As you've already learned, the job-changing process arouses all sorts of feelings. During the transitional phase that begins with your acceptance of an offer and ends a month or two after you've started your new position, the emotional limbo you'll experience will be especially acute.

Why? Because suddenly, the reality kicks in. After all this time, the changes you've been contemplating are actually going to happen.

This jolting realization will be followed by a sense of guilt. Oh, my God, you tell yourself. I've been cheating on my present employer. Having an affair is one thing -- but divorce? I never knew it would come to this!

Then the fear of reprisal begins. My boss is gonna kill me, I just know it. He's really gonna make me suffer.

And if the fear of guilt and reprisal don't give you enough to worry about, consider the buyer's remorse you'll probably feel. What if I made a mistake? you ask yourself. I'm gonna ruin my life. Aaauuuggghhh!