I really screwed up a job decision. What should I do next?
I recently took an internal promotion at work, despite my gut feelings early on in the process that the job was not a good match for me. Unfortunately, I got swooped up in praise at work, along with being enticed by better pay (a few hundred extra month - helpful, but not life-changing), an extra week's vacation, and a better schedule (getting off weekends). I also got too scared to back out of the process because I felt like I was going to disappoint people, even though my gut told me no on the job.
I've given up a job I was exceptional at and (generally) enjoyed for one that now makes me dread going to work on a daily basis.
The new job strips away a lot of the tasks I excelled at in my previous role and replaces them with responsibilities are just not up my alley. The job also demands an extroverted personality, and I thrive best when I'm mostly behind a screen like in my last role. Long story short, it's a clear mismatch that isn't going to get better. More than likely, it will get worse.
Getting my old job back is not an option since they already have someone in place for it.
Any advice? I'm in the United States.
Posted Apr 7, 2026, 11:32 AM UTC