returning to prior employer

[fermentables]

Looking for feedback from others with this experience - what success have people had when returning to a prior employer? I left on good terms 15 months ago and contrary to Holden Caulfield, would like to go back home?

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I thought it was Thomas Wolfe?
There's not much stigma in this anymore. Only from people who don't matter.
The big return is happening all over, now that the dot-com's have taught everyone a lesson on business models. ("How do we stay in business? The answer is simple: volume.")
If you know a lot about the company's operations, then you're a valued hire -- less training.

[The Mister]

<font size=2>In my industry, there's an inside joke about how the entire industry consists of around 300 chairs, and we just occasionally trade. My boss left and came back, as did a number of other higher-ups at my company. Apparently it's happened a few times with "regular guys" like me as well. As a result, everyone at the middle-manager level and up knows just about everyone else. A number of them are even competitors now and are still somewhat acquainted.

Some have even been reintroduced to the company by way of acquisition. (Typical Dilbert fodder, but true!)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The Mister on 2001-12-11 13:21 ]</font>

[anon789]

I went back to an employer a month after I quit. My new job was a farce, and their new hire was a joke. I stayed for another 4 years, with absolutely no problems (it was a small company).

I've seen people come back to an employer for the third time. By that point it was a bit of a running joke, but I don't see the second time as any real issue.

[Anonymous]

I returned and came back after a year of working some place else; my current boss after 6 years away, so did the president of our company and as far as I remember, general council.
Who cares whether you worked there before? They like you, you like them, why not?

[WWSituation]

It could be better than starting new somewhere else. You know the people, the culture, the systems, etc.

It is not common to leave thinking greener pasteurs are on the other side and not having it turn out that way. I've experienced several people returning to our firm after stints elsewhere.

It could be tough to have to explain the sudden return to a prospective employer.

[42]

I've seen this a few times, and it generally worked out well (assuming the person intially left on good terms). I personally left to take a year off to travel, and then returned to the same company with very good results. (Of course this is different than leaving for another company!) I've also seen the scenario The Mister mentioned (back again by acquisition) a few times, and I think this is the most awkward since it was involuntary, but I've even seen this work out well. It's a good reminder that it's a very small world and you should never burn bridges!

[Gore Tree Lover]

42,

Where did you travel? This is something I am seriously considering. Was it pre-arranged with your company that you would come back? When you interviewed were you given any trouble about the missing year?

[42]

I wish I could say it was somewhere exotic, but I just traveled around the U.S. (OK, for a Canuck, maybe that is exotic.) I tried to get a leave of absence, but I wasn't sure how long I wanted to be away, and the company wouldn't go for an open-ended leave of absence. They said to check with them when I was ready to come back to work. After a year, my brain was turning to mush, so I phoned them just to see if there was still a spot for me, and they made me an offer right there over the phone - no problems. In interviews with later companies, I have never had a problem about this year off. (It was right after I got my FSA, so it's understandable.) I always put a line in my resume about it so that there are no gaps.