Making a decision to go back to your employer regardless of the reasons why can be a career dilemma, especially if other employers are knocking on your door. In the case of a recent downsizing, an employee who just left was approached by their old employer offering to rehire them several months later. They accepted the offer to return based on a number of factors: an opportunity to negotiate better pay, familiarity of the culture and greater responsibilities.
Your decision to return has a lot to do with the reasons for leaving. If you left on your own due to feeling unappreciated or bored, then you need to examine your motive for wanting to go back.
According to a recent LinkedIn survey of 7,350 members conducted across five countries, confirmed the No. 1 reason why employees left their jobs was for greater opportunities for advancement. Management styles also can affect your decision to leave rather than the work itself, so it’s important to consider if any changes have been made before you return. Even if your employer initiated the move, both situations give you reasons to pause and reflect on your choice. In deciding to go back, what makes you think the culture will change if they did not value your contributions the first go around? It could be new management is in place and the old culture you left has changed. When companies downsize and your position is affected, being considered for rehire can seem paradoxical. However, it does happen, especially if your role may have called for specific skills.
Many times after the dust settles from reorganization, employers are left with gaps and the need for your role becomes highlighted. From an employer’s point of view, hiring back an employee often speeds up the turnaround time since you are familiar with the work culture and processes. Their need in wanting to hire you opens the doors for new discussions and the employee mentioned above took the advantage to ask for an increase in pay and greater responsibilities since they were familiar with the culture.
The notion that you can “never go back home” does carry some truth in returning, but don’t let that keep you from accepting a good offer. You can’t go back home because you are not the same person that left the company. The experience of leaving gives you a different view and in many ways helps sharpen your career focus.
If it makes sense to go back to your old company do so with a new outlook and attitude. Going back to the same situation will most likely bring you the same old feelings. The mistake would be to go back and leave miserably again. If returning is not beneficial to you, don’t second-guess yourself. Keep moving forward.
On a positive note, keep in mind that your old employer must think highly of you to invite you back and that could be used as a positive selling point in future interviews.
What are your thoughts on going back to your old employer? Is it better the second time around?
