Going back to old job

[Anonymous]

After some years, I am considering to go back to my old agency, given impending uncertainty in Fed jobs. I have to get through recruitment pipeline… not sure how to approach reaching out to old contacts who know my work. I feel embarrassed. By this time, I should have been more established career-wise, but I’m not. I prioritized family / SN child, and did the best I could.

What do you even say to old contacts if the bottom line is you need their reference or even help with fishing my cv out from the pile (?)…

[Anonymous]

Anyone? TIA

[Anonymous]

It's a pretty obvious answer.

Write up a bullet list of the best sounding reasons and practice talking about them.

Figure out which coworkers might be the most open to helping. Schedule coffee or lunch meetings.

Make sure your resume is neat and professional. Also your government forms.

Just ask for what you want. Most people who are mid-career have seen some stuff. They'll either help or they won't.

If people offer you favors, ask them how they prefer to be followed up with so you aren't a pest.

Don't apologize or be defensive about mommy-tracking. Many white collar skills don't decay at all - e.g., writing, planning, speaking, organizing. Also parents of young children often have more sudden schedule changes. So you're helpfully past that phase.

[Anonymous]

We are all presuming that there will be a freeze on getting people in the door after 20 January. So even if there is a vacancy out there, no promise that it will get filled.

But who do you know in your old agency and are they hiring? I know when we hire in our agency we really like known quantities who are qualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are all presuming that there will be a freeze on getting people in the door after 20 January. So even if there is a vacancy out there, no promise that it will get filled.

But who do you know in your old agency and are they hiring? I know when we hire in our agency we really like known quantities who are qualified.

Sorry I was unclear. I would be going to a large non-gov agency from fed. It’s been a while but some people know my work well and they are still there. So awkward to show up now… yes, hate to be that guy asking for support.