DEAR HARRIETTE: I quit my job just four months after starting because it wasn’t what I expected, and now I’m struggling more than I ever imagined to find a new one. I honestly thought I had built enough connections in my industry to help me land a position quickly, but everyone has gone silent. I’m updating my resume constantly, applying to jobs every day and reaching out to old contacts, but nothing is moving. I’m starting to worry that the short stint on my resume is hurting me and that I made a huge mistake by leaving before securing something else. I feel like people in my network are judging me for quitting so soon, even if they don’t say it outright. My savings are dwindling, and the longer I go without work, the more anxious and embarrassed I feel. I’m trying to stay positive and keep my routine, but I’m losing confidence and questioning my decisions. How do I bounce back from this and get my job search back on track? What can I do to rebuild my professional momentum and stop feeling like I sabotaged my own career? – Bad Move DEAR BAD MOVE: As you are experiencing, for a lot of people, leaving a job quickly earns them a reputation for being unreliable. That, in turn, can make it more difficult for people in your network to want to vouch for you.
