Yes, I've done it at least twice that I can remember. There might have been another time.

I did it, and they took me back. However, we agreed to some clear ground rules. First they made changes to address the main reason I left (finally removing a supervisor whose ethics were endangering the organization), and I agreed to stay for at least a year (until I finished a masters degree at night) and to keep them very informed if/when I decided to move on again. It wasn't a perfect situation, and some relationships were definitely challenged by my departure/return, but overall, it worked out well for both me and the organization.

Definitely ask, but realize that it may be impossible to get an immediate hire back and be prepared to wait for the position to reopen if necessary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and when an opening occurred, I was rehired with a raise.

+1. So glad I went back. The grass was definitely not greener on the other side.

+2. As long as you're a really productive worker, and you don't burn any bridges as you leave, they may prefer to take you back rather than hire an unknown. I let my former employer know I was on the market again, and it took a while for something to open up, but when something did open up, it was mine.

17:19 again. Plus they may appreciate they won't have to train me in the organizational culture like they would with a completely new hire, in things like organizational structure, how to get a memo through, and what gets priority and what doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and when an opening occurred, I was rehired with a raise.

+1. So glad I went back. The grass was definitely not greener on the other side.

+2. As long as you're a really productive worker, and you don't burn any bridges as you leave, they may prefer to take you back rather than hire an unknown. I let my former employer know I was on the market again, and it took a while for something to open up, but when something did open up, it was mine.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and when an opening occurred, I was rehired with a raise.

+1. So glad I went back. The grass was definitely not greener on the other side.

Anonymous wrote:I quit in a very dramatic give-a-piece-of-my-mind and storm out fashion. When I realized the mistake I had made, I came to work the next day and pretended like it didn't happen. When that didn't work, I showed up at the Christmas party and slipped him a Micky.

Well, not that there's anything wrong with it, George.

Yes, and when an opening occurred, I was rehired with a raise.

Just ask, OP, if you're certain you want your old job back. Don't mention it to your current boss, though. If they say no, they will be flattered that you miss them. If they say yes, you simply go through the process. You won't be able to go back immediately, but there's no reason not to try if you know what you want. Everyone makes mistakes, OP. No one's knowledge is perfect and it's hard to know how you will feel about a new job before you actually get there.

I quit in a very dramatic give-a-piece-of-my-mind and storm out fashion. When I realized the mistake I had made, I came to work the next day and pretended like it didn't happen. When that didn't work, I showed up at the Christmas party and slipped him a Micky.

Yes, I've done this twice with 2 different companies. And then I've left both organizations again.

Big mistake both times.

I'm a fed and a colleague left to work at a different agency. She didn't like it and asked to come back and was rehired as soon as we had an opening.

What was your reason for leaving your old job in the first place?

There's nothing wrong in asking. You never know.

I quit my job to take another one a couple of months ago. Before I left, my boss told me how sorry he was that I was leaving and that if I didn't like my new job that the door was always open for me to come back. My new job is okay, but I am really missing certain aspects of my old job and wishing that I had stayed. The major complicating factor in all this is that my old job was a federal government job, and I'm not even sure my boss could hire me back if he wanted to. But on the other hand, I keep thinking, "what if my old boss moves on to another job (which is rumored) and then I can't ever get back in there?" What should I do?