This is the most common career regret, and it’s easy to avoid

Taking a leap of faith is scary, but maintaining the status quo is more likely to result in regret over time, especially at work.



According to a recent survey conducted by Resume Now, two-thirds of workers report having career-related regrets, with those pertaining to actions not taken topping the list. According to the survey, 60% regret not asking for a pay raise, 59% regret not prioritizing work-life balance, 58% regret staying at a job for too long, and 40% regret not switching careers.



“People who have played it safe—by staying in an unsatisfying role or not asking for a raise—have more regrets than those who acted and worked to change their situation for the better,” says Resume Now career expert Heather O’Neil.



According to the survey, regrets tend to ramp up as careers progress, then drop off toward retirement. While 61% of Gen Z respondents have career regrets, that proportion jumps to about 70% among millennials and Gen Xers, dropping down to just 52% among baby boomers.



“Those in the thick of their careers seem more consumed by their ‘bad’ decisions, while those approaching or already in retirement have more of a ‘what’s done is done’ attitude about their professional lives,” O’Neil says.



The Road Not Taken



The data highlights several fallacies about human nature that cause us to default to the safe or familiar option, even when there are better alternatives out there. We tend to overestimate the risk of change and underestimate the risk of not changing.



“It’s what’s called the ‘status quo bias,’ where people choose to maintain the current state of affairs, even if the conditions aren’t great,” O’Neil explains. “This bias can make individuals reluctant to switch jobs or make significant life changes because they fear the unknown.”



Many career regrets are also the result of getting too comfortable with a less-than-ideal situation, and an aversion to the temporary discomfort that comes with change, suggests career coach Caroline Castrillon, founder of Corporate Escape Artist.



“It’s a human tendency to resist change because we interpret it as a danger,” she says. “In order to grow as a human and a professional you have to step outside your comfort zone, so at some point you’ll have to confront some discomfort in order to grow your career.”



Castrillon adds that the risks of career inaction may be growing. That’s because there are fewer incentives tied to longevity, like pension plans or loyalty bonuses, than in generations past. At the same time, studies show that job-hopping is often the most effective way to secure a salary increase or promotion.



“Unfortunately, staying with the same company doesn’t benefit people financially as much as changing jobs every two to three years,” Castrillon says. “So, the question you need to ask yourself is, what are you giving up by not taking action?”



Taking Smaller Steps Toward Bigger Goals  



Rather than taking a big leap, Castrillon recommends starting with some smaller steps and working your way up. She explains that people often maintain the status quo because they feel overwhelmed by the potential alternatives and lack the clarity to make a confident decision. That’s why she recommends breaking big decisions into smaller steps, and spending some time studying the options before making a decision.



“Say you’re interested in working for a specific company. Make it a goal to reach out to five people at that company and start networking to learn more about the culture,” she says. “Set small goals, and once you start seeing results, you’ll start to gain confidence and motivation.”



Castrillon adds that when it comes to making career decisions it’s important to keep our bias toward inaction in mind, and question whether we’re maintaining the status quo because it’s the right choice, or the easier choice. “Keep asking yourself what’s the downside of putting yourself out there, because usually the upside is much greater,” she says.



It’s Never Too Late to Make a Change



When it comes to making significant career changes, many fall prey to the sunk-cost fallacy, which makes us more reluctant to abandon decisions we have invested in, notes Scott Anthony Barlow, CEO of Happen to Your Career, which helps professionals change careers.



He explains that people often feel like they’ve gone too far in one direction to change course, no matter how far along they really are.



“It’s funny: I’ll get an email from people who are 67 or 71 who are saying ‘I feel like it’s too late for me to make a change; I only have so many years left,’ then I’ll get the same email worded only slightly different from someone who is 27 or 33, saying they feel like they missed the boat,” he says. “The reality is that it’s never too late; within a matter of months most of those situations can be remedied.”



Barlow emphasizes that even those pursuing a completely new career path shouldn’t let the time and energy they’ve invested elsewhere stop them from changing course. He says that changing direction isn’t akin to admitting defeat or failure, but rather an acknowledgement that situations, priorities, people, and opportunities change over time.



“The research is pretty clear,” Barlow says. “If you are facing the ‘Should I take this action or not?’ question, the answer is almost always yes.”