Have you ever returned to a former employer, or quit a new job right after starting?

[Anonymous]

Not to me, but someone we hired. This person came from a sales-type role into our non-profit. Within about 2 weeks, I saw that while she had a good skill set, she could not shake the "sales" mentality, so the way she interacted with our stakeholders was off, and I couldn't trust her work-products (I supervised her). I hoped she would adjust, but after about 2 months, she gave notice and went back to her former employer. It was in a new role/job title for her, but back in sales.

I think it was a good call on her part. It seems like she has been very successful with her former/new employer, and that works seems better aligned with her interest and skill set. We also found someone who was a better fit for that role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever wanted to quit a job almost immediately? I started a new position that I thought had promise, but it feels like a terrible fit. The first day I came home feeling like it was a horrible mistake, and I’m almost 2 months in. My supervisor is nice but completely disorganized, and she leads our small department so there are lots of trickle down problems from that. It’s a small nonprofit, the smallest I’ve ever worked for, and I hadn’t anticipated problems like being unable to clock in for 10 minutes while my 2010 Windows 7 machine warms up. (Sorry, I’m just being whiny now.)

One of my main goals for changing jobs was to end a terrible commute - and the new place told me on my very first day that they will be moving from the burbs (reliable 22 min drive) to the city center (unpredictable 45 min+ drive) in 6 months. Why they couldn’t have told me this during my interview process is beyond me. I have kids in school still so the commute time really matters to me right now.

My old place will take me back. Has anyone ever done this? In a way it feels extremely awkward to return. There are issues there too, of course, but I feel better equipped to address them. UGH.

Yes... I had the same thing happen to me. Bad fit with the team, and they moved 2 weeks after I started (again, why wouldn't they have TOLD me that in the interview process!!?). My previous position hadn't yet been filled and my former/present boss took me out for drinks and said "what's it going to take to get you to come back?" and I basically said "Nothing - see you Monday". That was 13 years ago and I am still at the original place.

[Anonymous]

Go back to your old job. Don't let pride get in the way.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me twice, both early in my career. The first was for a defense contractor who didn’t tell me the hours were 6:30-3:30 and the guys would do all kinds of sexist things (posted a calendar of girls in bikinis, would go to strip clubs on lunch break, etc)

Both scenarios were because I was inexperienced at reading the signs before taking the job.

I would quit if:

You can live off of savings or another spouses income for a few more months, or

You are confident you can get another job in another 1-2 months.

If it’s bearable, I would try to stay a year, but don’t kill your self. Life is too short.

I left the first bad job after 2 months but then got a 2nd bad job where I stuck it out for a year. You have to have a lot of mental fortitude for a bad job.

The good news is, I’m in a much better job by all accounts 20 years later. Hang in there op and keep interviewing.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to really consider why you left your old job. If there are serious problems there, it is highly likely those problems will still be there when you go back. Moreover, do you want to work at the old job for a long time? If you go back now, you will not be able to leave again on good terms for a long time. I think the old job seems like the easy escape hatch and while it might provide some temporary relief, you might end up really regretting it long term and feel even further adrift.

Here’s another suggestion — see if there is a new job out there that is better than both your current one and your old one. Assuming that the new job isn’t completely toxic (and it doesn’t sound that way), you can take your time and really think about what you want in a job. There is no rush. Chances are likely that you will eventually get past the year and nobody will care. You will have also learned something very valuable in the first interview process.

I did this in my career and it worked perfectly. The “new new” job really led to growth that the old job would never have matched. The easiest way out isn’t always the best way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to really consider why you left your old job. If there are serious problems there, it is highly likely those problems will still be there when you go back. Moreover, do you want to work at the old job for a long time? If you go back now, you will not be able to leave again on good terms for a long time. I think the old job seems like the easy escape hatch and while it might provide some temporary relief, you might end up really regretting it long term and feel even further adrift.

Here’s another suggestion — see if there is a new job out there that is better than both your current one and your old one. Assuming that the new job isn’t completely toxic (and it doesn’t sound that way), you can take your time and really think about what you want in a job. There is no rush. Chances are likely that you will eventually get past the year and nobody will care. You will have also learned something very valuable in the first interview process.

I did this in my career and it worked perfectly. The “new new” job really led to growth that the old job would never have matched. The easiest way out isn’t always the best way.

I’m the pp who left the law firm and had the opportunity to go back after 3 months but stayed for a year. I ended up going to a whole new agency even though I could go back to my old one. And I LOVE my new agency. So, everything happened for a reason and had I not left I wouldn’t have landed where I did. I plan to stay here for at least the next decade plus.