Thoughts on going back to my old job after leaving for a new organization?

[Anonymous]

I left an organization about 6 months ago after being there for years. I hadn't been happy in the last year and was ready to try something new. It seems my old organization got wind of the fact that I strongly dislike my new organization. They've just called to offer me my old job back. Any thoughts on this? I'm leaning toward no - the issues I wasn't happy with still exist and I feel like it would be sort of embarassing to go crawling back. But I'm pretty miserable at my new place.

[Anonymous]

I have a co-worker here who did that. He's a good guy and a great asset, but everyone talks behind his back how he couldn't back being away. Sad and shitty, but true.

[Anonymous]

I know a couple people at my organization who have done this, and I'm going to try to rehire a third. It's pretty much been forgotten that they ever left. I think you should just worry about what is best for you. If there are things you are unhappy about in your old organization that will never change, maybe it's not the best move, but if it's going to be much better than your current job and you don't have other options, than maybe you might as well make the switch back. If you're lucky, you can negotiate for a higher salary when you do.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I know plenty of people who have returned to former employers.

[Anonymous]

This is VERY common at my agency. I probably know a dozen or more people who have done this.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that it's so common! Do you know why people have done this or at least what the rumour is?

[Anonymous]

Off the top of my head I can think of 6 people who have done this at my organization...myself included. It seems to have worked out fine with everyone I know. In my case I left for a promotion, gained some good experience and came back to a higher position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left an organization about 6 months ago after being there for years. I hadn't been happy in the last year and was ready to try something new. It seems my old organization got wind of the fact that I strongly dislike my new organization. They've just called to offer me my old job back. Any thoughts on this? I'm leaning toward no - the issues I wasn't happy with still exist and I feel like it would be sort of embarassing to go crawling back. But I'm pretty miserable at my new place.

Happens all the time! Just go back and structure a good contract!

[Anonymous]

Are you at a government organization or a law firm environment? I think it is more typical for people to move groups within a government organization, or move to a different government organization, and then come back, as opposed to law firms. That said, if they offered you a job back, they must see your value and, even if things haven't changed, maybe you will come back with a different view point in having learned that the grass isn't always greener on the other side and the things that made you want to leave so much before are not as bad as you originally thought.

[Anonymous]

DH left his job a couple of years ago to go into contracting. He was happy and making pretty much the same, but when his boss called and offered him a raise and promotion to COO if he came back, he jumped at the chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that it's so common! Do you know why people have done this or at least what the rumour is?

At my company at least, the rumor is that it gets you a better bump in salary since you are now viewed as an "external hire" than what you could have gotten through raises/promotions. It's generally accepted (unofficially, of course) that people who come in from the outside are better compensated than employees who stay long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that it's so common! Do you know why people have done this or at least what the rumour is?

At my company at least, the rumor is that it gets you a better bump in salary since you are now viewed as an "external hire" than what you could have gotten through raises/promotions. It's generally accepted (unofficially, of course) that people who come in from the outside are better compensated than employees who stay long.

This was definitely true in my case. It's not why I went back to my old job but I ended up getting a decent bump when I went back.

[Anonymous]

I did this too. I left, in part b/c I need to make more money. Was unhappy in my new position and my old employeer offered to hire me back - at my higher salary. Total time I was gone was 7 months, and it was a quick way to increase my salary 13K. No way that would've happened had I just stayed in the organization.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on a number of things -
- how important are the things that made you unhappy? Is it the case now that you've moved, you look back and say, ok, well, it wasn't so bad? Or was it bad?
- are you going back to the exact same job? Or is there a shift, or increase, or salary adjustment, or what?
- why do they want you back? Couldn't find a good fit for all the crap work you used to suck up? (if you did suck it up and do a lot of work other's didn't want to do). That is, do they want YOU for all you bring, or just you to cover all the things they need covered? Or did they discover how valuable you really were?

Etc - there are a lot of potential nuances here. This could be great, but could be awful. Figure out which.