job I loved so need to be be intentional to remind myself of why I left. I was also underpaid at my old job. What I’ve learnt is get curious about my new job know that things will start to click over time and I am meeting new people and learning new things but most of all I’m intentional with my boundaries no job is worth losing your mental health over + I’m now getting paid what I’m worth it’s a good feeling.

19. AnonymousSeptember 15,2023 at 1:09AM UTC

    You’re not alone. I was hired in as a contractor for a great company. I loved the people and made some great friends but I was only there to replace someone that was on maternity leave. I was sad when the contract ended and so were some of my colleagues. They even threw me a going away party. Even now I. think of the place how kind they were to me