I did it and it was a great decision. I wish I would have never quit the first time and knew as soon as I gave my notice that I had made a mistake.

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you ever gone back to a previous job you quit? Any stories?

I left a job several years ago because work dried up, boss was horrific and coworkers were hellish. All of that has now changed and they want me back. I loved the work we did in the old job. A part of me feels a bit embarrassed that I'm returning to a job that I left, but I'm just going to suck up my pride and do it.

A job took me to a different city and my husband followed. He was unable to get a job and, after a year of unemployment, applied to an opening at his former employer. It was the exact job that he quit a year earlier. He was embarrassed about going back and having to explain to folks why he was back etc. After the first two weeks or so, people moved past his return and he re-intehrated quickly. It has worked well for him.

I know coworkers who have returned. No big deal. No reason to be embarrassed.

First, let me admit that I'm in a shitty declining industry.

I worked for a company for multiple years, then it sold to a larger company that decided to restructure an already poorly constructed commission plan. I stuck around for more than two years after the change of ownership. They kept tweaking the commission plan to the company's benefit, so I gave them my notice and went to work for the competition.

A couple of years later they called me to see if I would ever consider coming back. I interviewed the new management in place and negotiated a huge increase in my base pay with a small increase in my commission compared to what it was.

I was their top profit producer, so things were looking great for the business and personally for me. That was, at least, until one day when a bean counter far removed from trenches decided it was time to do some cost cutting (job cutting) for the company to provide even more profit on the books to the shareholders. I was working for a publicly traded company. Everyone was just a number. Expendable. It was good while it lasted, but it taught me a valuable lesson about corporate greed! I don't think that I will ever work for a publicly traded company again!

I landed on my feet with an independently owned and operated company. The first day I started my new job a manager from my previous employer called me and asked if I would ever consider coming back there. I just laughed and hung up the phone!

Anonymous wrote:I used to work for a large engineering firm where this was quite common. They were very stingy about raises, so realistically, the only way to get a good salary bump was to leave and work for someone else for awhile, then they'd offer big salaries to get these people back. I never understand why they just didn't pay market rate to begin with.

Because this method gives the employer the freedom to only pay higher salaries to the better employees, the ones the employer wants to return.

If they paid market rate to everybody, they'd have to pay both the better and the worse employees that higher rate.

I used to work for a large engineering firm where this was quite common. They were very stingy about raises, so realistically, the only way to get a good salary bump was to leave and work for someone else for awhile, then they'd offer big salaries to get these people back. I never understand why they just didn't pay market rate to begin with.

No need to feel embarrassed. It is honorable and says a lot about your work that they would want to rehire you. Good luck and if it doesn't work out again you know that there are other options!

Anonymous wrote:I did, and it's worked out beautifully. I got new experiences while I was gone, and I think they helped my bosses see me differently, not as the kid who joined 10 years before but as a professional with skills to offer.

I joined a company I interned at, and I felt like I never shook off the memories of intern me even though I grew immensely over the years. Leaving and coming back probably wouldve done wonders for me.

Did the same. Actually quite fun!

I did, and it's worked out beautifully. I got new experiences while I was gone, and I think they helped my bosses see me differently, not as the kid who joined 10 years before but as a professional with skills to offer.

I haven't myself, but I have a few co-workers that did and it's worked out for them. Both of the ones who were liked and well regarded when they left have been welcomed back and are very happy. The one who's a bit of an odd character hasn't been welcomed back as warmly by everyone, but he's still happy as far as I can tell.

Have any of you ever gone back to a previous job you quit? Any stories?

I left a job several years ago because work dried up, boss was horrific and coworkers were hellish. All of that has now changed and they want me back. I loved the work we did in the old job. A part of me feels a bit embarrassed that I'm returning to a job that I left, but I'm just going to suck up my pride and do it.