When a Former Employer Invites You to Come Back
Question: My old employer is aggressively recruiting me
to come back. I left three years ago, and my friends there say many of the
reasons I left have been corrected. Can you go back and make things work? What
will future employers think of this move?
Answer: It can be very flattering when a former employer asks you
to come back, since it reinforces your sense of worth. And, depending on the
circumstances, it can be a good career tactic.
Try to separate your emotions from the decision and examine an
offer from a former employer as you would any other job offer. Ask yourself if
it's the right move for you at this point in your career, says Tim Ayers,
director of global consulting services for Tellabs Inc., a telecommunications
supplier in Naperville, Ill.
"The job should hold promise for your career future,"
says Mr. Ayers. "If it doesn't meet fundamental criteria that should be
used to evaluate any opportunity, don't consider it."
How have things worked out for you at your new company? It
probably isn't wise to return to your former employer solely because you
haven't been happy about your new role, says David Williams, manager of
professional recruiting for Xerox Corp., a Stamford, Conn.-based technology
company.
"Be sure you aren't coming back simply because where you are
currently isn't the right place," says Mr. Williams.
Mr. Ayers had to decide whether returning to a former employer was
a good idea in 2002. Due to the telecommunications industry downturn, he was
laid off that summer after seven years with U.S. Robotics Corp., which was
pared down and sold by its parent company. Later that year, he heard from a
friend about a potential opening at the newly constituted U.S. Robotics. Mr. Ayers
interviewed for the role and was hired.
"I had no problems going back to the same organization,"
he says. "It wasn't my only option, but I wanted to return to the team I
had been successful with in the past."
You left your former employer voluntarily, so it's critical that
you understand why you resigned before accepting your old employer's offer.
Have those conditions really changed? Don't just rely on friends for the
answer; ask pointed questions and research the company on your own to find out.
Also consider your motives. If things aren't rosy at your current
job, are you seizing on this offer to avoid the struggle of job hunting?
"It can be convenient and flattering when someone calls you
and says we have something you would be great for," says Mr. Williams,
"but you may need to think about finding another position somewhere
else."
As for what future employers might think if you go back to your
old company, that's not an issue as long as you stay a while, he says. It's a
red flag if you take the job and quickly leave again because you'll be seen as
a job hopper.
"The concern to a new employer isn't that they returned, it's
that they are changing jobs again," says Mr. Williams.
Of course, it's entirely possible that returning is the best thing
for you. Some Xerox employees who left and gained new experience were hired
back and have been successful, says Mr. Williams. Others who thought things
would be better for them elsewhere later returned when they realized they liked
it more at Xerox, he says.
On a personal note, I resigned my job at Dow Jones & Co. Inc.,
the publisher of this Web site, when I moved to a new state and wasn't given
the option of telecommuting. A year later, the company changed its mind and
asked me to come back as a remote worker. I accepted and stayed five years,
until I
retired earlier this year. The decision to go back was a great career move,
and I'm glad I did it.
But there are no hard and fast rules on this issue. If you do
decide to return, just be sure that it's for the right reasons.
Have a question about job hunting or career management? Send
it to Perri Capell. If you don't want
your name used in our column, please indicate that. Due to the volume of mail
received, we regret that we cannot answer every question.
Article from
CareerJournal Online – November 2006