I recently accepted a position at a mid sized company after finally getting interviews following a year of searching. I have been trying to leave my current job at a larger company because I am burned out and do not respect the leadership. I dislike it so much that I gave my manager my notice right away. He is a good manager and I wanted to make the transition smooth. But I did this before the background check cleared.

If it is just a criminal check, there will be no problem. But now I am worried it is more than that. When I applied, I listed my education as a BS. But actually I only have some college. I joined my current company with only one credit left to graduate. They even mailed the signed diploma. I know it was a mistake not to finish. Now I am afraid they might contact my school and take back the offer. Even though the job posting says or equivalent experience, and I have worked here twice as long as I was in school.

So I messaged my boss after hours to withdraw my verbal resignation. I have not heard back yet.

I am really scared I have made a big mistake. I know they cannot take away my experience. But the tech industry is in bad shape now. It could take months to get another interview, even if I apply every day like my life depends on it, because it does.

If they do not let me take back my resignation and the new company cancels the offer, I will likely lose severance and maybe unemployment too. Since it will look like I quit. The only hope is that HR has not been told yet according to my manager. But it is embarrassing. I wish I had waited until the check passed.

I do not know what I will do if I end up without a job. I have nowhere to go. My savings will last about four months. I would not harm my self as I have family, but this did make the disturbing visual cross my mind and it is hard to forget. I have never gone from so happy to so sad in less than 24 hours.