Career U-Turn: Returning to Your Former Job

Have you ever made a career decision that you later regretted?   Did you ever leave a job for another job at a company with greener pastures?   Or, perhaps you took a position only to discover six months later that the company was downsizing after a major contract was lost.  Did you wish that you stayed in your former position?  Can you ever return?  Would they take you back?   Also, are you sure that you want to return?  Or, is it just a comfortable place to land?   Here are things to consider before you ask for your old job back.

Why did you leave your former job?

Think about the good and bad aspects of your former job, including responsibilities, compensation, manager, co-workers, and the employer as a whole.  If things were perfect, you would not have left.  If you felt under-valued by your manager and hated traveling before, you will likely have those same issues again. 

What went wrong in the recent job?

You left your former job for a new job; then that new job went bad.  Maybe you were laid off, or perhaps you quit out of dissatisfaction. Think carefully about your career and identify any trends.  For example, there could be a theme of dissatisfaction with a certain job function.  When you see a trend, it may be time for a bigger change in your career rather than a return to your former job. 

Strategies for Asking for Your Job Back

After considerable introspection, you decide that you want to return to your former job and employer. Asking to return to your former job does not have to be a “walk of shame.”  With a sound strategy, you will likely have a better outcome.  The return is optimal if you left on good terms.  If you left on no so wonderful terms, you would not want to return anyway.   Consider these tactics:

• Float the news to a friendly source at the former employer.  You don’t need to be specific. It could be that it simply was not a fit or that you were laid off.  The friendly source will be happy to hear that you are available and will share the news with the decision makers.  They might ask you back before you have to ask. In some cases, you might be able to negotiate different responsibilities or higher pay.
• Email your former manager asking if they might have time for a quick cup of coffee to catch up.  This step is effective if you were on friendly terms with your former manager.  If your relationship was quite formal and it would be out of the norm to meet for coffee, skip this step.
• Email a formal note to your former manager or the human resources manager explaining your situation. You might say, “I took a Project Manager position at ABC with the hopes of leading DEF project. Unfortunately, it was not a fit for various reasons. The bottom line is that I really miss XYZ, the people and the processes.”  Ask for the chance to discuss any opportunities.

Sometimes a new job does not provide the satisfaction that you expected.  It does not have to be a career-crushing situation.  Think carefully about your career history.  Define what you like and dislike in your career. A career U-turn to a former job might be the right choice. Nothing ventured; nothing gained. If you believe that returning to your former role is optimal, consider the above tactics to help you make your career U-turn.