Why Returning To A Former Employer Can Be Good For Your Career

Imagine leaving a company for good reasons, and then returning to work for the same employer. Sounds crazy, right? There is actually a term for it: Boomerang Employee.

It’s not as crazy as you might think. Returning to work for a former employer is a sound job search approach that an increasing number of job seekers are using to their advantage.

Keep in mind that people change. Companies and policies change, too. If your reasons for leaving were because you felt underpaid, under-appreciated, overworked and/or had a horrible boss, you may find that things have improved over time.

Before you ignore this job search opportunity, here are three solid reasons why you should work at a former employer.

1. An increase in pay

According to Forbes, employees who stay longer than two years with an organization get paid 50% less. That’s because employees receive an average wage increase of 1-5% annually. By leaving the organization for a couple of years and accumulated other skills and experiences, you’ve made yourself more valuable to an employer and increased your minimum salary prospects beyond what a new employee typically earns – perhaps even 10-20% higher than your previous salarty.

2. A better chance of getting hired

It’s easier to get hired by a company that is familiar with your work, assuming you didn’t alienate the entire company on your way out the door. As long as you left the company on good terms, you’ll almost automatically receive consideration if you reapply. Think about it – is there a better chance of you getting hired based off your resume, or off of a prior working relationship?

In addition, you’d be a lead candidate for consideration, and would have a pretty good idea where you stand on being hired. For this reason, the hiring process won’t be as rigorous or as long as it would normally be.

3. Eliminate the learning curve

When you start a new job, you’re immediately on a learning curve and it seems as though you’re always ramping up, catching up, and fighting uphill. That stage doesn’t last forever, but you’d rather avoid it altogether if you can.

Returning to a workplace setting that you’re familiar with, where people know your name and you know theirs, removes a great deal of stress and anxiety that naturally comes with starting a new job. You’re accustomed to the company’s systems and software, eliminating the need to spend hours spinning wheels and trying to figure out how things work.

Eliminating the learning curve provides you with the opportunity to make an impact with   your work and immediate contribute to the company.

It’s a good idea, before completely writing off your ex-employer, to drop an old colleague a note to get a feel for how the employer is doing. Find out if things have changed, if they’re hiring, who is still working there, etc.

Doing so may just persuade you that your former employer should be your future employer.