Has anyone left a job and started a new one, only to promptly return to the old job?

I was the new employee displaced by the returning regretful worker. I’d moved into a new area a long way from previous job and was unemployed for a while. The woman who had left the role had said she wanted the hours and challenge of another job. I was settling in OK; the job was fairly non-demanding. I was “let go” with no notice because she admitted she couldn’t cope with the new job and wanted her old job back. The boss caved and asked if I’d mind - it was not that I’d performed badly, but he felt obliged to comply with what she wanted. Having previously met her, I didn’t relish standing my ground as it meant being forever the person who’d prevented the Queen Bee returning. Fortunately I got another role quite soon, WFH for NHS.

I haven't, although wish I had done. Stuck the new job for 12 months then moved on to better things. But it was a long and miserable 12 months. If I could go back, today me would tell old me life is too short, trust your gut and ask for your old job back.

My current company, it's a bit of a running joke as so many people leave and come back - anywhere between 5 years and 3 weeks! Those returning tend to be in their twenties who leave for a higher salary or fancier job title but quickly realise the actual job and company culture isn't as good as what they left.

We don't have any hard feelings to those that leave and certainly in my department we welcome the good people back with open arms!

I went back to a former job once and it was fine, no regrets at all. I didn't have to reapply though, just let them know I wanted to go back and they were glad to have me. Annoying that you have to apply, that might put me off more, knowing you could get rejected from 'your' role is quite unsettling.

Yes I moved to a new job last year. within a few days new manager was being horrible and I knew I wasn't going to be able to manage in the state of anxiety she threw me into. Rang old boss and was told could go back. had to work two weeks notice so was at new job for one month . Have not regretted it and since found out she has bullied others out of jobs.

I know someone who quit his new job and came back to us within 2 months of leaving! He said he could see they were very demanding from the outset and that just wouldn't work for him and his family (ie his wife would have been properly left in the lurch), so he ditched them and came back. I've always admired his determination and motivation for doing so, and so quickly!

I did, one of the main reasons I left my job was I had a 1 1/2 hour commute each day. I left for a job nearer home which I absolutely hated, I was so bored as there just wasn't enough work to fill the day. I heard on the grapevine another colleague have left so knew there was a vacancy coming up and my old manager agreed I could WFH if I returned so it was a no brainer for me.

Yep. I get it - I posted yesterday I think about hating my new job.
I’ve been toying with the idea of contacting my old boss and asking to return. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it - you tried something else, it didn’t work and that’s ok.
often the early days of the job are ‘easy’ and if you know you won’t settle, what’s the point of staying and being unhappy?

I did. Realised by lunchtime on day 1 I'd been sold a pup. Old job had offered me a promotion to stay, I gave it a few more days but ended up accepting by end of week 1.

I'm not remotely impulsive but I knew instinctively it was completely the wrong fit.

Yep..twice! Also in Education. First time I went to a totally different type of job and realised in 2 months that I was going to be bored stupid even though it was much better paid.
Second job was similar but with adults and it was pleasant enough but just not ME, so messaged my old head after 6 months...and was back a month later. Still there now, poorly paid but cheerful!

I did after three years into a different role. Three weeks isn’t long enough to tell. You barely know where the toilets are after three weeks.

Change is hard, of course it is but sometimes you have to power through otherwise you would never try anything new.

If you really hate it after six months reappraise. Ideally a year.

I’ve done it twice - once to a “dream job” (nightmare) and once when headhunted (also a nightmare) , but on my return I took slightly lower grade jobs and either worked my way back up or out in a calmer , more balanced way in to something that suited me better. Both times I have been really lucky and now, 14 years on, I’m still with one of those two businesses in a much more senior role.

Not me, but I know someone who did.

The new place was a terrible working environment, so he called his old boss and as he'd left on good terms and they were struggling to recruit - they took him back.

I felt like this in my job. I almost went back. Then the pandemic hit so I stayed. And I am really glad I did.

But we also have lots of people that do return. We call refer to them as boomerangs. It’s actually quite nice. They try something else but want to come back.

I don’t think anyone can say whether you should or shouldn’t. It’s really personal. Either decision is one you could end up regretting. You can only do what you think is the right thing at the time you make the decision.

I did it!
I knew within a few weeks of taking a job at a company that I'd always dreamed of working for that the role and the culture were TOTALLY wrong for me.
The job was different from what I'd be promised, some of the clients were horrendous and there were elements of the work that I had really big ethical misgivings about. I just knew this was not a place where I'd be successful or happy.
I went for a beer with my old boss and he offered me my old job. Been back at my old company over 5 years now and have progressed into an exciting new role.
A lot of people thought I was bonkers for walking away from a job at the high-profile dream company but I know in my heart I did the right thing.
Interestingly a colleague of mine found themselves in a similar situation two years later where the supposedly prestigious job they left for turned out to be utterly toxic. They were welcomed back with open arms and as far as I know it's worked out really well for them.
I know it's an unorthodox career move but people do boomerang back to old jobs sometimes and you wouldn't be the first.

I did it!
I knew within a few weeks of taking a job at a company that I'd always dreamed of working for that the role and the culture were TOTALLY wrong for me.
The job was different from what I'd be promised, some of the clients were horrendous and there were elements of the work that I had really big ethical misgivings about. I just knew this was not a place where I'd be successful or happy.
I went for a beer with my old boss and he offered me my old job. Been back at my old company over 5 years now and have progressed into an exciting new role.
A lot of people thought I was bonkers for walking away from a job at the high-profile dream company but I know in my heart I did the right thing.
Interestingly a colleague of mine found themselves in a similar situation two years later where the supposedly prestigious job they left for turned out to be utterly toxic. They were welcomed back with open arms and as far as I know it's worked out really well for them.
I know it's an unorthodox career move but people do boomerang back to old jobs sometimes and you wouldn't be the first.

I've done this and looking back now I shouldn't have. You lose the bargaining power you once had.

I have known people to leave my current place and return in a year or two for a promotion as they realised the grass isn't always greener. But three weeks is too soon, you need to give your new job a proper go, it takes 6 months to settle in.

I've done this twice. Neither time did I regret it. The jobs I moved to were utter shite. One job I kept hoping they'd fire me I hated it that much! When the offer from my old place came through I cried. The firm of solicitors I worked for were absolute arseholes and I couldn't wait to leave. My boss didn't even say bye...utter manchild.

I hate change too, I took a 6 month secondment in another part of the organisation as seemed like a low risk move. I hated it so much I cried when I got home for the first week, I also had lots of wobbles along the way. But the thing I hated was the change, feeling like I didn't know what I was doing and feeling overwhelmed. I could do my substantive post in my sleep and found it incredibly easy and boring so I decided to stick out the secondment. I was extended in the post and eventually made permanent in it (its been 4.5 years now). Its been an enormous period of professional growth for me - in fact I feel I'm getting to the point of it feeling a bit too easy for me in this role now (but recruitment freeze at the moment so nowhere to go internally and sector wide issues so will be staying put for at least a year I think).

Anyway all to say I think 3 weeks is too soon to know for sure, but if its just feeling a bit fish out of water because you're new I think you should stay. We learn so much more from being stretched.

Yes I did, after 4 weeks.
The was 3 years ago and not regretted it for a second.
I loved my old job, but saw something I thought would fit the family better (closer to home, next door to ds school, fewer hours, same money, company with a great local reputation) so I jumped at the opportunity.
Hated every second and left by mutual agreement after 3 weeks, was back at my old job by 4 weeks.

I left a job that was comfy slippers at the end of the day. First few weeks I missed the old place but now 3 months in I am happy and wouldn't go back. Give the new place a fair try before giving up.

Personally if my old role one came back up then id be interested in it

Yes, the person whose job I took, two months later I was out of work.....honestly though 3 weeks is not nearly long enough, usually takes me at least 6 months. I too hate change, hence me sticking at jobs that I probably shouldn't have 😕