Should You Consider Returning to a Former Employer?

Have you ever been offered a job that seemed to have it all? It was a step up with a salary to match, the job role sounded interesting and the perks looked great. But a month in, you find yourself slowly realising that the role wasn’t what you were expecting. You might have disliked certain things about your old job, but now that you’ve gained some distance from it, you’re longing to go back to the organisation you were at before.

If so, you’re not alone. A boomerang employee is someone who returns to a company they’ve previously worked for. Research suggests that 15% of workers have been boomerang employees at some point in their careers, and 40% would consider returning to a former employer.

But is this a good idea—and would your old organisation even welcome you back?

Things to consider before returning to a former employer

1. Know your value

Depending on how long it’s been since you left, you might know more than a new starter about the systems used at the charity, the culture, and the expectations. If you were to get a job there again, you’d be able to hit the ground running. Plus, the organisation already knows what kind of a worker you are. They’re taking less of a gamble by hiring you and saving themselves time and money that would have been spent on onboarding.

What’s more, the time you spent working elsewhere may have gained you skills and knowledge that you wouldn’t have got had you stayed. You know how other charities do things and might be able to transfer some of that knowledge. You may also have gained training that your old organisation couldn’t afford to give you. All of this will benefit them if you return.

2. Is this a good time to return?

If you’re still in touch with previous work colleagues, you could ask them what’s changed since you left and whether they think this is a good time to return. Once we’re no longer living through a situation, we tend to see it through rose-tinted glasses. This leads us to forget or downplay the reasons why we left in the first place, especially if we’re not happy where we’re at currently.

Make a list of all the reasons why you left your previous employer. Have things changed since then? Would you be able to negotiate for change, or would it be the same if you were to return? Consider whether you think you could commit to working for that charity again, not just now, but years into the future.

3. How do the organisations compare?

What are the things you most value in a job and a workplace? Is it the culture, the salary, the perks offered, the relationships you have with colleagues? Rank everything in order of highest to lowest priority. Then measure each organisation against these categories. How do they compare?

How should you go about returning to a former employer?

1. Keep communication open

When you leave an organisation, make sure it’s on good terms. Keep in touch with former colleagues by sharing your email address or adding them on LinkedIn. Then message them on significant dates such as work anniversaries or birthdays. This will allow you to keep up to date with goings on in the organisation, and means you have a point of contact for enquiring about vacancies if you ever want to return.

2. Do your research beforehand

It’s easy to assume that if you’ve worked somewhere before, you won’t need to do as much research as someone who’s completely new, but it’s a good idea to update your knowledge and make sure you know what changes they’ve made since you left. Would your manager be the same? Is the structure the same as it was when you worked there? All of this will help to inform your decision about whether returning to a former organisation is the right thing for you.

3. Contact the charity

When the right role comes up, make sure your application showcases the new skills you’ve gained since leaving the organisation. Your old employer already has an idea of who you are and what you know, so you need to demonstrate that you’ve changed and grown since they last worked with you.

They might also be a little hesitant about hiring you again since you left the organisation previously. So it’s important to demonstrate your career goals so that employers know you’d be committed to your new role.

Address what went wrong the first time

It’s not always an easy decision to make, but if you decide it’s right for you, then returning to a former employer can be a chance to address what went wrong the first time, and stop problems from happening again.

When it works, as a boomerang employee, you can enjoy all the benefits you experienced in your previous role, but with the new skills and training you gained elsewhere that will allow you to get ahead in the organisation and thrive.