How does a career decision become a career regret? A qualitative exploration

Purpose This qualitative study aims to expand the limited theoretical understanding of career regret by exploring its development and the key factors that contribute to it. Our theoretical model illustrates how career regret unfolds and highlights the interplay between these identified factors. Design/methodology/approach We conducted 27 semi-structured interviews followed by 16 retrospective narratives with professionals. The data were analyzed using the established procedures of grounded theory. Findings Our findings reveal that regret develops as a result of the behavioral response to a realized loss stemming from a career-related decision. Precisely, career regret develops when an individual responds to a realized loss with career inaction, which is shaped by two identified mechanisms: a feeling of low career agency and a feeling of being trapped. Based on these findings, we developed a theoretical model showing how a career decision becomes a career regret. Originality/value Despite its importance for research and practice, knowledge concerning career regret remains limited. While some studies aim to explore career regret as a phenomenon in a certain context or its relationship to other concepts, the career field lacks important theoretical insights into the nature of career regret, which we address with our study. We show how a career decision becomes a regret. In so doing, our research has important theoretical and practical implications.