Getting the old job back

[rotw]

Hello
so everything is in the title...
Can you share your experience getting back the previous job.
Assume you have not burned any bridges. How this will be perceived ? will you loose credibility/face ?
What are your chances or what will play in your advantadge so that they will take you onboard again when your work was perceived positively when you were there?

Or is this just a (becoming multi-resistant) variant of the ''job hopping'' sickness ?

 

[GregLocock]

Best thing I ever did. I came back to a 50% pay rise after 18 months working in an unrelated industry.

" will you loose credibility/face ?"

No, they were glad to have me, and I was glad to be back. I don't know about losing face, but I have never been overly concerned about such silliness, and I'm not really sure why it would apply.

"What are your chances or what will play in your advantage so that they will take you on board again when your work was perceived positively when you were there?"

You are a known quantity. If you were regarded positively by all those around and above you then there shouldn't be an issue. As it happens one very senior guy was less than enthusiastic about my return, but the ones who had more direct experience of me talked him into it.

The horrible truth is that it is no longer a question of whether you are good technically, it is entirely a case of whether the remaining people at that company want you back at a personal level. They didn't even interview me, the whole thing took two phone calls.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[IRstuff]

It depends greatly on why you left, and whether your coworkers think that you came back strictly for more money.

Credibility is only an issue if you left because, "This place is POS," or "It'll be a cold day in hell if I ever work here again," etc. The obvious perception might be that you have no principles and are just a money-grubbing prostitute.

If you left because it was a great opportunity that turned out to be less than advertised, I think you'd get a sympathy vote.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[MacGyverS2000]

Yep, to all of the above. I have only ever left a job because of layoffs, interesting work wasn't available, or the money wasn't there. Nothing you can do about the first, the second is up to the company, and it's up to you to allow the last.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[stanweld]

I can only echo GregLocock. Returned after 3.5 years for 100% increase in pay and I knew all the key players in the organization which provided instant reintegration into the work process.

 

[ornerynorsk]

I've been there as well. It can be a nice reset to approach former challenges in new and interesting ways. A time away from any situation gives pause and contemplation, which I believe you can use as a tremendous advantage in coming back "fresh". Like others have mentioned, as long as you didn't burn any bridges . . .

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[PatCouture]

Did they ask you to return? Or you made an offer to come back?

If they came to you first then at last you have one person on your side! I agree with Greg that they would not call if they new it would not work with the team! Or it's because the boss doesn't care, I don't know.

Patrick

 

[Guest262653]

Been there. I left my first structural engineering design job out of college after 8 months to try site work, doing construction management, and later to pursue a MSc degree (of course that no bridges were burnt in the process...). After 2 years, I called my old boss an told him that my "exploring" was done and he took me back. I got a major salary increase and got inside the system in no time as I already knew all the people and the processes.

I had no problem whatsoever except for a fellow coworker that was an ***hole. She loudly told me in front of everybody: "Were you so desperate to get back?" to which I replied also publicly "I left when I wanted and got back when I wanted. That's much better than whining constantly about your job all the time and not doing anything about it". I didn't get a single additional comment from her again and things ran smoothly since for 5 more years until I decided to take a new job.

I think that the main point is that you lose credibility only if your job is done poorly or if you stick with a job that you don't like and whine all the time about it. Oh, and don't take *h*t from anyone that tries to humiliate you.

 

[ctopher]

I recently came back to an old job. Was here 11 years, left for 8 years.
Learned a lot while I was gone.
Came back to a new building, some old faces, same position, about 25% more pay.
So far working out good.

Chris
SolidWorks 13
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Been there, done that, twice. Very pleasant experience both times, and both involved position & salary increases. Sometimes it's the only way to achieve that.

The companies were in very different fields (architectural glazing vs physical security). I couldn't make up my mind which I preferred more, so bounced (2 years, 7 years, 4 years, 4 years) between the two. Ended up chosing the physical security to eliminate the 1 hour commute. Finally quit the physical security because I could see the company's days were numbered after being bought out by a Swedish competitor.

Had a big boost to the ego when, a few months later, the president of the security company asked me back as Engineering Manager with a substantial salary increase. I made the gut wrenching decision to decline because I had seen the writing on the wall. The company closed just over a year later.

If you are in need of a job, go for it. There is no shame attached to "going back" ... especially if the terms are more favourable.

 

[MadMango]

As with others, I left a company for a different industry, and after 3yrs returned to the old company with increase in pay and position. I was worried about the same things as the OP, but nothing materialized. Sure, there was some good humored comments, but nothing cruel or lasting more than a few weeks. I've also moved from West Coast to East Coast, with the opportunity to return as an open offer from my old employer, even after 4 years away. Exposure to different industries, organizations, and work flows can be a benefit when returning to an old job. You had a chance to see how others do tings, and have taken a step back from the familiar, and might be exposed to new technologies. These experiences help you to see your old company in a new light.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[MacGyverS2000]

left for 8 years... about 25% more pay.

Was this 25% more pay from your previous job, or 25% more from when you left this one?

'Cause a 3% cost of living raise every year over 8 years will net you a 27% raise... so if it's the latter, you've only kept up with inflation. If it's the former, well, congratulations

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[ctopher]

Dan,
25% more than when I left this one. Only approx. 1% more than previous.
I left because projects were dwindling, and other reasons.

Chris
SolidWorks 13
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[brandonbw]

I tried doing this when I could see the writing was on the wall somewhere else and wanted to go back to my old safe stomping grounds. They wanted me back but not for the ridiculous amount that I wanted. I think I already knew what I was going to do and switched to another place. I had that job hopping sickness every 2.5 years almost on the dot. If they liked you and you left on good terms it makes sense to ask. Now my old stomping grounds refers us for new work. Go figure.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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http://bwstructuralengineer.com

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http://bwcivilengineer.com

 

[rotw]

thank you for your contributions

 

[TheBlacksmith]

I've not experienced this personally, but it may depend on how large the company is and the practices of Human Resources. My company is very large and when people have asked to come back, HR always uses that to drive down payroll by offering less than the person left at (absences of 1-2 years). This is first hand from two people that used to work with me. Before you say it's me, one completed his MBA and (surprise) was upset he din't get an immediate promotion befitting his new status, the other was a hard worker, but somewhat at odds with having to do what management wanted and not what he percieved to be of value. The first person declined the offer, the second took it.