Top 10 Career Regrets

A recent research study showed that only 2% of people stated that they had no regrets within their career. Meaning, that 98% of people carry regrets!

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The top ten most common regrets amongst those surveyed were:

​1. Not taking more initiative

2. Not having enough mentorship or guidance

3. Playing it safe/not taking more chances

4. Not maintaining my network

5. Not quitting a job, I disliked sooner

6. Not negotiating hard enough for raises

7. Not focusing enough on advancing my career

8. Not networking enough

9. Not negotiating a higher starting salary

10. Not working harder at school

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The study also analysed the different genders’ regrets, revealing that:

• 34% more women admitted that not speaking up about a problem at work left them more regretful than men.

• 32% more women than men, regretted not negotiating a higher starting salary whilst.

• 30% more women than men, regretted working in a field where they do not make enough money.

• 28% more men than women regretted not working harder

• 20% more men regretted not maintaining their network.

• 15% more men than women regretted not taking more initiative.

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The study found that 28% of people wished that they had pursued a passion, followed by 26% of workers wishing they had negotiated a higher starting salary, and 24% of people wished that they had negotiated a raise.

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Of those who did decide to take a risk:

• 56% of people quit a job they did not like with 73% not regretting taking the risk.

• 41% deciding to change fields or industries and 78% not regretting this.

• 39% decided to speak up about a problem at work and 78% did not regret taking the risk.

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